Republican misgenders McBride at candidate forum before removal

Republican nominee Joe Arminio was removed from a forum debate in Wilmington, Delaware after misgendering his opponent, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.).

During the debate between the candidates competing for Delaware’s lone congressional district , Arminio used the incorrect pronouns when referring to McBride – who made history in 2024 as the first openly transgender member of Congress.

“I’m sorry to have to say that the representative from Delaware, through the net of his comments and his actions, on balance has contributed,” Arminio said before being interrupted by the crowd. “I would like to show respect to the speaker, that would be nice.”

When he finished his opening remarks, moderator Ken Grant warned Arminio that this was his final warning, saying “if you fail to show respect to anyone else on this stage, you’ll be asked to leave.”

Arminio admitted he “committed an error before” and he does “acknowledge it.”

“It’s not the first error I’ve made in this campaign, or at any point in my future life,” he added.

When discussing healthcare in the forum later on, Arminio pointed to Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and McBride – blaming rising costs on the “gentlemen like the two up here with me in the Democratic Party.”

He was interrupted again by the crowd before being asked to leave the stage – though McBride attempted to intervene.

“I want to say here, I don’t want this gentleman to not have the ability to–,” she said, before being cut off by the moderator.

Arminio was still told to leave by the moderator and event organizers.

McBride’s office deferred to the lawmaker’s statement on social media posted Friday, stating, “I am always so proud to represent Delaware and Delawareans.”

“Nothing – and certainly not politicians seeking to go viral – will ever distract me from my laser focus on lowering the cost of gas, groceries, housing, childcare, and healthcare,” she continued.

Arminio’s misgendering of McBride is not the first time the first-term lawmaker has faced jabs from her Republican colleagues over her identity. In 2025, a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing ended abruptly when Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) referred to McBride as “mister.”

Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) in the same year also introduced McBride as “the gentleman from Delaware” ahead of her first floor speech as a newly elected lawmaker.

Arminio’s campaign did not respond to The Hill’s request for immediate comment.