5 candidates of color who made history on Tuesday
Vice President Harris fell short of making history as the first woman — and first woman of color — to ascend to the presidency on Tuesday, but multiple other candidates of color did seal their place in the history books.
Here are five candidates of color who made history this election.
Lisa Blunt Rochester
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) defeated Republican Eric Hansen and independent Michael Katz for Sen.Tom Carper’s (D) seat, becoming the only Black woman to ever represent the First State in the upper chamber.
She also becomes only the third Black woman ever elected to serve in the Senate, behind Carol Mosley Braun and Vice President Harris.
During her victory speech, the 62-year-old mother of two paid homage to the trail “blazed by three strong Black women senators” before her.
“Here is my commitment to you: that I will go to the Senate, each and every day, with you in my heart and on my mind,” Blunt Rochester said. “Whether you voted for me or not.”
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) defeated former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in the Maryland Senate race, becoming the first Black woman to serve the Old Line State in the Senate.
Alsobrooks had the backing of some of the nation’s most prominent Black leaders, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D).
“It’s remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday,” Alsobrooks said during her victory speech Tuesday evening. “And in all those years, there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate. Only three have looked like me.”
“And so I want to salute all those who came before me, who made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight, whose sacrifices and stories I will continue to carry with me,” she added.
Andy Kim
Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) becomes the first Korean American elected to the Senate, having defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw.
“I say to you from the bottom of my heart as the Jersey kid who never thought he would be able to say this: I am your next United States Senator," Kim told supporters in his victory speech Tuesday night.
Kim has represented New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District since 2019, and he received outsized national attention after he was photographed cleaning the Capitol rotunda following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
Emily Randall
Emily Randall becomes the first openly LGBTQ Latina to serve in Congress after being elected to serve Washington State’s 6th Congressional District.
She also becomes the first out LGBTQ person to represent the Evergreen State.
Currently a state senator, Randall credits the 2016 election of Donald Trump with inspiring her to run for office.
In 2018, Randall flipped one of the state’s most competitive senate districts for Democrats, winning by 102 votes and helping Democrats regain control of the state’s upper chamber.
Monroe Nichols
Oklahoma State Rep. Monroe Nichols (D) has become the first Black mayor of the city of Tulsa. He defeated his competitor, Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, by more than 15,000 votes.
Nichols delivered his acceptance speech in front of images of Black Wall Street in the days before the Tulsa Race Massacre on Tuesday.
“We're not going to be a city that marks time. We may not always agree on a pathway to greatness, but we will always be united in our commitment to get there, and I will be an honest leader,” Nichols said.