Lauren Underwood wins U.S. Congressional seat

Democrat Lauren Underwood has unseated four-term Republican Rep. Randy Hultgren, becoming the first minority and first woman to represent a Chicago-area district once held by GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

The Naperville nurse, who's African-American, flipped the seat representing rural and suburban areas west and north of Chicago. It was among four GOP-held Illinois congressional seats Democrats were targeting in their effort to win House control.

Underwood highlighted the historical nature of her win in her acceptance speech, recalling that Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman in Congress, was elected 50 years and one day prior.

"When Congresswoman Chisholm ran for president in the 1970s, she preclaimed that she was 'unbought and unbossed,' and I've adopted that declaration as my own unofficial model," Underwood said. "I aspire to be a bold representative for this community. Someone who is wholly responsive and accountable to her constituents: unbought and unbossed."

Underwood said she decided to take on Hultgren after he supported health care legislation that would have made coverage of pre-existing conditions more expensive. She criticized him for not holding town halls and for casting the health care vote after pledging to protect pre-existing conditions.

[SOURCE: ABC CHICAGO]

Elijah Cummings promises Trump subpoenas

When the Democrats take over the House in January, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md) will likely take over the chairmanship of the House Oversight Committee.

Cummings already has a list of 64 subpoenas he's likely to issue to the Trump Administration.

Cummings, 67, leans on a walker after a knee infection, but neither threats nor injury are likely to keep him from investigating the things he says the President has done to "violate the mandates of the founding fathers."

"We have a duty under the Constitution of the United States, and we are sworn to act as a check on the Executive Branch. And that's all we're doing. If someone wants to tell me don't do my job, which the Constitution says I must do, than I've been violating my oath to myself," he said.

Cummings said Democrats will decide within weeks where they'll start. But he's been passionate on child separations at the border.

He has also pushed to investigate foreign payments to the Trump Hotel, security clearances for members of the Trump family, and Russian meddling.

"We will look at how the Russians or anyone else are interfering in our democracy."

[SOURCE: WUSA9]

19 Black Women Just Became Judges In Texas After Winning In The Midterm Elections

A group of 19 black women made history Tuesday when they all won elections to become judges in one Texas county during the midterm elections.

With a population of more than 4 million people, Harris County is the largest county in Texas and the third largest county in the US. The county effectively turned blue, with all 38 district judges elected being Democrats, including the 19 black women who won.

The 19 black women who won on Tuesday are Sandra Peake, Judge Ramona Franklin, Judge Maria Jackson, Germaine Tanner, Angela Graves-Harrington, Cassandra Holleman, Tonya Jones, Dedra Davis, LaShawn Williams, Latosha Lewis Payne, Linda Dunson, Toria Finch, Erica Hughes, Lucia Bates, Ronnisha Bowman, Michelle Moore, Sharon Burney, Shannon Baldwin, and Lori Chambers Gray.

[SOURCE: BUZZFEED]

Keith Ellison wins attorney general race in Minnesota

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) narrowly defeated Republican Doug Wardlow to become Minnesota’s next attorney general, after a bitter campaign rocked by allegations of abuse from the congressman’s ex-girlfriend. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, Ellison led Wardlow, a former state legislator, by more than 100,000 votes.

“We never thought this was in the bag, and it was a dog fight from the very beginning,” Ellison told supporters in Minneapolis. “There were challenges along the way and you know, we just kept on pushing.”

Ellison, the first Muslim to win election to statewide office, jumped into the race just five months ago, after incumbent Lori Swanson launched an unsuccessful campaign for governor. A leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Ellison said he could become a crusading attorney general, using the office to challenge the Trump administration in court, take on big business, and protect women’s rights.

Ellison’s win appeared to be part of a sweep for Minnesota Democrats, who easily held onto the governor’s office, won every statewide race, and flipped the state House.

[SOURCE: WASHINGTON POST]

Jahana Hayes Wins, Becomes 1st Black Woman From Connecticut In Congress

Driven by a powerful personal narrative, a network of young volunteers and public speaking skills honed in her years as a teacher, political newcomer Jahana Hayes made history Tuesday, becoming the first African-American woman to represent Connecticut in Congress.

Hayes scored a solid victory over Republican Manny Santos, the former mayor of Meriden and a social conservative who struggled to raise money.

“People have said to me: ‘She doesn’t have what it takes,’” said Hayes, a former national teacher of the year from Waterbury. “Not only am I built for this, I’m Brass City built for this.”

She told her supporters she couldn’t have done it alone.

“You … believe that we have to protect the future that we promised for our kids,” she said. “You also believe that we have an obligation to be of service to someone else ... that true leaders lead from the front and lead by example, and reject all of this hate and intolerance and this indescribable fear that does not define who we are.”

Hayes’ apparent victory in the 5th Congressional District is part of a broader racial and ideological shift within the Democratic Party. Like other Democrats who are shaking up the party establishment, she embraced progressive policies and won the endorsement of organized labor and the Working Families Party. Hayes held a lead of several percentage points in early results although larger cities including Waterbury and Torrington had yet to fully report results.

In addition to being the first African-American Connecticut has elected to Congress since Republican Gary Franks held the 5th District seat in the 1990s, Hayes would join fellow Democrat Ayanna Pressley of Boston as the first women of color from New England to serve in the House.

Read more: Jahana Hayes Wins, Becomes 1st Black Woman From Connecticut In Congress