--- description: Here are the female candidates made history in the 2018 midterms, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Marsha Blackburn. title: Here Are Some of the Women Who Made History in the Midterm Elections image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2bfdb389b1a7a19d/69893e76457a52d053d5fd0f/ayanna-pressley-ocasio-cortez.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [2018 Elections](/tag/2018-elections/) ## 2018 Elections Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Here Are Some of the Women Who Made History in the Midterm Elections ## Video: How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pulled Off the Biggest Upset of 2018 [Watch (HLS stream): How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pulled Off the Biggest Upset of 2018](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4EBaH0mm.m3u8) (2:22)  _Published 2018-06-27. In the biggest upset of the 2018 elections so far, the chair of the House Democratic caucus lost his primary race on Tuesday to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old activist who rode an insurgent campaign to an unlikely victory._  by [Samantha Cooney](/author/samantha-cooney/)  ## Samantha Cooney Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 12, 2023 7:03 PM CUTPublished: Sep 13, 2018 7:46 PM CUT  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (in blue) and Ayanna Pressley (R) at a rally calling on Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to reject Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court on October 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. Sen. Flake is scheduled to give a talk at the Forbes 30 under 30 event in Boston after recently calling for a one week pause in the confirmation process to give the FBI more time to investigate sexual assault allegations. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (in blue) and Ayanna Pressley (R) at a rally calling on Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to reject Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court on October 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. Sen. Flake is scheduled to give a talk at the Forbes 30 under 30 event in Boston after recently calling for a one week pause in the confirmation process to give the FBI more time to investigate sexual assault allegations. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)Scott Eisen—Getty Images  by [Samantha Cooney](/author/samantha-cooney/)  ## Samantha Cooney Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 12, 2023 7:03 PM CUTPublished: Sep 13, 2018 7:46 PM CUT Already in 2018, women candidates have [broken the records for the number of candidates for governor](http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/potential-candidate-summary-2018#house "undefined"), [U.S. House](https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/04/05/record-number-women-file-run-for-house-seats/rxuONDGcoze5heg09xYPDO/story.html "undefined") and [U.S. Senate](https://www.apnews.com/0faa6b3475d24ec4a3a2f786a3c07d74 "undefined"). And that trend continued in the 2018 midterm elections. The U.S. House of Representatives [elected a record number of women,](http://time.com/5446944/women-midterm-results/ "undefined") with at least 90 women expected to make their way to Washington, D.C. in January. Individual candidates also achieved historic firsts. Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib [became the first Muslim women elected to Congress.](http://time.com/5445303/ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib-midterm/ "undefined") Republican Marsha Blackburn [became Tennessee’s first female Senator](http://time.com/5445358/marsha-blackburn-tennessee-midterms-results/ "undefined"). Democrats Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids became the first Native American women elected to Congress. Republican Kristi Noem became South Dakota’s first female governor. Some trailblazing candidates fell short — like Democratic Vermont gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist, [who would have become](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/us/politics/christine-hallquist-vermont.html "undefined") the nation’s first openly transgender governor. Hallquist lost to incumbent governor Phil Scott, who has served since 2017, in the general election. Here’s a closer look at some of the women who made — or could make — history in the 2018 midterms. ## These candidates made history ## **Kyrsten Sinema**  Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., walks down the House steps following the final scheduled votes of the week on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Bill Clark—CQ-Roll Call,Inc. **Became the first openly bisexual senator and the first female senator from Arizona.** Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat currently representing Arizona in the House of Representatives, [defeated](http://time.com/5444385/arizona-senate-kyrsten-sinema-win-midterms/ "undefined") Republican Martha McSally in the race for the Arizona senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Jeff Flake. Sinema became the first female senator and the first openly bisexual senator. Sinema is known as a [more moderate Democrat in the House, voting with Trump’s](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/kyrsten-sinema/ "undefined") position nearly 60% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight. She opposes [Medicare for All](http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/403078-dem-arizona-senate-candidate-opposes-medicare-for-all "undefined") and [abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/07/18/kyrsten-sinema-sides-house-republicans-support-embattled-ice/798626002/ "undefined"). Sinema, a [former social worker](https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/01/08/168362011/sinema-first-openly-bisexual-member-of-congress-represents-changing-arizona "undefined") who was [homeless](https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2016/01/30/congresswoman-who-grew-up-gas-station/79206952/ "undefined") for part of her childhood, became the [first openly bisexual member](https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/01/08/168362011/sinema-first-openly-bisexual-member-of-congress-represents-changing-arizona "undefined") of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013. ## Kristi Noem  UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 16: Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference in the Capitol after the House passed the the GOP's tax reform bill on November 16, 2017\. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call,Inc. **Became South Dakota’s first female governor.** Republican Rep. Kristi Noem defeated Democrat Billie Sutton in the 2018 midterms to become South Dakota’s first female governor. Her platform included improving the state’s economy and keeping the state free of income tax. During her campaign, Noem [told CBS News that female voters](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rep-kristi-noem-on-2018-women-dont-want-to-just-talk-about-womens-issues/ "undefined") don’t “just want to talk about women’s issues,” and said that she focused her campaign on her experience and ideas. ## Deb Haaland  Deb Haaland poses for a portrait in Albuquerque, N.M., on June 4, 2018. Juan Labreche—AP//Shutterstock **Became one of the first Native American women elected to Congress.** Democrat Deb Haaland, the former chairwoman of New Mexico’s Democratic Party, [won](http://time.com/5304507/deb-haaland-first-native-american-congresswoman/ "undefined") New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District in the 2018 midterms. She defeated Republican Janice Arnold Jones in the district, which typically votes Democratic. Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, will become one of the first Native American women elected to Congress alongside Democrat Sharice Davids, who won Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District. Two[ Native American men — both Republicans — currently serve](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/us/native-american-woman-congress.html "undefined") in the U.S. House of Representatives. Haaland’s [platform](https://debforcongress.com/platforms-summary/ "undefined") included advocating for Medicare for All, subsidizing early childhood care and education and protecting and expanding an Obama-era immigration policy that allowed people brought to the United States illegally as children to defer deportation. “It’s not that native women haven’t tried. [Ada Deer](http://womeninwisconsin.org/ada-deer/ "undefined") tried. [Kalyn Free](https://navajotimes.com/opinion/essay/guest-column-native-candidates-go-after-those-five-buck-checks/ "undefined") tried. [Denise Juneau](https://www.missoulacurrent.com/general/2017/03/missoula-juneau-election/ "undefined") tried a couple years ago,” Haaland [told TIME](http://time.com/5304507/deb-haaland-first-native-american-congresswoman/ "undefined") in June. “I’m not exceptional. I didn’t grow up with privilege. I almost feel like my winning is a shoutout to democracy everywhere.” ## Sharice Davids  Democratic candidate for Kansas's 3rd Congressional District Sharice Davids, is greeted by supporters during a rally at a field office on Nov. 5, 2018 in Overland Park, Kansas. Whitney Curtis/Getty Images **Became the first Native American woman ever elected to Congress.** Democrat Sharice Davids [became the first Native American woman](http://time.com/5446593/sharice-davids-deb-haaland-first-native-american-woman-congress/ "undefined") elected to Congress after defeating four-term Republican incumbent Rep. Kevin Yoder for Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District seat in the 2018 midterms. Davids, a member of Wisconsin’s Ho-Chunk Nation tribe and an open lesbian, is also the first openly LGBT person to represent Kansas in Congress. Her [win comes amid renewed discussions](https://www.narf.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017NAVRCsurvey-summary.pdf "undefined") about the barriers Native Americans face while voting in the U.S. ## Marsha Blackburn  Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., conducts a House subcommittee markup in Rayburn Building on June 13, 2018. Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call,Inc. **Became Tennessee’s first female Senator.