Reliably red Alabama has elected an openly transgender lawmaker for the first time in the state's history.
Democrat Allison Montgomery, a 32-year-old software engineer, flipped the Alabama House of Representatives seat in District 25 by a 6.5-point margin.
She beat out Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby, who took office in 2022. Montgomery received just over 53 percent of the vote, while Rigsby received just under 47 percent.
Montgomery shared a lengthy statement after the race was called, urging people to focus on the platform she ran on rather than the historic nature of her victory.
'We showed that a truly grassroots campaign that stands on its policies and its principles has a real shot in Alabama. We the people are tired of attempts to distract us with culture war issues, whether we're in a minority group or not,' she said in part.
'We the people know corporate interests use these issues to pit us against one another while they pick our pockets.'
Montgomery campaigned on affordability, public school funding, healthcare, worker protections and rooting out corruption.
The state house district she won covers parts of Madison County, including sections of the cities of Madison and Huntsville. Madison County voted for Trump by nine points in 2024, but it flipped blue in the midterms.
Democrat Allison Montgomery has become the first openly transgender lawmaker to be elected in Alabama's history
Montgomery beat Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby by a 5.5-point margin for the Alabama House of Representatives seat in District 25
Montgomery released this lengthy statement on election night urging people to focus on her platform rather than the historic nature of her victory
Alabama as a whole, however, elected Republican Barry Moore for US Senate. Moore will fill the seat of outgoing Republican US Senator Tommy Tuberville, whom the state elected as its governor.
During her campaign to become a state representative, Montgomery faced attacks about her gender identity from sitting members of the Alabama legislature.
Scott Stadthagen, the chair of the Alabama Republican Party and a state house representative, took aim at Montgomery and a different transgender candidate last month, claiming they have 'mental disorders.'
'We've got two men who have mental disorders, who like to dress like women, who think they are females on the ballot this general election,' Stadthagen said at a campaign event, per the Alabama Political Reporter.
He also said he has a 'problem' with transgender women wearing a dress 'in front of a kid and minors in a sexual manner.'
Montgomery quickly shot back on social media, accusing Stadthagen of 'just plain prejudice' and hypocrisy.
Montgomery faced attacks about her gender identity from sitting members of the Alabama legislature while she ran for office
Montgomery responded to comments that she and another transgender candidate have 'mental disorders' with this scathing Facebook post
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'They brought up my womanhood because they have failed at governing,' Montgomery continued.
'Ask yourselves: if I hadn't transitioned, would gas be cheaper? Would your utilities be cheaper? Would groceries be more affordable? Would your medical debt go away? Would your rent stop getting higher?'
In her election night statement, Montgomery said she will work 'especially hard for those who hate me, because they deserve a better Alabama as much as anyone.'
She also thanked everyone who worked on her campaign and said she will 'take a couple weeks to rest' before beginning to discuss her plans and the legislation she will pursue once she takes office in January.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Montgomery's campaign for comment.
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