She is the first transgender person known to have been elected as a trial judge and one of very few elected to any office.

Read the article here, before it is archived in a few days.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_16966747?nclick_check=1

I followed this election, though I live in the next county.

There was some opposition by some people/groups, but her opponent did not seem to use her gender/gender change as much of an issue.