Scott Wins Washington Seat, Opposes Sports Measure

Jaelynn Scott becomes the first openly transgender Black woman elected to a state legislative body in the United States.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a capitol dome silhouette above a dark evergreen ridge, with a lone flag in the foreground under overcast sky. — Jaelynn Scott became the first openly transgender Black woman elected to a U.S. state legislative body after winning Washington's 37th District seat as voters approved Initiative 638. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should transgender girls be allowed to compete on girls' school sports teams?

Jaelynn Scott won Position 2 in Washington's 37th Legislative District, which represents communities in Seattle and Renton. The victory came as Washington voters approved Initiative 638, which restricts transgender girls from competing on girls' school sports teams.

Why it matters

Scott's election marks a historic first for transgender representation in a state legislature, while Initiative 638 signals a statewide policy direction on transgender athletes. Scott has said she opposes the measure and intends to challenge it.

Scott won the Position 2 race in Washington's 37th Legislative District, covering Seattle and Renton. Vote totals and margin were not included in the available reporting, and the timeline for any legal challenge to Initiative 638 has not been set.

The players

Jaelynn Scott

Scott is a politician who won Position 2 in Washington's 37th Legislative District and is the first openly transgender Black woman elected to a state legislative body in the United States.

The details

Scott, who is the first openly transgender Black woman elected to a state legislative body in the United States, named housing affordability, childcare expenses, and social safety-net programs as legislative priorities. She also proposed a review process for young people held in juvenile detention facilities.

Election results reported on November 10, 2026.

Political Context

Initiative 638 restricts transgender girls from girls' school sports teams and was approved by Washington voters alongside Scott's election. Scott has said she opposes the measure and intends to challenge it, placing her in direct conflict with the newly enacted policy.

Washington residents in the 37th Legislative District now have a state representative who has pledged to challenge Initiative 638. The initiative's restriction on girls' school sports teams is now in effect statewide.

The takeaway

Voters in Washington sent a transgender legislator to Olympia at the same time they restricted transgender girls from girls' school sports, setting up a direct policy clash to watch.