Zach Wahls, who seven years ago stood before the Iowa House of Representatives and delivered a stirring speech defending his two lesbian mothers, has just become a state lawmaker himself. In a landslide victory over his libertarian opponent, Carl Krambeck, Wahls, a Democrat, clinched 78 percent of the vote in Iowa Senate District 37. Wahls will succeed Sen. Bob Dvorsky (D), who is retiring after more than 30 years.

We won. Thank you, Iowa. — Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) November 7, 2018

Wahls, whose campaign promises included affordable health care and education, improved workers’ rights and gun control, was first thrust into the national spotlight in 2011 when his speech in support of his moms and gay marriage went viral. In the ensuing years, Wahls would go on to advocate for LGBTQ Americans in other ways, including co-founding Scouts for Equality, an advocacy group dedicated to ending discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America. Wahls, who announced last year that he was running for office, has said his viral speech had played a pivotal role in persuading him to pursue a career in public service.

Democrat Zach Wahls, who defended his lesbian moms in the Iowa House of Representatives as a teenager, just won a seat in the Iowa State Senate. #Midterms2018pic.twitter.com/woHMMzE3X9 — AJ+ (@ajplus) November 7, 2018