The United States 2020 general election was one of many firsts, especially in government representation. Numerous elected candidates have broken barriers for women, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color. These candidates include:

Kamala Harris: Harris, a senator from California, is the projected Vice President-Elect, making her the first female VP, the first black VP, and the first VP of Indian descent.

Mondaire Jones and Richie Torres: Both elected to the House of Representatives from New York, they are the first openly gay, black men elected to Congress.

Sarah McBride: McBride was elected to the Delaware State Senate, making her the first openly transgender state senator in the country. She has also become the highest-ranking openly transgender official anywhere in the US.

Cori Bush: Bush was elected to the House in Missouri’s first congressional district, making her the first black congresswoman from Missouri.

Mauree Turner: Elected to the Oklahoma State Legislature, Turner made history twice by being the first Muslim elected to the Oklahoma State Legislature, and as the first gender nonbinary legislator in the US.

Taylor Small: Small is the first transgender person to be elected to the Vermont State Legislature.

Stephanie Byers: If early election results for the Kansas State Legislature are to be confirmed, Byers will become the first transgender Native American to hold public office in the US.

This new wave of historically elected officials signifies that the US government is becoming more representative of its diverse population, welcoming officials from historically underrepresented groups.