Celebrating Asian-American Heritage Month: Norman Mineta, first Asian-American mayor of a US city

Norman Mineta, born November 12, 1931 in San Jose, California, is the first Asian-American to be elected major of a major US city.  In 1971, he ran against 14 candidates but became the first Japanese-American mayor of a major US city.  

He was elected to the US House of Representatives for California's 13th congressional district.  

In 2000, he was appointed by President Clinton as US Secretary of Commerce, making him the first Asian-American to appointed to a presidential post.

In 2001, Bush appointed him as Secretary of Transportation, becoming the only Democrat to serve in W's cabinet and the first Asian-American to hold the position.  

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Michael Brooks-Jimenez, member of Oklahoma Senate

Although not the first Hispanic elected to the Oklahoma Senate, Michael Brooks-Jimenez is helping change the face of Oklahoma politics.  A lawyer and a Democrat, he was elected in a 2017 special election to fill the seat vacated by Ralph Shortey, a Republican who resigned after being charged with soliciting prostitution from a male minor.  He represents the 44th district, which covers parts of southern Oklahoma City.

He is the only Latino member of the Senate and one of only three in the Legislature.  

Celebrating Pride Month: Jackie Biskupski, first openly gay mayor of Salt Lake City

Jackie Biskupski is the first openly gay mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, a Democratic politician, and the second female mayor of the city.  She served from 2016-2020.  was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 1999-2011.  She lives in Salt Lake City with her wife Betty Iverson and their sons, Archie and Jack.

She did not seek a second term, citing a "serious and complex family situation".

Celebrating Black History Month: Shirley Chisholm, first African-American woman to be elected to U.S. Congress

Shirley Chisholm, born November 30, 1924 in New York City, is the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress.  She was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly from 1965-1968 and pushed for more black representation on key committees in the Assembly.

She ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1968 representing New York's 12th congressional district, which includes parts of Manhattan.  Her campaign slogan was "Unbought and unbossed".

In 1972, she announced that she would run for president, becoming the first black major party candidate to run for that office.  She did not win the nomination, but she did manage to obtain a lot of support, even though most of it were protest votes against McGovern.

She retired from Congress in 1983 and then moved to Florida in 1991.  She passed away in January 2005.

Nerds in Congress! Eight scientists are among the new members of Congress!

The citizens of the U.S. are sending 8 new scientists to Congress!  Well, seven scientists and one who has received a science degree.  Among the blue wave there was a rainbow wave (over 100 LGBT persons won their races) and a pink wave (at least 123 women, including Muslims and Native Americans won their races) changing the face of our House and Senate. 

Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Senator: Rosen is a computer programmer who has represented Nevada’s 3^rd District.  She supports clean, renewable energy, whereas her opponent flip-flopped on the Affordable Care Act and cast the deciding vote on a law that allowed internet service providers sell consumer data without their knowledge.

Chrissy Houlahan (D) Pennsylvania 6^th district Representative: Houlahan is an industrial engineer and an Air Force veteran who campaigned on making healthcare more affordable.  She defeated her opponent who is a tax lawyer and has owned 20 Wendy’s franchises.

Joe Cunningham (D) South Carolina 1^st district Representative: Cunningham, an ocean scientist, used his expertise to campaign against the future of offshore drilling, which won over Republican mayors of coastal cities.  His opponent focused on national issues rather than local ones.

Sean Casten (D) Illinois 6^th district Representative:  Casten, a biochemical engineer, founded a waste-energy recovery program and supported LGBTQ rights.  His opponent was a climate-change denier who later flipped on the issue.

Elaine Luria (D) Virginia 2^nd district Representative: Luria is a nuclear engineer, who spend 20 years in the Navy, operating nuclear reactors as an engineer and a commander. She also focused on increasing the minimum wage.  Her opponent, an ex-Navy Seal, got caught up in a bit of a scandal.

Kim Schrier (D) Washington 8^th district Representative: This race still hasn’t been called as of yesterday, but Schrier has a commanding lead.  Schrier wants to be the first female doctor in Congress.

Lauren Underwood (D) Illinois 14^th district Representative: Underwood, a registered nurse, was a senior adviser at the DHHS under President Obama, where she focused on preventing and responding to bioterrorism threats.  She focused on expanding access to healthcare, since she has an irregular heart rhythm, i.e. pre-existing condition.

Kevin Hern (R) Oklahoma 1^st district Representative: You pretty much have to be a Republican to win an election in Oklahoma, and in such an anti-science state, it’s not surprising he did not campaign on any science-related issues although he has a mechanical engineering degree from Arkansas Tech University.  He said when the space shuttle Challenger blew up in 1986, he decided to give up his dream to be an astronaut and work at McDonald’s flipping burgers?  I suppose if you are a Republican, this would make sense.  He is a Trumpster and owns 10 McDonald’s restaurants in the Tulsa area. 

Celebrating Pride Month - Jacob Candelaria, first openly gay man to serve in NM Legislature

Jacob Candelaria, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the first openly gay man to serve in the New Mexico State Legislature.  He won 69% of the vote during the Democratic primary election in June 2012.  He then ran unopposed in the 2012 November election.

Oklahomans elect a gay woman to the state senate!

I honestly did not think I would see the day that an openly gay person would be elected to any public office in Oklahoma.  But Senate District 37 in the Tulsa area elected Allison Ikley-Freeman, a lesbian who is married, to the state senate.  Way to go, Tulsa County!

However, according to ShareBlue.com, she is the third openly gay person to serve in the Oklahoma State Legislature.  Senator Al McAffrey and Representative Kay Floyd already serve.

It appears that Ikley-Freeman being a lesbian is down-played in the Oklahoma media.  Why is that?  Can we believe that those good ol' boys and gals think that it did not play any signficance in her election?  Could it be that they are finally accepting gays into politics?

Nah.  I'm sure they just don't want anyone to find out that a gay woman was elected.  Or that she is a Democrat.  Or that she wasn't endorsed by anybody yet still won. 

How is Brian O'Hara feeling this morning?


https://shareblue.com/oklahoma-elects-gay-married-woman-in-a-district-trump-won-by-39-points/
http://tulsabeacon.com/senate-candidate-a-democrat-is-married-to-another-woman/
https://ballotpedia.org/Allison_Ikley-Freeman
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/democrats-hopeful-oklahoma-legislative-seats-stake-51139896
http://newsok.com/the-latest-democrats-add-to-win-column-in-deep-red-oklahoma/article/feed/1513336?articleBar=1