In 2016 some amazing women have been elected into office.
1. Pramila Jayapal, Washington
Pramila Jayapal made history in this election by becoming the first women election into Washington's 7th Congressional District, the first South-Asian women elected to U.S. House of Representatives and the first person of color elected to the Washington State Democratic Delegation. After her win she stated "I am proud to be the new voice and fighter for the people of Washington State’s 7th Congressional District. I have never backed down before, and I will not back down now". Pramila is an immigrant who came to America at the age of 16 and she founded the organization OneAmerica , which helps immigrants and refugees living in the United States. Pramila also helped fight for paid sick leave and a 15 dollar minimum wage in Seattle. She wants to continue fighting for these issues as well as LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights and environmental issues.
2. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota
Ilhan has made history as well by becoming the first Somali American to be elected into the State Legislature. Her and her family fled Somalia when she was young and then lived in a refugee camp located in Kenya for four years. When she was twelve her and her family came to the United States. Ilhan is thirty-four years old and of the Muslim faith, which also gives Muslims more representation in our government. After her win Ilhan said, "I am excited for our progressive values and to be able to be on the ground at the Capitol representing the diverse people of my district and being a champion with them and for them". She has previously worked as a community health-care educator, a policy aide and as the director of policy initiative at Women Organizing Women, which is a group that encourages women from the East African diaspora to become leaders in their community.
3. Kate Brown, Oregon
Kate Brown is the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected governor, she took on the role after former governor John Kitzhaber resigned. She has helped raise the state's minimum wage and guaranteed paid sick leave to workers. She has helped increase education funding by nine percent and has helped class sizes from increasing as well. Prior to her being elected into office she worked as a child advocate, juvenile and family law attorney. She also taught at Portland State University and worked with the Juvenile Rights Project and co-founded Women's Health & Wellness Alliance.
4. Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada
Catherine Cortez Masto has become the first ever Latina elected into the senate. She has served two terms as Nevada's Attorney General and is the chief law enforcement officer of Nevada. She is an advocate for women and children and has worked to strengthen laws on sex trafficking and violence against women as well as passing new laws to strengthen the registration and notification requirements of convicted sex offenders.
5. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Tammy Duckworth is a 48 year old veteran who lost both her legs while serving in Iraq after the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was shot down. After returning from Iraq she worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs and then was elected into the House of Representatives in 2013. She works towards helping veterans and giving them a voice. She wants to help veterans get private doctors and better health-care.
