Election to shatter record of women in House

First Muslim-American women elected to Congress Two Muslim women from the Midwest have won the ranks of the United States Congress for the first time. Democrat Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, took Michigan's 13th congressional district. And Democrat Somali-American Ilhan Omar won Minnesota's fifth congressional district, replacing the first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison. Only two other Muslims have been elected to Congress, and both are men currently in office: Ellison and Indiana Democratic Re

Women will break the current record of 84 serving at once in the U.S. House.

With ballots still being counted across the country, women have won 75 seats and are assured of victory in nine districts where women are the only major-party candidates.

» Ballot initiatives for Georgia's Nov. 6 election

Outrage and organizing by women have defined Democratic Party politics this election cycle — from the Women's March opposing President Donald Trump the day after he was inaugurated in January 2017 through a stream of sexual assault accusations later that year that sparked the #MeToo movement.

More than 230 women, many of them first-time candidates, were on the general-election ballots in House races.

Despite the gains, men will continue to hold the vast majority of House seats.