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25 Powerful Photos From the 116th Congressional Swearing-In Ceremony

ELLE.com

January 3, 2019 at 5:27 PM

<p>It was a historic day in Washington D.C. as the country's most diverse Congress was sworn into office. Ahead, see some of the most moving photographs from the day, from Rep. Ilhan Omar being sworn in as the first Somali-American congressperson to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema being sworn in as the first openly bisexual member of the Senate.</p>

<p>Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Barbara Lee, D-Texas, Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.</p>

<p>Rep. Ayanna Pressley waves to the audience during the swearing-in ceremony for Congressional Black Caucus members. Pressley is the first black congresswoman from the state of Massachusetts.</p>

<p>Rep. Lauren Underwood, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Rep. Ilhan Omar during the swearing-in ceremony of Congressional Black Caucus members. Omar is the first Somali-American member of Congress.</p>

<p>Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who beat out an incumbent in the November midterm elections, poses for a photo before the first session of the 116th Congress.</p>

<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enters the chamber. Pelosi is the only woman to ever become speaker of the House.</p>

<p>Members of Congress take an oath during the start of the 116th Congressional swearing-in ceremony.</p>

<p>Rep. Madeleine Dean and Susan Wild along with Rep. Grace Napolitano. Dean and Wild are two of the four female congressional representatives from Pennsylvania, a record number for the state.</p>

<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</p>

<p>Rep. Deborah Wasserman Schultz and Rep. Ilhan Omar</p>

<p>Children posing with Rep. Deb Haaland, Rep. Barbara Lee, and Rep. Sharice Davids. Haaland and Davids are the country's first Native American congresswomen.</p>

<p>Rep. Rashida Tlaib and her kids during the first session of the 116th Congress. Tlaib is one of the country's first Muslim congresswomen.</p>

<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes a photo with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.</p>

<p>Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her grandchildren.</p>

<p>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with other congresswomen.</p>

<p>Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence. Sinema is the first openly bisexual member of the Senate and the first female senator from Arizona.</p>

<p>Sen. Jacky Rosen is sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence. Rosen beat Republican incumbent Dean Heller in the midterm elections.</p>

<p>Rep. Ilhan Omar celebrating after taking her oath of office.</p>

<p>Rep. Ilhan Omar officially being sworn into the House of Representatives.</p>

<p>Rep. Rashida Tlaib is officially sworn in while <a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a25714487/rashida-tlaib-thobe-sworn-into-congress/" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:wearing;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">wearing</a> a traditional Palestinian thobe.</p>

<p>Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being sworn in.</p>

<p>Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is officially sworn in.</p>

<p>Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.</p>

<p>Rep. Deb Haaland</p>

<p>Rep. Lauren Underwood being sworn in; Underwood is the youngest black woman to serve in Congress. She's the first woman, and first black person, to represent her Illinois district.</p>

<p>Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Barbara Lee, Jahana Hayes, Lauren Underwood, and Sheila Jackson Lee.</p>

A record number of women were sworn into Congress on Thursday.

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