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- Caitlyn Jenner, a trans woman, is running in California's recall election against Gov. Gavin Newsom.
- Sarah McBride, the highest-ranking trans official in the US, told Insider that Jenner's campaign is a "joke."
- The Delaware lawmaker went on to say that Jenner poses a "real threat" to young, trans people.
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Delaware state senator Sarah McBride, the highest-ranking openly transgender elected official in the US, told Insider that Caitlyn Jenner running in California's recall election against Gov. Gavin Newsom is nothing more than a "joke."
"I don't see her talking to voters. I see her talking to far right-wing media. I see her talking to CPAC. I don't see her talking to Californians," McBride said.
The Delaware lawmaker told Insider that while transgender individuals running for office are normally positive for political representation, Jenner's campaign is likely to do more harm than good.
"Caitlyn Jenner running for office is not helpful because I don't think people perceive her, and this is an accurate perception, as a serious candidate and as a serious person," McBride explained.
"I don't think a trans vanity joke campaign, essentially what this is perceived as, is helpful to trans people being seen as fully realized, substantive, nuanced, diverse human beings," she continued.
Jenner is running as a Republican and publicly supported former President Donald Trump in the 2016 election. She has since denounced Trump over his stance on LGBTQ rights.
But some of her political positions have angered LGBTQ advocates. For example, the 77-year-old former athlete faced criticism for saying that transgender girls shouldn't participate in girls' sports teams, Insider's Connor Perrett and Bill Bostock reported.
"I think someone who is endorsing anti-trans policies poses a real threat to young, trans people and to the people who have been targeted by these anti-trans bills that have been proliferated around the country," McBride said. "So no, I don't see her candidacy as a positive."
Jenner is a longshot candidate for California governor. A UC Berkeley/Los Angeles Times poll of 10,289 California voters in May showed she only had 6 percent support.
Insider reached out to Jenner for comment, but she did not immediately respond to the request.