SAN FRANCISCO – A transgender candidate might raise a few eyebrows in some locales, but in liberal San Francisco, it's not an issue.
Robert Haaland (search), who was born a female but now lives life as a man, is running for a seat on the city's Board of Supervisors and if elected, he would become the first transgender politician elected in the U.S.
An alderman in Rapid City, S.D., announced in April that he is transgender and is preparing for gender reassignment surgery.
Haaland, who wants to represent the ultra-liberal Haight Ashbury (search) district, is currently the front-runner in a field of 22 candidates.
Voter Joan Van Bressan lauded Haaland's effort and said, "San Francisco is the most likely place for her to stand a chance."
Haaland's campaign rekindles memories of San Francisco's other history-making race in 1977, when openly gay politician Harvey Milk (search) was elected to the Board of Supervisors.
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier (search) said Haaland is backed by the city's powerful lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political base.
"Not only does this guy have a shot, he's definitely in the race," Matier said.
Click on the video box at the top to watch a report by FOX News' William LaJeunesse.
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