Over a hundred women were elected to the House of Representatives in the historic midterm elections on Tuesday night.
Out of all the female representatives 86 are Democrats and 15 Republican, early projections show. Thirty-four seats still were undecided as of early Wednesday morning. The figures are expected to fluctuate slightly as more precincts report, ABC News writes, but the number nonetheless represents an all-time high.
Election night was also significant for first-time female candidates, some of whom managed to flip Republican-held seats in Congress, as well as for Native American women such as political novice Sharice Davids, the first Native American and the first openly LGBTQ Congresswoman in Kansas.
“We have the opportunity to reset expectations about what people think when they think of Kansas. We know there are so many of us who welcome everyone, who see everyone and who know that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed,” Davids said in her victory speech.
Somali-American Ilhan Omar also won a resounding victory in Minnesota and along with Rashida Tlaib of Michigan made history as the first Muslim women elected to Congress. Virginia, New Jersey and Florida voters likewise contributed to historic midterms, electing at least eight first-time female congressional candidates.
“Together, we mobilized — to stand up for a platform of common-sense gun reform, support for higher education, environmental protection and affordable healthcare,” Florida’s Donna Shalala, a former Health and Human Services secretary in the Clinton administration, tweeted following her victory.
She added that they won’t stop until “every child has a fair shot at a higher education” and “this heartless administration is held accountable for their numerous injustices.”
Female candidates also made inroads in a handful of gubernatorial races, ABC News also informs.
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