Hillary Clinton’s defeat in the 2016 presidential election may have many ENTITY women down but her loss should not overshadow the success of other women elected to office this year. Six women – all representing diverse countries and cultures – have won seats in Congress and other elected offices.
Here’s ENTITY’s scoop on the six inspirational women elected into Washington this season, listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Oregon’s governor Kate Brown is the first openly bisexual person to be elected to any state. Although she was the incumbent – the previous governor resigned in 2015 – she was officially reinstated by her constituents in this election. Her win serves as a bright light in the LGBTQ community in a political world dominated by heterosexual public servants.
“I believe very strongly that by having a diversity of voices at the leadership table, the public policy we make is more reflective and more respectful,” Brown told The Washington Post. “And I will … continue to use that voice and my experiences as a member of the LGBT community, as well as my female voice to help us push forward as a nation.”
Tammy Duckworth’s win wasn’t much of a shock. The newly-elected Illinois Senator was predicted to beat incumbent Republican Mark Kirk for the seat in the heavily Democratic state, according to CNN. Yet her win is incredibly inspiring – she is the first Thai-American to hold this role.
In addition to representing Asian-Americans with her role, Duckworth also serves as a voice for the armed forces – she is “a military veteran who lost her legs in the Iraq war after the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004,” according to The New York Times. Three days after the election, Duckworth took to Twitter on Veteran’s Day to express her support for the men and women who served beside her in the military.
Today I’m honoring #Veterans like my buddies who refused 2leave me behind—every day &especially today I think about what I can do2repay them
— Tammy Duckworth (@RepDuckworth) November 11, 2016
READ MORE: 9 Things Veterans Want Every Civilian to Know
Senator Barbara Boxer’s retirement announcement sent some #WomenThatDo into a panic, yet Kamala Harris taking her place eased some panicked Californians. Harris – previously California’s Attorney General – is the second African-American woman to win a Senate seat. Her platform tackles many important issues, such as cutting down college costs, dealing with the changing climate and focusing on the future generation.
“I’ve worked hard to protect and support children, and I’ve seen what happens when we don’t,” Harris told NBC News. “So I’ve developed this strong feeling that, as a community, we have a responsibility to make sure that every child is safe, is healthy and has access to a high quality education. We not only owe it to those children, but we owe it to the entire community.”
Pramila Jayapal is the first woman of Indian descent to join the ranks of Congress in the House of Representatives. She will be the voice of Washington state, elected by a heavily liberal and millennial district. The Sanders-endorsed woman is an activist for minorities, particularly immigrants, according to The Seattle Times.
On election night, Jayapal and her opponent Brady Walkinshaw spoke at an event held in Optimism Brewing, located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. When discussing the possibility of a Trump win in a press conference, when she emphasized her commitment to human rights.
“If our worst fears are realized, we will be on the defense as of tomorrow,” Jayapal said in the speech. “We will have to fight for social justice as never before.”
“We make a commitment to those of you who are fearful for your lives and futures that we will stand with you.” 3 @weareoneamerica
— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) November 10, 2016
Catherine Cortez Masto made history as the first Latina woman to serve as a senator, representing her home state of Nevada. Like Harris, she previously held the title of Attorney General. Masto beat Joe Heck, a Republican representative who received major heat from Obama for his Donald Trump endorsement.
As the granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant, immigration issues compose a significant portion of her platform, according to The New York Times. In her election night victory speech, she discussed her plan to uphold these values if a Trump administration became a reality.
“If Donald Trump is the president, well I’ll tell you this: Our government is built on a system of checks and balances,” Masto said. “And I will promise you this: I will be one hell of a check and balance on him.”
Ilhan Omar broke through a lot of critical barriers by earning legislative power this election. The mother of three is both a Muslim and former refugee, which makes her win surprising in the red state of Minnesota. Omar is also the first Somali-American to represent a state parliament, NPR reports.
READ MORE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life Advice for Women
“This really was a victory for that 8-year-old in that refugee camp,” Omar said. “This was a victory for the young woman being forced into child marriage. This was a victory for every person that’s been told they have limits on their dreams. … I think I bring the voice of young people. I think I bring the voice of women in the East African community. I bring the voice of Muslims. I bring the voice of young mothers looking for opportunities.”
Somalia: Ilhan Omar – From Refugee to Minnesota Legislator https://t.co/n5Qd0UDJ4X pic.twitter.com/IJUsJHqZLc
— Global Issues Web (@globalissuesweb) November 11, 2016
Political strides for people of color was not exclusive to women. Cyrus Habib (Democrat) became the first Iranian-American lieutenant governor of Washington and Tim Scott (Republican) is the first African-American from a Southern state to be elected to Senate since the 1800s, according to The New York Times.
Additionally, Trump’s win earned Kellyanne Conway the title of the first female campaign manager for a President-elect.
READ MORE: Kellyanne Conway Breaks Glass Ceiling as Donald Trump’s Campaign Manager
While we may not have the first female president in the White House, these diverse women are cracking other glass ceilings in politics and giving us hope for the future.
