Transgender military veteran Mia Mason announced July 9 that she is running for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District in the 2024 cycle. 

This is her third time running for Congress, as she also ran for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District in 2020 and 2022. Mason, if elected, would be Maryland’s first openly LGBTQ member of Congress and the first trans military veteran in Congress.

Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride, who is also trans, is running for Congress in her state. She and Mason would be the first openly trans women in Congress if they were to win their respective races.

Incumbent Democrat David Trone announced earlier this year that he is running for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat, leaving the Democratic primary open. State Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery County), who also hopes to be Maryland’s first openly LGBTQ member of Congress, is one of the five other candidates who are seeking the Democratic nomination.

“I’m a military service member who has served my country and I’ve had to fight for equity and equality,” Mason told the Washington Blade during a recent interview. “I wish to continue that fight in Congress by becoming the first trans military veteran in Congress.”

Mason said that one of the key issues of her campaign is equal access to health care for Marylanders, especially her fellow veterans. 

“I used to be able to go to D.C. and Walter Reed, I used to be able to go to the Baltimore VA, but unfortunately, I’m having to go to Martinsburg, W. Va., like many of our other military veterans, so we should expand our health care here in Frederick,” Mason said. “I want to make sure that we’re able to take care of everybody and that includes the folks over in Washington County and Allegany County, that they can get to somewhere when they need affordable health care.”

Mason mentioned the importance of expanding the role of being in Congress to making sure that the voices of constituents are heard, and that action is taken to address them. 

“I think speaking about [constituents] personally, hearing their stories and recording that into the House records on the House floor is one of the most impactful things, so that regardless of what happens at the end of the day, their name, their story, their issues are heard and it’s recorded for the Library of Congress that will live longer than all of us,” Mason said. “And it will be on record because I was able to answer their questions and deliver a message and hopefully a passing bill or piece of legislation that will get to the president’s desk that will directly impact that local community.”

Mason also mentioned curbing gun violence in Montgomery County, combatting the effects of climate change in Maryland and expanding green jobs in the state as key parts of her platform as well. 

“We want to make sure that the microgrids and solar power and wind power are available to us and that we actually get the credits that the state is providing and provide the federal subsidies to the state to make sure that we can continue to grow these green jobs for our communities,” Mason said.

Her campaign has launched a unique way for constituents to get to know Mason and her team by providing a phone number for voters to call Mason directly. By calling 410-94-MASON voters can talk to Mason about their concerns and ask her any questions.

“I want to be known as the candidate who answers the phone,” Mason said. “By calling the number, voters can talk to me directly.”