It’s 2020 election night and you’re likely maniacally refreshing poll numbers, watching needles swing back and forth, and sitting glued to your TV screen as Steve Kornacki wilds out on his Big Board. It could be several more hours—or days, or weeks—until we know for sure whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump is elected President.
Until then, here are 11 other interesting developments from the 2020 election. We’ll keep updating this list as results roll in from around the country.
1. Cori Bush elected to Congress in Missouri.
In 2014, nurse Cori Bush was on the frontlines of the Ferguson protests. She became the first candidate recruited by the progressive organization Justice Democrats (they’ve also endorsed AOC and other members of the Squad), but lost her 2016 and 2018 election bids. Third time’s the charm for this Democratic Socialists of America member: this year, she defeated Republican incumbent Lacy Clay in Missouri’s 1st congressional district to become the state’s first Black congresswoman.
2. Sarah McBride becomes the first trans state senator in the country.
Delaware elected the 30-year-old LGBTQ advocate to the state senate, making her the highest-ranking trans legislator in the country. GQ has more on her groundbreaking win here.
3. New Jersey votes to legalize marijuana.
[Cue Springsteen guitar riff.]
4. And Oregon votes to decriminalize all the drugs, plus legalize psilocybin mushrooms.
Measure 110 passed, making the Northwestern state the first to decriminalize the possession of all the drugs.
Shortly after, Measure 109 did as well, which now legalizes the use of psilocybin mushrooms for therapy. You can read more about the fight over Measure 109 here. Thank you, Dr. Bronner’s soap!
5. Alex from Miami did not turn Florida blue.
But our himbo hero remains our greatest election night character.
6. John Hickenlooper flipped a Republican Senate seat in Colorado…