WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 2024 election has marked a historic moment in American politics, with unprecedented results shaping both the White House and Congress. While Vice President Kamala Harris had hoped to make history as the first female president and the first president of South Asian descent, Donald Trump, who crossed the 270 electoral votes needed to reclaim the office.
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This victory made Trump only the second president in U.S. history to serve non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland, who was elected as both the 22nd and 24th president in 1884 and 1892, respectively. Trump also makes history as the first president to return to office after being convicted of a crime.
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Historic Firsts in the U.S. Senate
The 2024 election saw several significant milestones in the Senate, setting new precedents in representation:
- Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) will become the first woman and the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the Senate. Previously, she was Delaware’s first female and Black House representative in 2017.
- Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) has been elected as Maryland’s first Black senator, prevailing over former Gov. Larry Hogan, who was aiming to be the first Republican senator from Maryland in nearly 40 years.
- Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), a Republican, will make history as Ohio’s first Hispanic statewide official and the first South American-born senator.
- Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is set to become the first Korean American senator, projected to fill the seat of former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez following Menendez’s conviction on federal bribery charges.
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Groundbreaking Representation in the House of Representatives
The House races presented a unique opportunity for new identities to be represented in Congress, particularly among the LGBTQ+ and minority communities:
- Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who won Delaware’s at-large congressional seat, will be the first openly transgender member of Congress. Previously, McBride was the first openly transgender person to work in the White House, speak at the Democratic National Convention, and serve as a Delaware state senator.
- Julie Johnson (D-Texas) will be the first openly gay representative from the South, while Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Washington’s first female LGBTQ state senator in 2018, is projected to become the first LGBTQ Latina in Congress.
The House elections have also made history in minority representation:
- Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.) could become the first Black woman to represent Oregon in Congress.
- Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) will be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the House.
- Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), the longest-serving woman in congressional history, is seeking her 22nd term, further extending her legacy.
Notable Advances for Asian American and Latino Representation
This election may also produce historic firsts in Asian American and Latino representation:
- Derek Tran (D-Calif.) could become California’s first Vietnamese member of Congress.
- Amish Shah (D-Ariz.) may serve as the first Asian American and Indian American representative from Arizona.
- Nellie Pou (D-N.J.) has the chance to become the first Hispanic woman to represent New Jersey in Congress.
- Tony Vargas (D-Neb.) could make history as the first Latino to represent Nebraska in Congress.
As the final votes continue to be counted, more milestones may emerge from the 2024 election, reflecting an increasingly diverse Congress that mirrors the nation’s multifaceted identity.
