Ohio turns its back on the Democrats, Delaware makes history… Who are the new representatives elected to the American Congress?

A novice in politics, the new senator is a former car dealer, and close ally of Donald Trump, who gave him his support and called him a “MAGA fighter (Make America Great Again, NdlR)“.

During his campaign, he promised to work to reduce government regulations and spending, oppose Mexican drug cartels and secure U.S. borders.

In September, it was revealed that he had falsely claimed to have a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan, and had signed legal documents claiming that degree.

Maryland remains in Democratic continuity with Angela Alsobrooks

Angela Alsobrooks ©Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

“Thank you, Maryland!” wrote African-American Democrat Angela Alsobrooks on her X account. With nearly 52.2% of the votes, she won her very close match against Republican Larry Hogan to replace outgoing Democratic senator Ben Cardin, in office since 2007.

Born in 1971 in Maryland – the state of US Democratic President Joe Biden – the forty-year-old graduated from Duke University, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree, before obtaining a law degree at the University of Maryland. In 2018, she became the first woman to lead Prince George’s County. Prior to that, she served as a state’s attorney, where she focused her work on criminal justice reform and domestic violence.

During the Democratic primaries, Ms. Alsobrooks’ electoral platform emphasized security, access to education and health care. She described Vice President Kamala Harris — whom she also called a longtime friend — as one of her political mentors.

She was elected at the same time as Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester, also African-American. So far, three Black women have served in the U.S. Senate, but none have served concurrent terms. Carol Moseley Braun was elected in Illinois in 1992, Kamala Harris was elected in California in 2017, and Laphonza Butler was appointed in 2023 to replace Diane Feinstein. But none of these three women have ever served in the same legislature.

How Donald Trump managed to win a bet that seemed impossible

Bedroom

Delaware makes history with Sarah McBride

Sarah McBride ©AFP or licensors

The Democrat became the first transgender person to enter Congress, where she will represent Delaware, a small state in the northeastern United States. Elected against Republican John Whalen III, the 34-year-old young woman, who sat in the local Senate, thus joined the House of Representatives.

In 2011, Sarah McBride came out at the age of 21 in the newspaper at American University in Washington DC, where she was studying. Since then, she has continued to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, but also more broadly on issues of discrimination.

Originally from Wilmington, a stronghold of the Democrats in North Carolina, Sarah McBride notably worked with Joe Biden’s son, Beau, when he was attorney general of the state and at the White House during the mandate of Barack Obama.

She recently told CBS that her priorities in the House will mainly be the cost of child care, housing, health and even the right to abortion. “Delaware has sent the message loud and clear that we must be a country that protects reproductive freedom, that guarantees paid leave and affordable child care for all of our families, that ensures that housing and health care is accessible to all and that we are a democracy big enough for us all”congratulated herself, on X, the thirty-year-old. The rights of transgender people were among the hot topics of this American presidential and legislative election campaign.

New York’s 17th District Stays the Course with Mike Lawler

Mike Lawler

Congressman Mike Lawler won a second consecutive term against Democrat Mondaire Jones to represent New York’s 17th District in the House of Representatives. This victory is an additional setback for the Democratic camp which hoped to overturn its constituency, one of the four in the megalopolis that the party intended to conquer.

Born in 1986 in Rockland County, he graduated from Manhattan College with degrees in accounting and finance and was valedictorian of his class.

He is no newbie to politics as he served in the New York State Assembly from 2021 to 2022 before entering the United States House of Representatives in 2023.

During his first term, this 38-year-old politician displayed a moderate position, declaring himself a supporter of policies such as “Medicare for All” (universal health insurance project) and criticizing the behavior of certain Republican conservatives. He notably led several calls for the resignation or expulsion of former Republican deputy George Santos, due to the numerous false claims the latter had made about his past.

But during the 2024 campaign, he placed more emphasis on security issues, regularly showing his support for the police. He has also been noted for his support of Israel in the Gaza war – and his opposition to recent criticism of the Jewish state.