Kamala Harris failed to become the first female president in America after her Republican rival Donald Trump was projected as the winner of the 2024 election. Harris would have become the first woman, Black woman, and South Asian-American to win the presidency if things had gone as she wanted.
Harris, who has since conceded, was expected to appear at Howard University in Washington, DC, on election night, but she canceled the event after results that started trickling in showed Trump winning.
She has since called Trump to congratulate him on his win but told her supporters that the fight is far from over. “The outcome of the election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said in a concession speech to a crowd of students and supporters at Howard University in Washington, DC, her alma mater.
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Despite Harris’ failed presidential bid to be the first Black woman president in U.S. history, the election night was filled with historic firsts for Black people. Here are five historic wins on Election Night 2024.
Monroe Nichols Made History as the First Black Mayor in the History of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to the historic Black Wall Street. The district was demolished a century ago in the Tulsa Race Massacre and rebuilt from the rubble. Today, state Rep. Monroe Nichols has been declared the first Black Tulsan to be elected as the city’s mayor.
“Tonight on the grounds of greatness, we proclaim that Tulsa is a city on the move,” Nichols said in his election night remarks. The 41-year-old will succeed Mayor G.T. Bynum, who chose not to seek reelection after eight years in office.
Angela Alsobrooks became Maryland’s First Black Woman Elected to the U.S. Senate
Angela Alsobrooks emerged as the winner of the Maryland Senate race, defeating Republican Larry Hogan. The win is historic because it makes her the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the United States Senate.
Born and raised in Maryland, Alsobrooks has served as the county executive of Prince George’s County since 2018. She has stood up for economic development, public safety, and support for public education.
“It’s remarkable to think that in two years, America will celebrate its 250th birthday,” Alsobrooks said during her victory speech on November 5. “In all those years, there have been more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate. Only three have looked like me. I want to salute those who came before me and made it possible for me to stand on this stage tonight, who sacrificed; I will continue to carry with me.”
Lisa Blunt Rochester also made history in the Senate
The 62-year-old, a Democrat, became the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the Senate after defeating Republican Eric Hansen and independent Mike Katz.
According to Delaware Republic Media, Rochester, who has been Delaware’s only representative in the U.S. House since 2017, will succeed fellow Democrat Tom Carper, who is leaving the Senate after more than 20 years in office.
“The people have spoken, and we’re bringing bright hope to the United States Senate,” Rochester said in a victory speech. “I stand before you tonight extremely humbled and with a heart filled with gratitude to God and to the people of Delaware who put their trust in me.”
Rochester made Senate history with Alsobrooks as they became the first two Black women elected to the upper house of Congress at the same time in over two centuries. On January 3, the two will take the oath of office, making them the fourth and fifth Black women to hold the Senate.
Carol Moseley Braun was the first Black woman elected in 1992, followed by Harris, who was elected in 2016, and Sen. Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to serve out the remainder of the term of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, which runs its course in January.
Shomari Figures made history winning Alabama’s redrawn 2nd Congressional District
Figures, a Black Democrat who ran to represent Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District which was redrawn by federal court order, won the seat over Republican challenger Caroleene Dobson.
Getting elected to the US House of Representatives, Figures became the first Black person to hold the position since 1832. Prior to his election, he worked in Barack Obama’s White House, and his election has been presented as an opportunity for change and progress in the majority-Black district.
Melesa Johnson became the First Black Woman to Be Elected as Jackson County Prosecutor
Melesa Johnson was elected as Jackson County prosecutor, making her the first Black woman to hold that office. “It’s honestly surreal,” Johnson said Tuesday night. “I’m excited, full, and hopeful, but I know we have a lot of work to do.”
Johnson replaces Jean Peters Baker, who was appointed to the job in 2011.
