The 2022 midterms have already brought a number of historic firsts, including Congress seeing its youngest lawmaker and states that have only ever
The 2022 midterms have already brought a number of historic firsts, including Congress seeing its youngest lawmaker and states that have only ever been led by men getting their first woman governor.
Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a 25-year-old community organizer, has officially become the first Gen Z member elected to Congress after winning a House seat in Florida’s 10th Congressional District.
Frost’s win notably adds to the body’s generational diversity: The average age of a House member is currently 58, and more than 80 percent of members are Gen X or baby boomers. Frost’s victory — which was driven by his advocacy for stronger gun control laws and support for progressive policies like Medicare-for-all — strengthens the representation a younger set of voices, which tend to lean more liberal, will have in Congress. He will be the first Afro-Cuban person in Congress as well, adding to the diversity of a body that is still more than 75 percent white.
WE WON!!!! History was made tonight. We made history for Floridians, for Gen Z, and for everyone who believes we deserve a better future. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to represent my home in the United States Congress. #FL10
— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) November 9, 2022
Frost is just one candidate who made history this week along with Massachusetts gubernatorial winner Maura Healey and Arkansas gubernatorial winner Sarah Huckabee Sanders, both of whom were the first women elected to these roles. We’ll have a running list of candidates who are historic firsts as election results come in.
Maura Healey is the first woman and first openly gay person elected as governor of Massachusetts. Healey, the state’s attorney general, beat former Republican state Rep. Geoff Diehl and ran on protecting abortion access and improving child care costs.
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Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the first woman elected as governor of Arkansas. Huckabee Sanders, who was the White House secretary under then-President Donald Trump, beat Democrat Chris Jones and put forth a platform of tackling crime and implementing tax cuts. Huckabee Sanders takes on the role roughly 15 years after her father Mike Huckabee held the same position.
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