We Made History! Here’s 9 Women That Beat the Odds In the Midterm Elections
Some of you may be bummed that we didn’t gain the senators or the governors that we were counting on to change this country
Some of you may be bummed that we didn’t gain the senators or the governors that we were counting on to change this country. But real change did occur. Women came out on top as the true winners of the midterm elections. While some elections are still being determined, it’s clear to say that the record number of women running for office did in fact make huge strides.
According to the Los Angeles Times, 116 women got elected, which means 1 in five people in congress are women. Furthermore, out of 107 women serving in Congress, 38 are women of color. That is incredible!
“Women led the charge last night in flipping the House for the Democratic Party and in picking up key seats in state legislatures nationwide,” Andrea Dew Steele, President and Founder of Emerge America, said in a press release. “This isn’t a moment, it is a movement for justice, equality and what is right for this country.”
Emerge America reported that more than 570 women were on the ballot in this election, and more than half running for Congress, statewide office or state legislatures.
Human Rights Watch states that while the election may be over, “there is still a lot of work moving forward to ensure the protection of human rights for all.”
“What we just saw was a record number of voters who made their voices heard at a pivotal moment in this country’s history,” Nicole Austin-Hillery, Executive Director at Human Rights Watch, said in a press release. “In the next Congress, it is imperative that the House and Senate exercise their oversight authority over this administration’s practices of abandoning refugees, detaining immigrant children, suppressing voter turnout, and rolling back women’s health and LGBT protections.”
We’re definitely hoping these women hold the president accountable.
Here’s some highlights of women who made history last night.
wp_*postsSharice Davids: First Native American woman elected to Congress.
Thank you, #KS03. pic.twitter.com/sRKrFv7eIv
— Sharice Davids (@sharicedavids) November 7, 2018
Davids won against GOP Rep. Kevin Yode.
wp_*posts
Deb Haaland: First Native American woman elected to Congress.
Thank you New Mexico. Thank you to my family. And thank you Team Deb, for your tireless work to get us here! Together, we made history! #nmpol #nm01 pic.twitter.com/SJLg5GFNlV
— Deb Haaland (@DebHaalandNM) November 7, 2018
Haaland will be representing New Mexico in Congress.
wp_*posts
Rashida Tlaib: First Muslim American woman elected to Congress.
Take nothing for granted, we've got to finish strong to seal the deal and elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Please make your plan to vote now! Find your polling place here: https://t.co/npdhKDyXk7 pic.twitter.com/X4ZUh3tZT6
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) October 30, 2018
Tlaib will represent Michigan in Congress.
wp_*posts
Ilhan Omar:First Muslim American woman elected to Congress.
We did this, together.
Thank you! pic.twitter.com/TywZwt2dR3
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 7, 2018
Omar will be representing Minnesota in Congress.
wp_*posts
Ayanna Pressley: First black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts.
"I have no intentions of delivering a victory speech. What I'm offering is a vision." — @AyannaPressley after her historic win #Midterms2018 pic.twitter.com/jFeLosbkQx
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) November 7, 2018
According to CBS News, Pressley backs “Medicare for All, favors abolishing ICE, and she rejected corporate PAC money.”
wp_*posts
Kyrsten Sinema: First female senator from Arizona.
This race hasn’t been called, but it’s looking very good for democrat Sinema.
wp_*posts
Veronica Escobar: First Latina elected to Congress from Texas.
Veronica Escobar makes history as Texas' first Latina elected to U.S. Congress https://t.co/9ZmQZY4Toi pic.twitter.com/x8RZ88ub8O
— El Paso Times (@elpasotimes) November 7, 2018
This win was huge! Escobar will represent Texas in Congress.
wp_*posts
Sylvia Garcia: First Hispanic Woman In Congress.
We won! Thank you for fighting for me. I will never stop fighting for you in Washington! pic.twitter.com/HB1q5SwCvv
— Sylvia R. Garcia (@LaCongresista) November 7, 2018
Garcia won againstDemocratic Rep. Gene Green.
wp_*posts
Janet Mills: First Woman Elected Governor of Maine.
Thank you, Maine! pic.twitter.com/Ir64A9q0eF
— Janet Mills (@JanetMillsforME) November 7, 2018
A win for these women is a win for us!