Downingtown elects Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor

A small town just a few dozen miles west of Philadelphia made history Wednesday morning by electing Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor.

Unofficial results show that Democrat Erica Deuso defeated Republican Richard Bryant, becoming the mayor-elect of Downingtown in Chester County.

“Tonight, the numbers are clear,” Deuso said in a statement early Wednesday morning. “We won. Voters chose hope, decency, and a community where every neighbor matters. I am honored to be elected as Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor. I carry that responsibility with care and with purpose.”

Home to about 9,000 people, Downingtown is governed by a six-member council. The mayor casts tie-breaking votes, oversees police and fire personnel, and performs ceremonial duties. Sitting Democratic Mayor Phil Dague declined to run for a second term — opening the door for the historic race.

Deuso scored the local Democratic Party’s endorsement and defeated challenger Barry Cassidy during May’s primary. She focused her campaign on issues such as housing affordability, domestic violence and combatting teen suicide, rather than her identity.

“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,” Deuso said. “Leadership can be compassionate, practical, and focused on what works.”

Bryant, the GOP nominee, has a background in cybersecurity. His campaign focused on preventing “overdevelopment,” solving Downingtown’s flooding issues and fortifying public safety. Bryant ran unopposed during the primary election.

“While the result was not what we hoped for, I accept the outcome with humility and deep respect for our democratic process,” Bryant said in a statement. “I also extend my sincere congratulations to my opponent and wish them wisdom and success in leading our borough forward. This campaign was never about politics — it was about service, community, and integrity. Together, we shined a light on the challenges that truly matter flooding, overdevelopment, and preserving the small-town character that makes Downingtown so special.”

Deuso, who handles personnel and process quality management at Johnson & Johnson, is originally from Vermont. The Drexel University alumna moved to Downingtown in 2007. She is a committeeperson with the Chester County Democratic Committee and previously ran to become a state legislator.

Election Day in Chester County was far from drama-free. A poll book error left off third-party voters, forcing some voters to cast provisional ballots. County officials rushed to provide accurate, supplemental poll books. A judge extended voting hours in the county to 10 p.m.

“Thank you to the poll workers, and every volunteer who persevered through unprecedented challenges,” Deuso said. “To Independent voters who used provisional ballots, thank you for your patience. To the voters of Downingtown, thank you for a record turnout and your commitment to civic life. And to my campaign team, we pulled off something that would have been unthinkable in Chester County just a few years ago. Now the work begins. We will build a Downingtown that is safe, sustainable, and strong for everyone who calls it home.”