Veronica Pejril, aiming to become Indiana’s first openly transgender state lawmaker, is one of over 1,000 LGBTQ+ candidates on the ballot this November across the U.S., with approximately 15 percent identifying as transgender, according to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
Pejril, currently a member of the Greencastle City Council, secured her seat in 2019 with 67 percent of the vote. She says recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Indiana motivated her to run for the state senate, emphasizing her goal of serving the community over making history.
In Indiana’s General Assembly, only one openly LGBTQ+ member currently serves—a lack of representation Pejril argues hinders effective policy. “Any legislative body works best when it reflects the people it serves, she remarked, stressing the need for more diverse voices in government.
To achieve proportional representation, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund estimates that about 30,000 LGBTQ+ officials would need to be elected nationwide.
If elected on November 5, Pejril intends to foster bipartisan collaboration, challenging stereotypes and working toward inclusive legislation. She faces Republican Brett Clark in the race to succeed Sen. John Crane, who chose not to pursue a third term.