** Republican Marsha Blackburn, who currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, [became Tennessee’s first female senator after winning ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-tennessee-marsha-blackburns-embrace-of-trump-tests-her-standing-with-female-voters/2018/05/28/174f085c-621b-11e8-a768-ed043e33f1dc%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.baaf7d957da5 "undefined")retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker’s Senate seat in the 2018 midterms. The state [has elected six total women](http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/fairvote/legacy%5Furl/1756/tennessee.pdf?1478627833 "undefined") to the U.S. House of Representatives. Blackburn, who has [received support](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/tn-elections/2018/05/28/president-donald-trump-nashville-tn-rally-blackburn-date-tickets-traffic/632985002/ "undefined") from President Donald Trump, defeated [Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen, who served as Tennessee’s governor from 2003 to 2011.](https://realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2018/senate/tn/tennessee%5Fsenate%5Fblackburn%5Fvs%5Fbredesen-6308.html "undefined") Despite her history-making win, Blackburn has made a point not to highlight her gender. She [famously preferred to be called](https://www.politico.com/story/2008/04/the-lady-prefers-congressman-009622 "undefined") “congressman” when she entered the House, and she [told the Washington _Post_ in May](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-tennessee-marsha-blackburns-embrace-of-trump-tests-her-standing-with-female-voters/2018/05/28/174f085c-621b-11e8-a768-ed043e33f1dc%5Fstory.html?utm%5Fterm=.4620def4e2be "undefined") when asked about the potential significance of her Senate bid: “I don’t campaign on the gender issue.” But a [spokesperson for her campaign](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/13/blackburn-campaign-anyone-who-doubts-her-calls-doubters-sexist-pigs-amid-push-corker-reenter-senate/333229002/ "undefined") did say that anyone who doubted her ability to win in November was “just a plain sexist pig.” ## Rashida Tlaib  Rashida Tlaib is shown in front of the Michigan Capitol after her election as the first Muslim woman to serve in the state House. Al Goldis—AP/Shutterstock **Became one of the first Muslim women in Congress and the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress.** Rashida Tlaib, a Democratic Michigan state representative, [became one of the first Muslim women in Congress](http://time.com/5445303/ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib-midterm/ "undefined") after winning Michigan’s 13th Congressional District in the 2018 midterms. She ran unopposed after [winning the Democratic nomination](http://time.com/5360818/rashida-tlaib-first-muslim-woman-congress/ "undefined") for former Rep. John Conyers’ seat in Congress in August. It’s a distinction she will share with Ilhan Omar, who won a Congressional seat in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Tlaib was [born to Palestinian immigrants in Detroit](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rashida-tlaib-palestinian-congress%5Fus%5F5b6cc8a2e4b0bdd06207d5aa "undefined") and served in the Michigan House from 2009 to 2014\. She also worked as an attorney as the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. Her [platform](https://www.rashidaforcongress.com/priorities "undefined") included immigration reform, Medicare for all, a $15 minimum wage and debt-free higher education. ## Ilhan Omar **Became the first Somali-American in Congress and one of the first Muslim women in Congress.** [Ilhan Omar](http://time.com/collection/firsts/4898550/ilhan-omar-firsts/ "undefined") became the first Somali-American Muslim person to become a legislator when she was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 as a Democrat. And now, she’s [first Somali-American](http://time.com/5367715/somali-american-ilhan-omar-minnesota-primary/ "undefined") in Congress. She defeated Republican Jennifer Zielinski in the 2018 midterms. Omar, who came to the U.S. as a refugee, is also one of the first Muslim women in Congress, a distinction she shares with Rashida Tlaib, who won a seat for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. ## Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez **Became the youngest woman elected to Congress.** Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old activist from the Bronx, became the youngest woman elected to Congress in the 2018 midterms, defeating Republican Anthony Pappas in the race for New York’s 14th Congressional Distrct. In June, Ocasio-Cortez [pulled off a stunning upset](http://time.com/5322905/joe-crowley-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/ "undefined") in the primary for the seat, defeating 10-term congressman [Joe Crowley.](http://time.com/5323301/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-win-video/ "undefined") Republican Elise Stefanik previously held[ the distinction](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elise-stefanik-youngest-woman-elected-congress/story?id=26694806 "undefined"): she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 at age 30\. Aside from her age, Ocasio-Cortez has attracted attention for her platform, which she described as [democratic socialism](http://time.com/5323584/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-democratic-reaction/ "undefined"). She has advocated for Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage and housing as a human right, among other things. ## Ayanna Pressley  Ayanna Pressley, Boston City Council member and Democratic candidate for congress, delivers her victory speech on September 4, 2018. Joseph Prezioso —AFP/Getty Images **Became the first black Congresswoman from Massachusetts.