Victory Of Lesbian Governor, Indian-American, Black Attorney General: The Many Firsts In US Midterm Polls
The 2022 mid-term elections in the United States have been defined by the race for control of Congress as well as key statewide positions.
The 2022 mid-term elections in the United States have been defined by the race for control of Congress as well as key statewide positions. In Washington, Republicans are looking to break the Democratic trifecta by winning one or both chambers of Congress and as far as the battleground states are concerned, Democrats are looking to defend vulnerable governors and win crucial down-ballot contests that could prove pivotal in future election fights.
Ahead of Election Day, both parties are also seeking to diversify their ranks of elected officials, both in Congress and beyond. Republicans were excited about growing their roster of female governors and on the other hand, Democrats eyed increasing the number of Black US senators and making a breakthrough for LGBTQ representation in governor’s offices.
Both parties also sought to welcome their first members of Congress from Generation Z – those born after 1996. As election results are still coming in, here’s a look at the candidates projected by CNN, who will make history in the midterm elections.
Katie Britt
According to CNN’s projection, Republican Katie Britt will be the first elected female senator from Alabama, winning an open-seat race to succeed her onetime boss, retiring GOP Sen. Richard Shelby. Britt is a former CEO of the Business Council of Alabama and was the favorite in the general election. Two women have previously represented Alabama in the Senate.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be the first woman elected governor of Arkansas, according to CNN. She has managed to win the office which was previously held by her father for over a decade. Sanders earned a national profile in her role as press secretary in the Trump White House. With this victory, she becomes the first daughter in US history to serve as governor of the same state her father once led.
Maxwell Frost
Maxwell Frost from the Democratic party will be the first member of Generation Z elected to Congress, according to CNN. He will win the open seat for Florida’s 10th Congressional District. Generation Z refers to those born after 1996. Frost will succeed Democrat Val Demings, who vacated the seat to run for Senate.
Wes Moore
Wes Moore from the Democratic party will be the first Black governor of Maryland, CNN projects. He will become only the third Black person elected governor in US history. Moore is an Army veteran and former nonprofit executive. He will succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.
Anthony Brown
Anthony Brown will be the first Black person elected attorney general of Maryland, CNN projects. Brown, who currently represents Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, has been a longtime fixture in state politics, having also served as state lieutenant governor and in the state House and run for governor in 2014.
Aruna Miller
Aruna Miller scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American politician to win the race of Lieutenant Governor in the state of Maryland, adjoining the US capital. Miller, 58, a former delegate to the Maryland House, was on the Lieutenant Governor ticket along with Wes Moore -- the Democratic Governor-elect. The Lieutenant Governor is the state's highest official following the Governor and assumes the role when the Governor is out of state or incapacitated.
The Lieutenant Governor also becomes the Governor should the Governor die, resign, or be removed from office. Soon after the polling closed on Tuesday evening, Moore and Miller were declared elected against their Republican challengers. Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had campaigned in favour of Moore and Miller.
Maura Healey
Democrat Maura Healey will be the first out lesbian governor in US history, CNN projects, winning an open-seat race for the governorship of Massachusetts. Healey, the current attorney general of Massachusetts, will also be the commonwealth’s first elected female governor.
Markwayne Mullin
Republican Markwayne Mullin will be the first Native American senator from Oklahoma in almost 100 years as projected by CNN. She will be winning the special election to succeed GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe, who is resigning in January. Mullin is a member of the Cherokee Nation. She is currently representing the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
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