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Historic Firsts

The 2018 midterm election brought a series of history-making politicians into power. This wave of progressive politicians will break decade-long barriers when they are sworn in, and have marked major accomplishments for women, racial minorities, and the LGBT community alike.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

At age 29, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman to ever be elected to Congress in the 2018 midterm election. She took the Democratic Party by surprise when she won the democratic primary for New York’s 14th congressional district, achieving the surprising feat of unseating powerful 10-term congressman, Joe Crowley. Daughter of a Puerto Rican mother, Ocasio-Cortez grew up in a working-class community and ran a grassroots campaign that preached progressive proposals, such as the abolition of the Immigrant Customs Enforcement (ICE) and tuition free college.

Rashida Tlaib

Rashida Tlaib became America’s first Palestinian-American woman in Congress when she ran unopposed in her race to represent Michigan’s 17th District. She ran on a Democratic-Socialist platform, which preached the abolition of the Immigrant Customs Enforcement (ICE), a fifteen-dollar minimum wage, and free healthcare.

Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar was one of the two Muslim congresswomen elected into office for the 2018 midterm election. A former Somali refugee, Omar spent the last two years as a state legislator with a political agenda that advocates for a fifteen-dollar minimum wage, the banning of private prisons, and a more affordable college tuition for low-income students.

Ayanna Pressley

Ayanna Pressley made history after defeating 10-term incumbent, Michael Capuano, in the primary election. Pressley faced no challengers in the 2018 midterm election, consequently becoming Massachusetts’ first black member of the House of Representatives. Her platform advocates for the defunding of the Immigrant Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sharice Davids

Former lawyer and MMA fighter, Sharice Davids, shocked America when she became the first Native American congresswoman. Raised by a single mother army veteran and a member of the Wisconsin-based Ho-Chunk Nation, Davids was a fellow in the Obama White House. As a member of the LGBT community, Davids preaches equality and wishes to prioritize issues such as education, gun safety, the environment, and immigration.

Jared Polis

Colorado and the LGBT community alike made history when Jared Polis, an openly gay man, was elected governor for the 2018 midterm elections. Polis has run on a left-wing platform that preaches the repeal of the death penalty, stronger gun laws, and the legalization of marijuana. He ran against republican gubernatorial nominee Walker Stapleton, and will succeed Colorado’s Democratic governor, John Hickenlooper.

House Results

The House flipped as Democrats took control, gaining (as of publishing) 30 seats in the House. Of the 10 races that remain undecided, Democrats lead in 7. In New Jersey District 3, Democrat Andrew Kim leads Republican Tom MacArthur by about 3,000 votes, but the race has not been called. Overall, the Democrats currently have 225 seats, and the Republicans have 200. While the Democrats’ victory was significant, it was certainly not the “blue wave” liberals were forecasting. The Democratic leadership and likely Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi now has a decision to make: will they work alongside the Trump administration and House Republicans or pursue their own agenda?

Closer to home, Mikie Sherrill flipped New Jersey District 11 (that’s us), beating Republican Jay Webber to become our district’s first Democratic representative in 34 years. Even if you haven’t seen the numerous signs for Sherrill or Webber around town, your family has definitely received a few political ads in the mail over the past few weeks. In the end, Sherill, a Montclair resident, is a former US Navy pilot and federal prosecutor, who won over the citizens of NJ-11 with her impressive background of public service and her promises of bipartisanship. Sherrill will be a new voice for NJ-11, as the district was represented by Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen for over two decades, and she is the first woman elected to represent NJ-11. In New Jersey and across the country, it is certain that when this new Congress is sworn in in January, the American political landscape will be significantly altered.

Senate Results

At a glance, it looks like nothing changed in the Senate, but a closer look actually reveals some pretty sizable changes. While the Republicans still control the Senate by four seats, 51-47 (in case you aren’t a super political person, there are two independent senators so that’s why the number doesn’t add up to 100). Democrats gained Nevada and Arizona, which was especially frustrating for Republicans as the Senator from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, won by 1.7% (talk about a close race). Also in Arizona, they paid tribute to the late Republican Senator John McCain. Republicans gained North Dakota, Indiana, and Missouri although some states are still undecided.

After enduring all the ads and posters all over town, we might be thinking THANK GOD those elections are over, but imagine if we had to go through elections until November 27, like the people in Mississippi. Unfortunately for the state of Mississippi, neither candidate got more than 50% majority, so they need to have a runoff election. There’s also conflict in the state of Georgia. Current Senator Stacey Adams refuses to concede her position to the winner, Republican Brian Kemp. She has started a legal challenge to make sure that every vote is accounted for.

Finally, the close races in Florida must also be recounted. As of the time of publication, the states’ races are in a state of confusion too complicated for us to unpack, so here is an article recounting EVERYTHING that has happened and is still happening in the Florida recount.