Danica Roem combats her opponent’s transphobic attacks in a new ad supporting her bid to become Virginia’s first openly transgender state legislator.

“I’m running for office because my identity shouldn’t be a big deal. Because this shouldn’t be newsworthy or political. This is just who I am.”

Roam (D), has been the subject of transphobic slurs and attacks by her Republican opponent, Incumbent Robert Marshall, who is refusing to respect her gender identity and address her as a woman. Marshall has also refused to debate Roem and recently referred to her as “he” while asking a reporter, “Why do you call Danica a female? Did Danica’s DNA change?” Marshall then repeated his transphobic attacks while speaking with the Washington Post, “You can change appearances, but your DNA fixes your bodily structures for your entire life. Danica will never get cervical cancer. Danica can’t get ovarian cancer because those body parts are not part of a male structure.”

The new 30-second spot, titled “Inspire” features Roam standing in front of her mirror as she takes her hormones while proceeding to apply her makeup as she gets ready for her day. Her voiceover states, “I’m running for office because my identity shouldn’t be a big deal. Because this shouldn’t be newsworthy or political. This is just who I am.”

Virginia political pundits are calling Roem’s challenge to Marshall’s seat “the race of the year.” She is currently out-fundraising her opponent by a ratio of 5-1, bringing in close to $400,000 for her campaign. If she wins, Roem would not only become the state’s first openly transgender legislator, but she will do so by beating one of the state’s biggest opponents of gay and transgender rights.

The commercial closes with Roem narrating, “There are millions of transgender people in this country, and we all deserve representation in government. So when I stand up on the statehouse floor and the speaker says ‘the gentlewoman from Manassas,’ LGBTQ kids everywhere will know they can succeed because of who they are, not despite it.”