By Avi Wizwer
With the 2024 election at a close, several candidates have made history following Tuesday night’s election. These many “firsts” in American history brought greater representation to Congress.
Andy Kim (D) became the first Korean American selected for the U.S. Senate, defeating Curtis Bershaw (R). Kim took over the New Jersey seat of former Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez.
Kim, the son of Korean immigrants, was born and raised in New Jersey. This election opened up avenues for Asian American representation in the Senate. “We showed that politics isn’t some exclusive club just for the well-off and the well-connected,” said Kim, according to the New York Times.
Sarah McBride (D) of Delaware has become the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, securing the victory over John Whalen III (R). McBride has served for two terms as Delaware’s state senator.
“That ticket is not an ultimate destination, but it is a reflection of how far we’ve come, that no matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, or the gender with which you identify, that you can live your truth and dream big dreams all at the same time,” McBride said, according to NBC News. “It’s not the end, but it’s the beginning.”
The Equal Rights Amendment, Proposition 1, passed in New York. New Yorkers voted on Proposition 1 to protect abortion rights and access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control and IVF, from federal action. It will also defend the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups, establishing protection against any form of discrimination. According to Pix11, 62% of New Yorkers voted in favor of the amendment.
“One very bright glimmer of hope in our state was New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly in support of Proposition 1. This amendment firmly establishes that reproductive freedom is worth fighting for and protecting,” stated Gov. Hochul at a press conference on Nov. 6, post-Election Day.
For the first time, two Black women will serve in the Senate simultaneously: Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks (D); the total number of Black women ever elected into the Senate doubled from two to four. According to Today, Rochester became the first woman and Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate, and Alsobrooks became the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate.
“It’s remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday,” Alsobrooks stated in a speech following her victory, according to AP News. “And in all of those years, there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate. Only three have looked like me.”