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 (15 16) 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]