Trans Woman Declares Victory in Colorado Legislature Race

Transgender candidate Brianna Titone declared victory in her close race for Colorado's House District 27.

Titone, 40, is now 368 votes ahead of her Republican challenger, Vicki Pyne, the Denver Post reported. Titone, who appears to have flipped a GOP seat in the Democratic-controlled general assembly, changed her Twitter handle on Saturday and referred to herself as "Rep-elect."

More votes need to be counted, but Titone expressed confidence she'll be one of the nation's few openly transgender politicians.

Titone is a software developer, geologist, and former volunteer firefighter in her native New York State. Titone has also led her homeowners association and served as a delegate for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Titone was advised in her campaign by Danica Roem, the nation's first openly transgender legislator. Like Roem, Titone embraced social justice causes, as well as more pragmatic issues like local development.

"Running for office has never been about me. It's always been about what I could do to better my community, whether that's people who live in and around where I am, but the trans community and the LGBTQ community as well," Titone told the Post.