Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib just became the first Muslim women elected to Congress
“We changed the course of history at a time we thought it was impossible.”
Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib made history during this year's midterm elections. Both Democrats have become the first Muslim women to be elected to U.S. Congress.
Tlaib, who is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, first became elected on Tuesday night after running unopposed in Michigan's 13th district House race. This win also makes her the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress. Omar joined Tlaib in being the second Muslim woman in Congress when she won in Minnesota's fifth congressional district shortly after. Omar's win also makes her the first Somali-American in Congress.
This win isn't the first time both women broke the glass ceiling. In 2016, Omar became the first Somali-American to be elected to office in the U.S. after she became a state representative in Minnesota. In 2008, Tlaib made history when she became the first Muslim woman ever to serve in Michigan's Legislature.
"We changed the course of history at a time we thought it was impossible," Tlaib told CBS. "For this to happen now, at a moment where we really have felt this moment of darkness. At a moment where Islamophobia is such a high rate... like you don't have to read the Quran to love me... love the actions, love the things that I do. Look at those and that will help people get beyond whatever fear or stereotypical thing that they might be thinking about."