The 119th Congress will usher in a number of notable “firsts” when it kicks off in early January. Here are some of the incoming members who are poised to make history:
— Sens.-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) will become the first two Black women to serve together in the Senate. Neither Delaware or Maryland have ever had a Black senator. And Delaware has never been represented by a woman in the upper chamber.
We talked to Blunt Rochester before the election, and she reflected on the possibility of being sworn into the Senate alongside Alsobrooks.
– Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) will become the first openly transgender member to serve in Congress. Her election comes at a time when Republicans have increasingly targeted transgender rights.
– Rep.-elect Julie Johnson (D-Texas) will be the first openly gay member to not only represent Texas but the entire South.
— Emily Randall (D-Wash.) is on track to become the first openly LGBTQ Latina in Congress. Her race hasn’t been officially called but she’s well ahead in the safe blue seat.
— Sen.-elect Andy Kim (D-N.J.) will be the first Korean-American senator.
— Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is poised to become the first Hispanic senator from Arizona. His race also hasn’t been called but he’s ahead.
— Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) will become the first Hispanic lawmaker to represent Ohio statewide. He will also become the first senator born in South America.
