Progressive candidates won decisively across the country yesterday, and with their victories came some historic firsts for the U.S. government. A round-up:
– Nancy Pelosi will be the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives and the third highest official after president and vice-president. [Link]
– Pelosi will also be the first Italian-American elected as House Speaker.
– For the first time, three African-Americans — Charlie Rangel (D-NY), John Conyers (D-MI), and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) — are expected to serve simultaneously as House committee chairmen. [Link]
– Keith Ellison (D-MN), elected to the House yesterday, will become the first Muslim to serve in Congress. [Link]
– With Claire McCaskill’s (D) Senate victory in Missouri, a record number of women (
1516) will now serve in the U.S. Senate. [Link]– Governor-elect Deval Patrick (D-MA) became the first black governor elected in Massachussetts and the second African-American elected governor in the nation. [Link]
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