Election Day in the United States finally came to a long-awaited close last night as Americans chose who would be the 45th president.
Some of the other names on ballots across the country, however, will be recorded in the history books as “firsts” in their fields.
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Meanwhile in California, State Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris was elected as the state’s first freshman Senator in 24 years. Harris is the first black politician to represent California, the second black woman ever to join the Senate, and the first woman ever elected as California attorney general. The Democratic daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants will be replacing the retiring Democrat Barbara Boxer.
48 year-old Tammy Duckworth, a congresswoman from Illinois and the first disabled woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, won the race for US Senate. An Iraq War veteran, Duckworth served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot and suffered severe combat wounds, losing both of her legs. She defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk.
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Ilhan Omar became the nation’s first Somali-American legislator after she won a House seat in Minnesota. The 34-year-old succeeded with 80% of the vote, making her an important representative of the largest Somali immigrant population in America.
Finally, Kate Brown was elected as the nation’s first openly LGBT governor in Oregon. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey came out as gay in 2004, but he had already been elected – Brown, however, has made history as an outed bisexual woman.
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So glad to have news that positively acknowledges our diversity!!
Also, Kellyann Conway became the first woman in history to successfully lead a presidential campaign. Can’t forget that!