Historic Wins for Women in 2018 General Election

Akilah Dia-Amadi
Nov 7, 2018
2 min read

While much media attention and celebrity endorsement was given to a hard fought yet unsuccessful firsts in East Cost Governor races, women broke records across the country in Congressional, Senate and Governor seats. In addition, women now have a record high number of Congressional members. That coupled with the fact that Democrats took majority in the house, we are likely to see more progressive movement for change in our nation.

Here are some Historical Wins for Women in the 2018 election.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) and Abby Finkenauer (IA) are the youngest members elected to Congress, both at 29 years old. Ocasio who turn 29 in October, holds the record of the youngest member elected to Congress, a record previously held by Elise Stefanik who was elected at 30. While Congress is not an entry level position in politics, law requires one to be at-least 25 years of age to run as a representative and 30 to run for Senate. The youngest Senator is currently 41 years of age.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York (Image from Facebook)

Abby Finkenauer (29), Iowa, (Image from Twitter)

Ayanna Pressley is now the first Black Woman to Be Elected to Congress In Massachusetts. She is not new to breaking records, Ayanna is also the first African-American to serve on the Boston City Council. While Ayanna ran for Congress unopposed she beat 10 term incumbent Michael Capuano.

Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts (Photo Credit: Boston Herald, Christopher Evans)

We now have our first Muslim American Women in Congress. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress despite all the propaganda our country has witness over the pass few years.

Ilhan Omar, Minnesota (Photo Credit: AP Images)

Rashida Tlaib, Michigan (Photo Credit: Paul Sancya / AP)

Debra Haaland of New Mexico and Sharice Davis of Kansas are the First Native American women elected to Congress. This is a big leap for Native Americans who were not fully enfranchised in all states until 1962 when New Mexico became the final state to do so.

Debra Haaland, New Mexico (Photo Credit: The Nation, Michael Anaya-Gorman)

Sharice Davis, Kansas (Image source: Flicker)

Texas has elected their first two Latina women to Congress. Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia will be the first Latina women to represent the state of Texas in Congress.

Veronica Escobar, Texas (Photo Credit: El Paso Times, R. Ramirez)

Silvia Garcia, Texas (Image from SilviaforCongress.com)

In 2018, we are still seeing "first women to be elected" in some states. Marsha Blackburn is now the first female senator to represent Tennessee. Kristi Noem is now South Dakota’s first woman governor.