Joanna Whaley, a 38-year-old former megachurch pastor who endured 15 years of Christian conversion therapy, has won the Democratic primary for Michigan’s second statehouse district, a Democratic stronghold, on Tuesday, August 5th, 2026. Whaley comfortably defeated former state representative Frank Liberati and Gary Schlack.

Earlier in 2026, Liberati attempted to have Whaley disqualified from the ballot over her name change, but the Wayne County clerk’s office dismissed the challenge, ruling her candidate affidavit legal and proper.

Whaley, who grew up in a Catholic family and spent two decades as a pastor at an evangelical megachurch, was forced to quit in 2022 when church leaders discovered she was contemplating a gender transition. She endured years of conversion practices with four different therapists as she wrestled with her gender identity.

Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of the US Congress, expressed support on social media, praising Whaley for overcoming indignities from her opponent and winning by over 30%.

Whaley will face Republican Ronald Kokinda in the general election on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026, to replace Tullio Liberati, brother of Frank Liberati, in the Michigan statehouse.

Sources