Historic Firsts

Progress that Democrat leaders are making and the glass ceilings that are breaking.

Not every Historic First will be listed - the effort to catalogue them all continues.

Scroll down for 2024's firsts.

recent cycles:

2024  |  2023  |  2022  |  2020

jump through time (in progress)

browse historic firsts by cycle:


2024 | 2023 | 2022

2020 | 2018 | 2016

2014 | 2012 | 2008

1996 - 2007

1986 - 1992

1965 - 1976


Ruben Gallego, AZ Sen

Sen. Gallego is the first Latino senator elected to represent Arizona in Congress.

Yassamin Ansari, AZ-03

Rep. Ansari is the first Iranian American Democrat elected to represent Virginia in Congress.

Lisa Blunt Rochester, DE Sen

Sen. Blunt Rochester is the first Black and first female senator elected to represent Delaware in Congress.

This is the first time the US Senate includes two Black women representing simultaneously in the chamber.

Sarah McBride, DE At-Large

Rep. McBride is the first trans person elected to represent in Congress.

Angela Alsobrooks, MD Sen

Sen. Alsobrooks is the first Black senator elected to represent Maryland in Congress.

This is the first time the US Senate includes two Black women representing simultaneously in the chamber. 

Andy Kim, NJ Sen

Sen. Kim is the first Korean American senator elected to represent Maryland in Congress.

Nellie Pou, NJ-09

Rep. Pou is the first Latina elected to represent New Jersey in Congress.

Josh Stein, NC Gov

Gov. Stein is the first Jewish person elected as Governor of North Carolina.

Janelle Bynum, OR-05

Rep. Bynum is the first Black person elected to represent Oregon in Congress.

Julie Johnson, TX-32

Rep. Johnson is the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to represent Texas in Congress.

Suhas Subramanyam, VA-10

Rep. Subramanyam is the first Indian American person elected to represent Virginia in Congress.

Emily Randall, WA-06

Rep. Randall is the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to represent Washington in Congress.

Nick Brown, WA AG

AG Brown is the first Black person elected as Attorney General of Oregon.


*photos c/o of each official's personal social media


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