Trans politicians standing for election: June 2017

And so, with polls closing in the last set of elections less than a week ago it is time for another election – 4pm today was the deadline for candidates in the upcoming General Election to get their nomination papers in.

This year’s local elections saw relatively few openly trans candidates with only three people putting their names forward, and no winners. That might seem relatively few, but county elections often produce a different crop of candidates to district councils and three was at least an improvement on the last set of council elections, 2013, in which no known trans people stood.

Against that background, and given this was a snap election in which parties would have less time to ensure a diverse slate of candidates, it would not have been surprising to find fewer openly trans candidates standing than in 2015.

But politics at the moment is defying expectations, and trans candidates are no exception with a record of six eight nine trans and non-binary people nominated – four Green, three Liberal Democrats and two Labour. This compares well to four in 2015 and none in 2010.

As ever, if you know of anyone I have missed (and you are certain they are out!) please do let me know.

		Helen Belcher Chippenham	Swing required: 9.1% (2015) -3.9% (2010 – held seat)
		Aimee Challenor Coventry South	Swing required: 19.2% (2015) 20.2% (2010)
		Sophie Cook East Worthing & Shoreham	Swing required: 15.0% (2015) 15.9% (2010)
		Andrew Creak Caerphilly (Non-Binary)	Swing required: 21.0% (2015) No Green candidate in 2010
		Charley Hasted Swansea East (Non-Binary)	Swing required: 24.5% (2015) 16.6% (2010)
		Dom Horsman North West Durham	Swing required: 21.6% (2015) No Green candidate in 2010
		Lee-Anne Lawrance Runnymede and Weybridge (Non-Binary)	Swing required: 27.8% (2015) 27.3% (2010)
		Zoe O’Connell Maldon	Swing required: 28.1% (2015) 20.3% (2010)
		Heather Peto Rutland & Melton	Swing required: 20.1% (2015) 18.5% (2010)