US midterms filled with historic firsts

The recent midterm elections in the US were filled with many historic firsts, including Muslim women being elected into congress for the very first time.

Rashida Tlaib and Ilham Omar

Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib won the race for the Democrats in the state of Michigan.

Joining Tlaib as the only other Muslim woman in Congress is Somali-American Ilham Omar. In this historic development in Minnesota's fifth congressional district, Omar takes over from Keith Ellison, who at the time of his appointment, was the first Muslim congressman.

Jared Polis

In a country where sexual orientation remains the subject of heated debates, Jared Polis has made it into history's archives by becoming America's first openly gay governor. 

Polis replaces John Hickenlooper as the governor of Colorado. 

People will be closely watching his term in office in a state where a court recently ruled in favour of a bakery that refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Ayanna Pressley

Amid cheers and celebratory scenes reminiscent of Barack Obama's victory night back in 2008, Ayanna Pressley addressed supporters after becoming Massachusetts' first woman of colour elected to the House of Representatives.

"I didn't come here to deliver a victory speech tonight, only one of vision. And when we realise equity, justice and equality, these rights for everyone, then and only then, will I deliver a victory speech," Pressley told supporters. 

Sisters doing it for themselves

More women stood for office in the 2018 US midterms than in any other elections previously, reports ABC News. 

A record number of 275 female candidates put themselves forward for public service. With 211 women up for election, the Democrats had three times more females than their Republican counterparts, who gave their voters 64 women to choose from.