Several House and Senate candidates in competitive 2024 races could become the first in their demographic, gender, or identity to walk the halls of Congress.
With eyes on Vice President Kamala Harris potentially becoming the first female president in U.S. history, several other candidates down ballot are on track to be the first women to represent their states on Capitol Hill. Other candidates, such as Bernie Moreno and Derek Tran, are prepared to be the first of their heritage to enter Congress.
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Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware Senate race
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) is all but assured to be Delaware’s first black and first female senator if she wins on Nov. 5.
She would also be the fourth black woman to ever serve in the upper chamber, following behind Harris, the late Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA).
Delaware is poised for a history-making moment after longtime Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) announced he would not seek reelection in 2024. Carper almost immediately endorsed Blunt Rochester, his former intern, as did most prominent Delaware Democrats.
In a blue stronghold like Delaware, Blunt Rochester’s race is rated “solid Democrat” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. She faces Republican Eric Hansen next week, with a September poll from the University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communication finding Blunt Rochester in the lead, 52% to 32%.
Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland Senate race
If Angela Alsobrooks wins the competitive Senate race in Maryland, she will become the state’s first black woman to represent the Old Line State. If both Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester are elected, it will mark the first time in history that two black women served in the Senate at the same time.
Alsobrooks is facing a tough contest against former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who has worked hard to present himself as a centrist who will put Maryland values over party. Alsobrooks and Maryland Democrats have warned electing Hogan would give “MAGA Republicans” an edge in the upper chamber where Democrats have a precarious two-seat majority.
Tens of millions of dollars have flooded into Maryland’s Senate race. Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester have a joint fundraising committee, the Alsobrooks-Blunt Rochester Victory Fund. It raised $75,000 during the July 1 to Sept. 30 reporting period and spent almost $70,000. Of that, $26,000 went to Alsobrooks’s campaign and $30,500 went to Blunt Rochester’s, per campaign finance reports.
The executive of Prince George’s County, Alsobrooks has made abortion, guns, and inflation focal points for her campaign. A recent poll from the University of Maryland Baltimore County Institute of Politics found Alsobrooks leading Hogan, 48% to 39%.
Sarah McBride, Delaware’s at-large congressional district
Democratic state Sen. Sarah McBride is poised to make history as the first transgender person to serve in Congress.
McBride told CBS News that the monumental turning point in history is “a testament to Delawarians that the candidacy of someone like me is even possible.” However, McBride said that becoming the first transgender member of Congress is not the goal; rather boosting affordable child care, reproductive freedom, and affordable housing — typical stances for Democrats in the 2024 cycle.
“It’s critical voters hear about the work Sarah has done, NOT what makes her campaign historic,” her campaign website states.
At age 34, McBride has served two terms with Delaware’s state Senate and will face Republican former Delaware State Police officer John Whalen III in the Nov. 5 election. The race, which is to fill the seat left vacant by Blunt Rochester, is rated “solid Democrat.”
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Julie Johnson, Texas’s 32nd Congressional District
Julie Johnson, a state representative of Texas, is running to succeed Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) as he looks to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) this cycle. If she wins Texas’s 32nd Congressional District, Johnson will be the first openly gay representative in Texas’s delegation and the first openly gay representative from the South.
Johnson will face Republican Darrell Day and libertarian Kevin Hale in the 2024 election, with the race rated as “solid Democrat.”
“Texas is a state that values hard work, independence, and fairness, and I’m proud to be a part of that tradition,” Johnson said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Being the first openly gay representative is about more than just breaking barriers—it’s about reflecting the true values of this state.”
“Texans know that what matters most is how you serve your community, not who you love,” Johnson added. “I’m committed to fighting for everyone, from every corner of Texas, and ensuring that our government works for all of us. I believe Texans will be proud to have a representative who puts people over politics.”
Alison Esposito, New York’s 18th Congressional District
Alison Esposito could make history not only in her district but for the party at large as she would become the first openly gay Republican woman in Congress.
Esposito is locked in a tight race against incumbent Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) in a D+2 district. The race is expected to lean Democrat, per the Cook Political Report, and polls show Ryan with a slim lead over Esposito.
The race has garnered attention as it is the only competitive district in New York that is held by a Democrat in a state that was key for Republicans to flip seats and win control of the House in 2022.
Emily Randall, Washington’s 6th Congressional District
Democrat Emily Randall is poised to make history in Washington state as she vies for an open blue seat being vacated by Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA).
If elected, Randall would become the first LGBT Latina to serve in Congress. She previously made history after being elected as the state’s first female LGBT state senator in 2018.
“Emily embodies the ideals of public service and dedication to her community – that’s why voters trust her to be their voice in Congress,” Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, said in a statement earlier this year when Randall won her primary. “We have stood with Emily in each of her races, from flipping a seat in 2018 to this hard-fought Congressional primary win. We will continue do everything we can to mobilize pro-equality, pro-choice voters to come out and secure a general election victory in November.”
Randall is facing Republican candidate Drew MacEwen. The district is rated as D+6 and expected to favor Democrats.
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Janelle Bynum, Oregon’s 5th Congressional District
Janelle Bynum is also locked in a tight race for Oregon’s 5th District, which is considered to be one of the most competitive races of the 2024 cycle and could determine which party wins control of the House next year.
If elected, Bynum would become the first black person to represent Oregon in Congress. Bynum attracted the attention of national Democrats when she became the only black Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives in 2018, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) personally urging her to run, according to the New York Times.
Bynum is looking to unseat GOP incumbent Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), who narrowly flipped the seat in 2022 and helped Republicans win control of the House. But the district is rated as D+2 and President Joe Biden won the district by roughly 9 points in 2020, giving Bynum momentum to flip it back to blue in November.
Other candidates poised to make history
It is not just female candidates that are on track to making history this cycle.
Bernie Moreno, GOP candidate for Ohio’s competitive Senate race, would be the first Hispanic statewide official for the Buckeye State. He would also be the first South American-born U.S. senator if elected.
Moreno, who rose to prominence as a car dealership owner, is facing incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who has held the seat since 2007. The Cook Political Report rates the Ohio Senate race as a “toss-up,” with FiveThirtyEight polling showing Democrats with a +2 advantage.
The Republican was born in Columbia and is a legal immigrant to the U.S. He’s used his immigrant background to campaign against the influx at the southern border and has worked to tie Brown to the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies.
The Ohio Senate race is one of a few races that could decide whether Democrats maintain the majority or if it flips to Republican control. The competitive contest has been rated the most expensive in history by AdImpact, with the political ad tracker noting $441 million in past and future spending between the candidates and the PACs supporting them.
In California’s 45th District, Democrat Derek Tran could be the first Vietnamese American member of Congress from the Golden State. He faces Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), with the race rated a “toss-up.”
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Amish Shah would be the first Asian American and Indian American from Arizona in Congress if he defeats Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) in the state’s 1st District. The race is rated a “toss-up.”
Lanon Baccum, running against Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) in a “toss-up” race, would be the first Asian American to represent Iowa in Congress. In Nebraska, Tony Vargas would be the first Latino to represent the state in Congress with a win against Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE).
