Women you should know

Last week, history was made as a record number of women (and women of color) were elected to office during the U.S. midterm elections. 256 women, to be exact, were candidates for the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate in the general election, and as of this past Monday, 114 have won — including the first Native American and Muslim women elected to Congress.

There’s clearly no shortage of inspiring, powerful women to celebrate, whether we’re looking at American politics or WEA’s work supporting women leaders around the world. From fierce eco-warriors to life-giving seed savers, clean energy entrepreneurs to forest-home gardeners, these leaders are making their mark on history, on our countries, and on the Earth.

In recognition of this promising moment, here are a few courageous women we think you oughta know.

• Letitia “Tish” James, first African-American woman to be elected attorney general of New York
• Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim woman to be voted into Congress
• Rashida Harbi Tlaib, the first Muslim woman to be voted into Congress
• Deb Haaland, the first Native American woman to be voted into Congress
• Sharice Davids, the first Native American woman to be voted into Congress
• Alexandrea Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman to be voted into Congress
• Angie Craig, the first openly lesbian mother to be voted into Congress
• Jahana Hayes, the first Black congresswoman from Connecticut
• Ayanna Pressley, the first Black congresswomen from Massachusetts
• Veronica Escobar, the first Latinx congresswoman from Texas
• Sylvia Garcia, the first Latinx congresswoman from Texas