It’s hard to believe it took until 2014, but Iowa just elected its first woman to serve in Congress. Joni Ernst won her seat by casting herself as a “farm girl” who was comfortable castrating pigs.
In Utah, Mia Love was the first black female Republican elected to the House—ever, in the history of the Republican Party. She will be part of the 10% of Republicans in the Congress who are women.
When Elise Stefanik was elected to Congress this week, she became the youngest woman ever elected, making her the first female thirty-year old to serve. The record for the youngest female member of the House was held previously by Democrat Elizabeth Holtzman, who was 31 when she was sworn in. Her record has stood since 1979.
Also this week, the President nominated Loretta Lynch to be Attorney General of the United States. If she obtains the post she will be the first African-American woman to hold the post, following the first African-American man to serve as Attorney General.
A man also made The First Woman To. . .history book this week.
In 2012 Scott Brown ran for the US Senate in Massachusetts and lost to Elizabeth Warren.
This year he ran for the US Senate in New Hampshire and lost to Jeanne Shaheen.
As Emily’s List celebrated in an email. “Scott Brown made feminist history. He lost two Senate races in two states to Democratic women. That’s pretty awesome.”
Please note: The photos for the new representatives were taken from their official campaign websites; photos for the senators are from their official senate websites.