Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms

A look at the black, Latin, LGBT, and Muslim candidates diversifying politics following Tuesday’s election.

November 07, 2018
Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addresses the crowd gathered at La Boom night club in Queens on November 6, 2018 in New York City.   Rick Loomis/Getty

On Tuesday night Democrats won control of the House, delivering a major blow to Trump in the first election since he became president in 2016. The win was momentous for a number of reasons, not just that Democrats can now challenge Trump and the Republican party agenda. Among the new names joining Congress after Tuesday are a host of young, Muslim, Latin, immigrant, and LGBT canidadates.

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Arguably the most high-profile of the new members of congress is 29-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured above) who became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. The record previously belonged to Elise Stefanik who was elected to Congress at age 30 in 2014.

Read on for more on the key wins diversifying politics in the 2018 midterms.

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Jahana Hayes
Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms Jahana Hayes during the 2016 National Teacher of the Year ceremony in the East Room of the White House May 3, 2016 in Washington, DC.   Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Hayes became the first African-American woman to represent Connecticut in Congress. In her acceptance speech on Tuesday night she told supporters: “People have said to me, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes. She’s not built for this.' Not only am I built for this, I’m Brass City built for it.”

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Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib
Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms Ilhan Omar speaks at an election night results party on November 6, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota   Stephen Maturen/Getty

Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have become the first Muslim women to be elected to U.S. Congress. Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, ran unopposed in Michigan's 13th district House race. This win also makes her the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress. Omar joined Tlaib in being the second Muslim woman in Congress when she won in Minnesota's fifth congressional district shortly after. Omar's win also makes her the first Somali-American in Congress.

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Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia

The first Latina congresswomen from Texas. Veronica Escobar, a former county judge, won her race in Beto O’Rourke’s former district in El Paso, while Sylvia Garcia was victorious in Houston. “It’s about time,” Garcia told supporters. “But you know, it’s never been about being a first. It’s always been about being the best.”

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Ayanna Pressley
Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms Ayanna Pressley speaks at a rally on October 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts   Scott Eisen/Getty

Pressley made history again after defeating the 10-term incumbent Michael Capuano in the primary. This makes her the first black member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts. At her victory speech, Pressley told her supporters that women of colour have had to create "seismic shifts" to enact change.

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Jared Polis
Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms Democratic Colorado Governor-elect Jared Polis speaks at an election night rally on November 6, 2018 in Denver, Colorado.   Rick T. Wilking/Getty

Polis defeated incumbent Republican Walker Stapleton to become the first openly gay man elected Governor in the country. He ran on a leftwing platform, which included single-payer healthcare, repeal of the death penalty, universal full-day preschool, and stronger gun laws.

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Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland
Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms Sharice Davids speaks to supporters during an election night party on November 6, 2018 in Olathe, Kansas.   Whitney Curtis/Getty

Former MMA fighter Davids became the first Native American congresswoman and the first lesbian congresswoman from Kansas. Prior to running she was a lawyer and worked as a White House fellow during the Obama-Trump transition

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Meanwhile, in New Mexico, Deb Haaland the first Native American congresswoman alongside Davids. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and the former chair of the New Mexico state Democratic Party, won her First Congressional District on Tuesday night.

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In Maine, Janet T. Mills became the first woman to be elected governor. The Democrat was formerly the state's attorney general. She replaces Republican Paul LePage in the position, a man she has clashed with over his attempts to block Medicaid expansion in the state and his many racist remarks.

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29-year-old Democrat Finkenauer beat the Republican Rod Blum to become the first woman elected to Congress from Iowa.

Here are the candidates who made history in the 2018 midterms