On Tuesday, millions of people showed up to their local polling sites to cast their ballots in the 2018 Midterm Election. While some states and counties are still tallying votes due to instances such as hidden voting machines, uncounted absentee ballots and other eyebrow-raising circumstances, the election results rolled in. While every outcome may not be the one you hoped for, there are several victories worth celebrating especially among women.
CNN has projected at least 102 women will serve in the House next years based on the election results that have been called so far. Making up the over 100 mark includes 35 newly elected representatives and 65 incumbents. They also projected nine women will take their gubernatorial races.
Here are some names you won’t want to forget as we continue to march towards progress in the United States:
Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland
PHOTO: Al Jazeera
First Native American women elected to Congress.
Sharice Davids ran against Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder and Deb Haaland will replace New Mexico Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham who vacated the seat to run for governor.
Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar
PHOTO: Buzzfeed News
First Muslim women elected to Congress.
Rashida Tlaib will fill the seat of Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers who left office due to sexual assault allegations and Ilhan Omar, who will also be the first Somali-American member of Congress, will take Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison seat.
Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia
PHOTO: Texas Observer
First Latina from Texas to represent the state in Congress.
Veronica Escobar will replace Rep. Beto O'Rourke in the congressional district near El Paso and Sylvia Garcia won a district in Houston that was given up by Democratic Rep. Gene Green.
Angie Craig
PHOTO: Angie Craig
First Lesbian mom elected to Congress.
Angie Craig defeated Minnesota 2nd District incumbent, Rep. Jason Lewis, who she ran against previously in 2016.
Ayanna Pressley
PHOTO: Boston Herald
Massachusetts' first Black member of the House.
Ayanna Pressley defeated incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano in the primaries and ran unopposed in the Midterm election.
Jahana Hayes
PHOTO: NewsTimes
Connecticut's first Black woman elected to Congress.
Jahana Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, will join Connecticut's all-Democrat delegation in the House of Representatives, according to NPR.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
PHOTO: Vox
The youngest woman elected to Congress.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 29, defeated New York Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in the primaries and is headed to Congress.
Letitia James
PHOTO: New York Times
First Black woman elected as New York Attorney General.
Letitia James is not new to firsts; she served as New York City’s first Black woman elected to statewide office (NYC Public Advocate). Now, she will be not only the first Black woman to serve as New York’s AG but the first Black person in general.
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