First Republican in Congress to Support Same-Sex Marriage
U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has just announced she will not seek re-election next year. The Florida Representative was the first Republican in Congress to support same-sex marriage, the first Cuban American and first Latina elected to Congress, the first Republican woman elected from Florida to Congress, and currently is the most senior Republican woman in the House.
“It’s been such a delight and a high honor to serve our community for so many years and help constituents every day of the week,†Ros-Lehtinen told the Miami Herald. “We just said, ‘It’s time to take a new step.’â€
Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in her district by 20 points.
Ros-Lehtinen first began her public service in the Florida House in 1982, and went to Congress in 1989.
In December of 2011 she became the first Republican in Congress to support same-sex marriage, co-sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act. She also has been a co-sponsor of ENDA, and the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), which would protect LGBT students in public schools from discimination.
She also is one of the few Republicans who has called for action on climate change.
In 2015 she recorded this video congratulating her transgender son, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, for winning the SAVE 2015 Champions of Equality Award.
There’s a good chance Democrats could pick up this seat next year.
UPDATE:
Nate Silver concurs:
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