Historic wins make US midterms a milestone for women and Muslim representation
Democratic victories in the US midterm elections have brought historic breakthroughs for political representation, with Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a US state and Abdul El-Sayed the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
The results also saw incumbent Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar secure a fifth term in Minnesota, according to US media projections.
Bottoms makes history in Georgia
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia's gubernatorial election, becoming the first woman and first Black person elected governor of the southern state.
Her victory marks a significant breakthrough for Democrats, who had not won a gubernatorial election in Georgia since 1998.
Bottoms served as Atlanta's mayor from 2018 to 2022 and later worked as an adviser to former President Joe Biden.
Her campaign focused on expanding Medicaid, tackling housing affordability and opposing several policies of President Donald Trump's administration.
She will succeed Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who was barred from seeking another term due to term limits.
El-Sayed becomes first Muslim senator
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
The 42-year-old Egyptian American, a medical doctor and former public health official, secured the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
His campaign focused on healthcare, economic affordability and ending US military aid to Israel.
His religious background became a major issue during the campaign, with Trump and other Republicans repeatedly attacking him over his Muslim faith. El-Sayed rejected allegations linking him to extremism.
Speaking to supporters after his projected victory, he thanked Michigan voters and pledged to bring openness, determination and compassion to the Senate.
“Let them know tomorrow that the bad guys lost,” he told supporters. “Let them know that we together, fighting for something bigger, we won.”
He also addressed Vice President JD Vance, referring to his constitutional responsibility to administer the oath of office to newly elected senators in January.
“There is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January,” El-Sayed said.
He also joked about Trump's repeated difficulty pronouncing his name during the election campaign, saying the president could simply address him as senator after he takes office.
Ilhan Omar secures fifth congressional term
Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar won re-election in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger John Nagel, according to CBS News projections.
Omar, a Somali refugee who has represented the Minneapolis-area district since 2019, will begin her fifth term in Congress.
The district is considered one of the most strongly Democratic in the country.
Her political career has frequently drawn criticism from Trump, who has repeatedly targeted her with anti-immigrant remarks.
Last month, Omar's Washington residence was searched by Homeland Security investigators in connection with an apparent investigation into immigration paperwork filed on her behalf by her late father when she was a child.
Omar condemned the investigation, describing it as an abuse of power and an attempt to use federal law enforcement against political opponents.
Her Republican challenger, former Minnesota State Patrol trooper John Nagel, campaigned on immigration enforcement, healthcare reforms, fraud prevention and national security.
The victories by Bottoms and El-Sayed, alongside Omar's re-election, highlight the growing diversity of political representation emerging from the US midterm elections, as Democrats record gains across several states and congressional districts.
Source:AA
