In honor of my first official post as a newcomer to the blogging world I would like to showcase some other newcomers. I would like to shine a light on some of the fresh faces going to Washington. I am very excited to see what they have up their sleeves…
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Ocasio-Cortez is the progressive firebrand elected to the House of Representatives from New York’s 24thdistrict. At 29 years old, she will be the youngest women to serve in Congress and has been making waves since her June upset of longtime Democratic incumbent Joe Crowley. Most recently, she attended a climate action protest in Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi’s office. The Bronx born, self-described Democratic Socialist, made Medicare For All, tuition-free public college, immediate climate action, and abolishing I.C.E. key issues of her platform.
Ayanna Pressley
In January, Ayanna Pressley will represent Massachusetts’s 7thcongressional district. Ayanna also knocked out a Democratic incumbent in the primary season. She previously served as the first black woman on the Boston City Council. She will also be the first black woman to represent the state of Massachusetts in Congress. Pressley made sexual violence a priority in her campaign, stating “I have dedicated my life to combating trauma in all forms…and so the opportunity to…codify activism in policy change is certainly an exciting prospect.” Medicare For All, defunding I.C.E., and calling out President Trump for his racist and misogynistic comments were also key components of her campaign.
Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar truly is truly a woman of firsts. Representing Minnesota’s 5thcongressional district, Omar will be one of the first Muslim women, the first Somali American, and the first former refugee elected to Congress. She will also be the first woman of color representing Minnesota in Washington. Omar supports a $15 an hour minimum wage, conditional tuition-free college, and student debt forgiveness. She has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinian people. Most recently, her apparent support of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement has caused some controversy.
Rashida Tlaib
Another woman of firsts, Tlaib became the first Muslim woman elected to a state legislature. Now she will be the first Palestinian-American woman, as well as one of the first Muslim women in the House of Representatives. A strong progressive, Tlaib supports Medicare For All, a $15 minimum wage, and abolishing I.C.E… On Israel and Palestine, she supports a one-state solution, a Palestinian right of return, and cutting aid to a Netanyahu led Israel.
Sharice Davids
Elected to Kansas’s 3rdcongressional district, Sharice Davids will be the first openly gay Native American in Congress. A member of the Ho-Chunk nation, she will be one of the first Native Americans elected to Congress. Davids ran on a strong economic and environmental platform. While she hasn’t thrown her full support for a Medicare For All system, she supports the expansion of Medicaid and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. She also believes in immediate climate action, focusing on Kansas’s potential to be a leading wind energy producing state.
In writing this piece I realized that all of these newly elected members of Congress are female. The 2018 midterms were definitely a good year for women in politics. Congress now has a record number of women serving in Washington, with 112 between the House and Senate. Women are breaking down doors and demanding a seat at the table. With strong progressive leaders headed to Washington, I am optimistic about the larger progressive movement and the future of this country. I can’t wait to see what these women do in Washington.
Fight like hell ladies!
Dale Seufert-Navarro
to the LEFT 