US midterm elections 2018 – here are the women who made history
For the first time in US history, Americans have elected a record number of women to the Congress in the country's midterm elections. More than 100 women have made it to the US House of Representatives. And in Congress, here are the women who made history.
Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez: The 29-year-old from the Bronx is the youngest woman elected to the Congress. According to a New York Times article, a year ago, she was working as a waitress and supporting her family and today, the Democrat representative has defeated Republican Anthony Pappas to be elected to the Congress. She calls herself a Democratic-Socialist.
IIhan Omar: Democrat IIhan is the first Somali-American elected to Congress. IIhan won Minneapolis, Minnesota, a strong Democrat district. According to AFP and NDTV, once a Somali refugee, she is now an outspoken advocate of minority groups and President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.
Ayanna Presley - Ayanna is Massachusetts’ first Black Congresswoman, according to Jezebel. She won an uncontested general election. She unseated Mike Capuano earlier and was called ‘disruptive’ by many. She served as a congressional aide for 16 years before starting her political career.
Rashida Tlaib - According to CNN.com, Democrat Rashida is one of the first Muslim Congresswomen in the US Congress. Tlaib from Michigan won her midterm elections after an unopposed Republican candidate. In a tweet, she said, “Being there (Congress) is going to be important so that my residents feel like they have a seat at the table but also someone with a lot of courage to stand up and speak up.”
Sharice Davids, a Native American congresswoman, won the Kansas House race against GOP Rep Kevin Yoder. She is also Kansas’ first gay representative, according to New York Post.
Debra Haaland, a Native American congresswoman, is from New Mexico and defeated Republican Janice E Arnold-Jones in the midterm elections. She was a former state Democratic Party leader and is also a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe.
Marsha Blackburn - Republican Marsha beat the former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and is Tennessee’s first woman senator. According to Vox, she has conservative views on women’s issues like abortion, immigration and gun control. She has also issued investigation against Planned Parenthood. She has shown her support to President Trump and has spoken against Obamacare.
Abby Finkenauer - Democrat Abby is the first woman to represent Iowa’s first Congressional District. At 29, she is one of the youngest members in the House of Representatives. She defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Rod Blum. According to Hello Giggles, she is also called one of the most relatable person in Congress as she, like many others, has 20,000 student debt.
