Yahoo News Explains: Historic wins in the midterm elections
The midterm elections were historic for a lot of people, but especially for women.
A record number of women filed to run for office. As votes were counted, more history was made.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. “And right now who we are as a nation is that we have a crooked path, and it’s time to make that crooked path straight,” she said during a victory speech.
The 29-year-old first received national attention after she defeated longtime New York Rep. Joe Crowley in a June primary.
Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress.
Congratulations to my sister @RashidaTlaib on your victory!
I cannot wait to serve with you, inshallah. 🙏🏾
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 7, 2018
Massachusetts elected its first black congresswoman, Ayanna Pressley.
And Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland became the first Native American women in Congress. Davids is also the first openly gay Congress member in Kansas.
But not only women are making headlines. Jared Polis became the first openly gay governor in Colorado.
Women have never held more than 84 seats of the 435 in the House. Now more than 90 female candidates have been declared winners, with votes still being counted.
The biggest question now is whether the historic wins will continue into the 2020 presidential election.
