Sylvia Swayne
Swayne in 2023
Personal details
BornMontgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Alabama (B.A.)
Occupationpolitician, tech professional
Websiteswaynefor55.com

Sylvia Swayne is an American former political candidate. In 2023, she ran for District 55's seat in the Alabama House of Representatives during the 2024 state legislative election, making her the first openly transgender woman to run for public office in Alabama. She lost in a runoff election on October 24, 2023.

Early life and education

Swayne was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and was raised by her single mother after her father died when she was eight years old.[1] She attended Alabama Christian Academy[2] and completed a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Alabama.[1]

Career

Swayne works as a quality assurance manager in the tech industry.[3][2] She was once a guest speaker at The Governor's Academy.[4]

She is a member of the Alabama Democratic Party, an affiliate of the Democratic Party, and a member of the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee.[3]

2023 Alabama legislative race

In 2023, Swayne announced her candicacy to fill District 55's seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in the 2024 state legislative election,[5] making her the first openly transgender woman to run for public office in Alabama.[6] She ran to fill the seat of Representative Fred Plump, who resigned from the house after being charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obstruction of justice.[6]

Swayne's platform focused on Medicaid expansion,[7][8] voter rights, economic support for small businesses and workers, community-led initiatives, and support for public infrastructure and public education.[3][9] She was endorsed by Patricia Todd, the First-Vice-chair of the Alabama Democratic Party and first openly gay candidate to run for the Alabama House.[1] Swayne also received an endorsement from Leaders We Deserve, a political action committee founded by March For Our Lives co-founder David Hogg and Rep. Maxwell Frost's campaign manager Kevin Lata.[10]

In the initial primary election, between seven candidates, Swayne secured 21.45% of the vote.[8] No candidate outright won the primary, so the election went into a runoff between Swayne and Travis Hendrix.[8][2][7] Swayne raised $81,175 for the race by the runoff election and accepted money from LPAC for her campaign.[11]

During the runoff election, a pamphlet from an unknown source was distributed to voters that was described on October 19, 2023 as "an illegal and transphobic piece of literature" by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which had endorsed Swayne.[12] Swayne lost the runoff election to Hendrix on October 23, 2023, receiving 34.88% of the vote with 1,268 votes.[13]

Personal life

Swayne is a transgender woman. She lives in Highland Park, Alabama.[3][14]

Swayne is a TikToker and, as of September 2023, had almost 30,000 followers.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cason, Mike (August 7, 2023). "1st transgender woman to run for Alabama House says cultural divide hurts all". Alabama Local News. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Crenshaw, Jr., Solomon (October 22, 2023). "Sylvia Swayne Bucks Customs in House District 55 Runoff Race". Birmingham Watch. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sylvia Swayne announces campaign for House District 55". August 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  4. ↑ "Diversity at Governor's | Private School near Newbury, MA". Archived from the original on 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  5. ↑ "Special Election Qualifiers". Archived from the original on 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  6. 1 2 "Sylvia Swayne runs to be first transgender member of Alabama House of Representatives". 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  7. 1 2 Akin, Emery (October 20, 2023). "'We've gotta show people what's possible': Sylvia Swayne speaks ahead of Alabama runoff election". CBS42. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Wiggins, Christopher (September 28, 2023). "Sylvia Swayne Aims to Make History as Alabama's First Trans State Representative". The Advocate. Pride Media. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. 1 2 McMenamin, Lex (September 20, 2023). "Sylvia Swayne Is Alabama's First Openly Trans Candidate; She Also Hopes She'll Be the First Elected". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ Vakil, Caroline (October 19, 2023). "Democratic group aimed at supporting young candidates for office releases first slate of endorsements". The Hill. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  11. ↑ Rocha, Alander (October 18, 2023). "Travis Hendrix, Sylvia Swayne seek Democratic nod in Birmingham-area House seat". Alabama Reflector. States Newsroom. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  12. ↑ "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Condemns Transphobic Mailer Attacking Alabama State House Candidate Sylvia Swayne". LGBTQ Victory Fund. October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ↑ Taylor, Daniel (October 24, 2023). "District 55 voters reject transgender candidate Sylvia Swayne — Hendrix wins runoff for open House seat". 1819 News. 1819 News LLC. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Q&A with Sylvia Swayne, Alabama's 1st transgender woman running for state office". 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
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