Erica Deuso Becomes Pennsylvania’s First Openly Transgender Mayor

DOWNINGTOWN, Pennsylvania — Erica Deuso made history on Wednesday by becoming Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor after defeating Republican Richard Bryant in the mayoral election.

Deuso, a Democrat, celebrated the unofficial results that showed her winning in Downingtown, a small borough just a few dozen miles west of Philadelphia. “Tonight, the numbers are clear,” she said early Wednesday. “We won. Voters chose hope, decency, and a community where every neighbor matters.”

With a population of about 9,000, Downingtown operates under a six-member council, with the mayor responsible for tie-breaking votes and overseeing public safety personnel.

Deuso focused her campaign on key issues including housing affordability, domestic violence, and mental health, avoiding an emphasis on her identity as a transgender woman. “This victory is not about one person. It is about what happens when people choose progress over fear, facts over noise, and results over excuses,” she stated.

Bryant, who ran unopposed in the primary, campaigned on managing growth and improving public safety. He has a background in cybersecurity and highlighted efforts to address flooding issues in Downingtown.

Deuso, a Johnson & Johnson employee and Drexel University alumna, moved to Downingtown in 2007 and previously sought a state legislative seat. “Thank you to the poll workers and every volunteer who persevered through unprecedented challenges,” she said, acknowledging difficulties faced during the election, including a poll book error that led some voters to cast provisional ballots.

The mayor-elect’s win marks a significant stride for LGBTQ+ representation in local government, demonstrating how far Downingtown has come in recent years.