Black Women Make Election Night History

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Beyond Hillary Clinton’s bruising defeat in trying to break the glass ceiling in the race for the White House, there were some historic victories for women on election night — in particular, for women of color.

Seven black women won various races ranging from the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, to state legislatures.

From California, Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate, and becomes the second black woman to win the Senate in 20 years. Prior to that, Harris was the first women of color — African American and Asian American— elected to serve as Attorney General of California.

In Minnesota, Ilhan Omar became the first Muslim refugee and first Somali-American Muslim woman elected to the Minnesota State House of Representatives.

In Maryland, Catherine Pugh was elected the next Mayor of Baltimore. She’ll replace Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who last year announced the she would not seek re-election.  Pugh has been a Maryland state Senator for 10 years.

Attica Scott of Kentucky became the first African American woman to be elected to the Kentucky State Legislature in 20 years.

In Illinois, former prosecutor and Assistant State’s Attorney Kim Foxx was elected Cook County State’s Attorney. Foxx, replaces the embattled former State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who faced intense criticism of the Chicago police shooting of a 17-year old black teen.

Also elected to Congress on Tuesday, Val Demings of Florida. Demings was Orlando’s first female police chief in 2007.

And, Lisa Blunt-Rochester became the first woman and first African American elected to Congress from Delaware.  She also served as Delaware’s first African Secretary of Labor.

 

Source: AURN

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