Photo via harrisblackgirlmagic.com
Written by Jackson Bird
This week we’re celebrating some major wins in the midterm elections as well as highlighting a few smaller moments that deserve attention.
What we’re checking out…
The Democrats won back the House and over one hundred women were elected to Congress, including nineteen women of color. A rainbow wave of LGBTQ+ candidates swept the nation. Meanwhile, the fight continues in Arizona, Florida, and Georgia, where recounts are underway.
Despite a few losses, it was a victorious election night for underrepresented voices. Since we know you’ve been following those major stories all week, here are a few election outcomes you might have missed.
First, this interactive analysis from The New York Times helps visualize exactly how impactful the blue wave was.
I want this picture printed on all money. pic.twitter.com/U7QNADCWQR
— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) November 7, 2018
It was a huge night for women of color winning races, but one of the most incredible stories is from Harris County in Texas where nineteen black women won judicial seats. They took Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s goal of nine women Supreme Court Justices, added some Black Girl Magic to it, and made history.
Oregonians voted to keep their sanctuary law in place, preventing racial profiling and protecting the hundreds of thousands of immigrants in Oregon from the anti-immigrant whims of the federal government.
It was good news for clean energy on election night as nearly a third of Democrats who flipped House seats have vowed to refuse money from the fossil fuels industry.
More good news on the environment is likely to come since there are now nine scientists headed to Congress.
2016: I hope Hillary wins.
2018: I hope the 1,200 Dems I’m now aware of, from governors all the way down to the dogcatcher’s assistant’s assistant all win.— Kashana (@kashanacauley) November 7, 2018
ICYMI Nevada elected a dead man to their State Assembly in a landslide, rather than electing his competent, qualified, and living Democratic opponent Lesia Romanov.
Michigan passed the most sweeping election reforms of any state on election night. Michiganders can now look forward to automatic voter registration, no-reason absentee ballots, protections for military and overseas voters, and much more. Take notes, other states!
Yoncalla, Oregon elected an eighteen-year-old as mayor. Parks and Recreation fans having Ice Town flashbacks will be pleased to learn the young man’s first name is, indeed, Ben.
Remember that viral video from 2011 of the college student defending same sex marriage in a moving speech about his two moms? His name is Zach Wahls and he was just elected to Iowa’s State Senate.
And finally, our reFRESHing Talk of the Week is congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar’s inspiring victory speech after becoming the first Somali-American and first refugee elected to Congress.
The latest from our speakers…
Jamil Smith spent election night with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show!
Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s Beyond Curie series got a holiday card makeover. Purchase cards and learn more about supporting women and girls in STEM here.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson has a new op-ed in Scientific American about regenerative farming, co-written with her mom!
Daniel Colón-Ramos sat down with Dan Rather to talk about what scientists and journalists have in common. They then co-wrote a Scientific American piece, alongside Elliot Kirschner.
Brittney Cooper wrote a piece for The New York Times about Stacey Abrams and how black women have reshaped the left.
Jamia Wilson interviewed Manal al-Sharif, one of the activists who helped secure the right to drive for Saudi women.
FRESH CEO Vanessa Valenti was interviewed by Market Watch about the importance of inclusive corporate events and how to achieve meaningful diversity at events.
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