This year’s midterm election has truly been one of epic proportion as it resulted in record-breaking numbers, 117 women winning across the U.S. With 84 percent of that total representing women of color, there was an overwhelming amount of history-making elections across the country and it was evidently clear that this past election day, people came out and were eager to vote.

From roles of judges to the senate and house seats, women of color fought for education, economic justice for working families, and healthcare. This year’s turnout was much higher than the 2014 midterm election, when Republicans won the House and Senate unanimously during President Obama’s final term. There were a number of candidates in double-digit percentages in counties even before all votes were accounted for. African – American women, who happen to be the most overwhelming Democratic group, continued to make their presence known at the polls for Andrew Gillium in Florida, Stacy Abrams in Georgia and Beto O’Rourke in Texas. But below are some of the women who made history this month.

In New York, Letitia James became the first woman and African – American to be elected to serve as attorney general and first African-American woman to be elected to a statewide office. Also, 29 year old Bronx native Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman elected to Congress in US history.

Along with Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Illhan Omar are the first Muslim women elected to Congress. Omar also happens to be the first Somali-American woman in Congress. Democrats Sharice Davids, who is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and first openly LBGTQ+ person representing Kansas in Congress and Deb Haaland of New Mexico’s Laguna Pueblo people are the first indigenous women to join Congress. Young Kim is slated to become the first Korean-American woman in Congress. El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar and Democratic State Senator Sylvia Garcia are Texas’ first ever Latina women elected to their respective offices.

Lauren Underwood has been elected to represent Illinois’ 14^th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, making history as the first woman and first African-American elected to represent the district.

Jahana Hayes (D-CT) is the first black woman in state of Connecticut’s history to be elected to the House of Representatives.  Ayanna Pressley has become Massachusetts’ first African American Congresswoman. Juliana Stratton is the first black woman to serve as the lieutenant governor of Illinois. And, Colombian-born Lina Hildago will serve as a Harris County judge in Houston, TX. The 27- year old defeated Ed Emmett, who held the position of 11 years.

The so-called “Year of the Woman” seems to be living up to its name. Voters came out and collectively gave control of the House of Representatives to Democrats, and 17 of the 27 seats the gained were filled by women, while Republicans gained two. Out of the 117 women elected, 42 are women of color. To see those numbers, it very easy to say that America, a diverse nation made up of many cultural backgrounds, races and gender is finally taking steps in the right direction in seeking full representation for its melting pot. These midterm elections have also proven that your voice, actions and your vote matters. And most importantly, it serves as symbol of hope, strength and confidence to young girls everywhere that they can make the impossible possible, and no dream is ever too big to achieve. Ladies and gents we have truly a witnessed Black Girl Magic.

By: Jamal Clarke

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