** Ayanna Pressley, the first black woman to serve on Boston’s City Council, became the first black Congresswoman from Massachusetts in the 2018 midterm elections. She had no Republican challenger. [Pressley defeated](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/04/us/politics/ayanna-pressley-massachusetts.html "undefined") 10-term Democratic congressman Michael Capuano in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 7th district on Sept. 4. Pressley argued that her majority-minority district should be represented by a person of color. Her platform differed little from Capuano, who has been a consistent progressive vote in Congress. As a sexual assault survivor, Pressley has [fought to end sexual violence and gun violence](https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2018/08/31/ayanna-pressley-massachusetts-primary "undefined"). She also advocated for [defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/06/25/ayanna-pressley-endorses-defunding-ice/xMosceaeZ5PYhEi4xqWnMI/story.html "undefined") and [Medicare for All.](https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/09/04/us/politics/ap-us-massachusetts-primary-ayanna-pressley.html "undefined") ## Lou Leon Guerrero **Became the first female governor of Guam.** Democrat Lou Leo Guerrero, the current President of the Bank of Guam, [will become the first female governor](http://time.com/5446878/lou-leon-guerrero-elected-guam-first-female-governor/ "undefined") of Guam after winning the gubernatorial election on Nov. 6\. Guerrero defeated Republican Ray Tenorio, the state’s current Lieutenant Governor. She won with just over 50% of the vote, preventing a runoff. > [](https://twitter.com/DemGovs/status/1059934225187725313) “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity given to us to make a positive change for all our people,” Leon Guerrero said, [per the Pacific _Daily News._](https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/11/06/guam-general-election-results/1900152002/ "undefined") Guam has been led by Republican governors since 2003\. Leon Guerrero’s [platform](http://www.louandjosh2018.com/press-release "undefined") included restoring trust in the government, giving small businesses more tax breaks and conducting a pay study for public school teachers, [according to the Pacific _Daily News_.](https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/06/18/leon-guerrero-tenorio-announce-campaign-platform/709108002/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/"},"headline":"Here Are Some of the Women Who Made History in the Midterm Elections","datePublished":"2018-09-13T19:46:07.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-12T19:03:40.000Z","description":"Including Sharice Davids, Kristi Noem and Ayanna Pressley","url":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/","keywords":["2018 Elections","Congress"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2bfdb389b1a7a19d/69893e76457a52d053d5fd0f/ayanna-pressley-ocasio-cortez.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Samantha Cooney","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/samantha-cooney/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2bfdb389b1a7a19d/69893e76457a52d053d5fd0f/ayanna-pressley-ocasio-cortez.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Boston Mayor, Activists Rally To Ask Jeff Flake To Reject Kavanaugh Nomination","caption":"Boston Mayor, Activists Rally To Ask Jeff Flake To Reject Kavanaugh Nomination","creditText":"Scott Eisen—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2018-elections/","name":"2018 Elections"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/","name":"Here Are Some of the Women Who Made History in the Midterm Elections"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"FIRSTS Ilhan Omar","description":"Ilhan Omar is the FIRST Somali-American Muslim person to become a legislator.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/8i3qofna/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-09-01T17:03:42.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8i3qofna.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/","duration":"PT2M17S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pulled Off the Biggest Upset of 2018","description":"In the biggest upset of the 2018 elections so far, the chair of the House Democratic caucus lost his primary race on Tuesday to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old activist who rode an insurgent campaign to an unlikely victory.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4EBaH0mm/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2018-06-27T14:04:55.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4EBaH0mm.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/","duration":"PT2M22S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5323592/2018-elections-women-history-records/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```