Centuries ago, our forefathers fought and died for the right to vote. Years later, they were succeeded by men of color who fought for this same fight. Decades ago, women joined the great struggle for suffrage. All of them were willing to make the greatest sacrifice to secure liberty and freedom that they would pass down to us. They paved the path for our abilities. The midterm elections showed us that the power of voting is truly what steers society. Whether republican or democrat, the American people saw the immense impact of voting. For the first time in a long while, the American people reclaimed their sacred civic duty. In a political climate where everything is personal, where everything matters, this election was a checkpoint to see where we are as a society. On the whole, it is evident that there is hope. We saw things happen that have never happened before. We took steps forward. We came together. We made progress.
On November 6th, history was made.
The youngest woman ever was elected to congress.
The first 2 Muslim women were elected to congress.
The first 2 Native American women were elected to congress.
The first openly gay governor was elected.
A total of 112 women will be serving in congress come January.
That my friends, is just scratching the surface of the firsts of this election. Yes, the democrats won the house and the Republicans retained control of the senate. Yes, there are political implications for the results, but to me this election was much more than the party lines that were drawn onto the map of the US. It was about working towards a society where everyone has a voice. Where everyone is represented. Today, we live in one of the most polarized times our country has ever seen. It is our job to once again start building bridges. To look across the aisle and find sustainable solutions that address problems. Now that we have more diverse voices and an array of backgrounds, we are entering a time in which we can engage in genuine civil discourse. Struggle and frustration does ensue, but I know that barriers will break in the process.
In wake of the elections, I feel hope. As a woman of color who might one day run for these offices, I am confident that shard by shard, the glass ceiling is slowly starting to break down.
Here’s to the country we are building together.
