There’s no doubt last Tuesday’s election was for the breakers of glass ceilings. Here’s a look at the 13 women, including three Latinas, three transpeople and multiple women of color, who contributed to the country’s most historically diverse election accomplishment to date.
Today, on National Run For Office Day, we salute the women who are breaking barriers and inspiring us to take our voice to higher positions of power.
Elizabeth Guzman
CREDIT: Elizabeth Guzman / Facebook
Peruvian-born, Guzman is the first Latina to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates 31st district.
Hala Ayala
CREDIT: The Washington Post / Getty Images / mitú Composite
Ayala is the first Afro-Latina to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Cathy Murillo
CREDIT: Cathy Murillo / Facebook / mitú Composite
From Santa Barbara, California, she is the first Latina to be elected mayor of the city.
Danica Roem
CREDIT: PAUL J. RICHARDS / Getty Images / mitú Composite
As the winner of the Virginia House of Delegates 13th District, Roem is the country’s first openly transgender person to be elected to a state legislature
Vi Lyles
CREDIT: Vi Lyles / Facebook / mitú Composite
Lyles will be the first female African American to sit as mayor of Charlotte, N.C.
Kathy Tran
CREDIT: Kathy Tran / Facebook / mitú Composite
The democratic candidate is the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Michelle Kaufusi
CREDIT: Michelle Kaufusi / Facebook / mitú Composite
As the first female mayor-elect of Provo, she’s set to oversee Utah’s third-largest-city.
Jenny Durkan
CREDIT: Jenny Durkan / Facebook / mitú Composite
Durkan is the first openly gay woman to be elected to Seattle’s mayoral seat.
Andrea Jenkins
CREDIT: Andrea Jenkins / Facebook / mitú Composite
After winning a seat on the Minneapolis City Council, Jenkins became the first openly transgender woman of color to be voted in to public office.
Sheila Oliver
CREDIT: Sheila Oliver / Facebook / mitú Composite
Oliver is the first Black woman to be elected to the lieutenant governor position in New Jersey.
Joyce Craig
CREDIT: Joyce Craig / Facebook mitú Composite
She is the first female mayor-elect of Manchester, N.H.
Dawn Adams
CREDIT: Dawn Adams / Facebook / mitú Composite
The Virginia House of Delegates-elect is the first openly lesbian candidate to obtain the position.
Lisa Middleton
CREDIT: Lisa Middleton / mitú Composite
Middleton is the first transgender person in California to be elected to a non-judicial office and will serve on the Palm Springs City Council.
For anyone with a strong belief in equality for all, no matter their gender, ethnicity or social or economic status last week was a huge win. The results are a particularly huge boost of hope for women in the Latino community and sure sign of progress to come.
