Teenage boy wins state seat in US elections

A teenager has won a seat in New Hampshire’s state legislature, becoming one of the youngest elected officials in the US, local media report.

Eighteen-year-old Tony LaBranche will take his place as the representative for Amherst.

“Last night we made history, first openly gay man elected in Amherst history and possibly the youngest in state history,” the Democrat wrote on Instagram after the vote. “Thank you to everyone who made this possible and thank you all for standing by me and supporting me!”

Speaking to the Alton Telegraph, he said a cancer diagnosis when he was 10 and the high cost of healthcare convinced him to enter politics.

“I went from beating cancer to running for state rep and here I am,” LaBranche told the paper.

Congratulations to RAD member Tony Labranche on your historic win as a member of the LGBTQ+ community to represent Hillsborough 22! @tonylabranche #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/2vIEVQPtNH

— Rights & Democracy (@RightsNH) November 4, 2020