The 2018 Midterm Elections brought with them a wave of diversity. America, an already diverse country, is starting to build up a government that more accurately represents all of its citizens. No matter who you are or what you do or do not believe, you should take pride in the fact that your country is increasingly electing people from a wide variety of demographics.
Here are some of the elected officials who made history in the recent elections:
First Muslim Women in Congress
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/rashida-tla...
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota are the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress. Omar will also be the first Somali-American member of Congress, a true example of the American Dream: she came to the United States as a refugee some decades ago.
First Native American Women in Congress
https://www.metro.us/news/politics/sharice-davids-...
Sharice Davids of Kansas and the Ho-Chunk Nation and Deb Haaland of New Mexico and the Pueblo of Laguna are making strides for their communities as the first Native American women in Congress.
First Openly LGBTQ+ Member of Congress from Kansas
https://people.com/politics/sharice-davids-first-l...
Sharice Davids is also the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress to be elected from Kansas.
First Latinas from Texas in Congress
https://www.advocate.com/politicians/2018/3/07/tex...
Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia are the first Latinas Texas has elected to Congress.
First Black Congresswoman in Connecticut
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/teacher-of...
Jahana Hayes, the 2016 recipient of the National Teacher of the Year Award, becomes the first black Congresswoman from Connecticut.
First Black Congresswoman in Massachusetts
https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a22854225/ayanna-pressley-massachusetts-congress-city-council-interview/
Ayanna Pressley becomes the first black Congresswoman to be elected from Massachusetts.
Youngest Woman Elected to Congress
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez-Cant-Afford-to-Rent-a-DC-Apartment-Until-Her-Congressional-Salary-Starts-500088781.html
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sets a new record as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at age 29.
First Openly Bisexual Person in the Senate
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/11/arizo...
Kyrsten Sinema makes national history as the first openly Bisexual member of the Senate.
Arizona's First Woman in the Senate
https://www.axios.com/kyrsten-sinema-jeff-flake-ma...
Kyrsten Sinema breaks down yet another barrier by becoming the first Arizona woman to be elected as a Senator.
First Woman Senator in Tennessee
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/11/net-ne...
Marsha Blackburn becomes the first Tennessee woman to be elected as a Senator.
First Iowa Women in the U.S. House
https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Voters-elect-Iowas-first-and-second-congresswomen-in-Midterm-elections-499994691.html
Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer are the first Iowa women ever to be elected into the U.S. House.
First Openly Gay Male Governor
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/colorados-jared-polis-1st-openly-gay-governor/story?id=58860827
Jared Polis makes history in Colorado by becoming their first openly Gay male Governor.
First Female Governor of Maine
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/maine-ag-janet-mills-...
Janet Mills breaks the glass ceiling in Maine by becoming their first female Governor.
First Female Governor of South Dakota
https://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/kristi-noem...
Kristi L. Noem follows suit, becoming the first female Governor of South Dakota.
The diverse results of these elections should give us all a sense of great pride and hope; the more accurately our government represents our population, the more favorable the outcomes of our politics will be.
