As polls closed late Tuesday, states throughout the country saw a range of candidates of color racking up election wins in historic results.
The gains ranged from mayoral elections to state offices, in many cases the first time such posts have been won by people of color or candidates from marginalized communities.
Here's a rundown of the winners:
Wu beats George for top spot in Boston
City council member Michelle Wu, 36, won the mayoral race in Boston after fellow Democrat Annissa Essaibi George conceded. Wu gained 63.6% of votes compared to 36% for Wu, according to WBUR News.
Wu is the first woman and person of color elected to the post. Acting mayor of Boston, Kim Janey, a Black woman, was appointed after previously elected Mayor Marty Walsh stepped down to become U.S. secretary of labor under President Joe Biden.
Wu grew up in Chicago and her parents immigrated from Taiwan. A Harvard Law graduate, she is a former protégé of liberal Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Wu had served in the Boston city council since 2014.
Wu had the backing of Warren, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass, and Mayor Janey during the campaign.
She clashed with her opponent George on a number of issues, including affordable housing, public education, transportation, crime and policing reform. Before running for mayor, Wu joined other city council members in calling for a 10% cut to the police department’s budget.
Eric Adams wins NYC mayoral election, Alvin Bragg elected first Black Manhattan DA.
Retired police officer Eric Adams defeated underdog Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa Tuesday to become the second Black mayor in the history of New York City. The newly elected mayor promised to reflect needs of working and middle-class voters of color.
Former federal prosecutor Alvin Bragg will become the first Black person to lead the Manhattan district attorney's office after his win over Republican opponent, Thomas Kenniff.
The Manhattan DA handles tens of thousands of cases per year, according to the New York Times. Bragg will soon be in charge of the high-profile investigation into former President Donald Trump and his family business.
Ed Gainey takes Pittsburgh mayoral race.......
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