Forced out of the military — and into the redistricting warsBree Fram's long-shot campaign may hinge on Virginia's redistricting referendum, which could decide whether the trans veteran rocket scientist booted out of the military under Trump stands any chance of winning.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/18/bree-fram-virginia-redistricting-transgender-00878950 🔗Politico - Irie Sentner
04/18/2026 12:01 PM EDT
The latest battle in the 2026 redistricting wars will be decided Tuesday in Virginia, where a map favoring Democrats in 10 of 11 districts looks narrowly poised to spell doom for Republican incumbents — and tee up Democrats' next big fight.
Veteran Bree Fram is seizing on the Virginia referendum to mount a race from the left against Rep. James Walkinshaw, a six-month incumbent who slid into the seat held by Rep. Gerry Connolly, his former boss, after Connolly died in May 2025.
Fram, once the highest-ranking transgender person in the military, was forced into retirement last year when Trump declared via executive order that trans people are "not consistent with the humility and selflessness required" of service. Now, Fram and her campaign manager Sabrina Bruce, also a trans woman pushed out of the Space Force, are running their campaign like a military operation. And while they acknowledge the bid is a long shot, they think they have a chance — if Virginia voters approve redistricting in the state.
Fram also isn't afraid to bash her own party. She said she was "disappointed" by some Democrats who sought to distance themselves from trans advocacy in the aftermath of 2024.----------------------------
