Early Wednesday morning, the 2024 presidential election went to Donald Trump. Republicans also retook the Senate overnight, easing the way for the president-elect and his allies to pass restrictive legislation on reproductive rights, immigration, and more.

But several candidates and initiatives scored historic victories on Wednesday. The historic victories that are worth celebrating today will hopefully continue in the future.

Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ) was elected to the Senate, taking over the New Jersey seat previously held by fellow Democrat Senator Bob Menendez. Congressman Kim is the first Korean American to be elected to the Senate.

The senator-elect said in X, “We just won the Senate race! As the son of immigrants and a public school child, I never imagined that I would serve in the U.S. Senate, and I am deeply humbled and grateful to the State of NJ and all those who have helped bring us to this point. I promise to serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all.”

Sarah McBride, Democrat of Delaware, became the first openly transgender person to be elected, defeating Republican John Whalen III, as reported by NBC News. Rep. McBride served two terms in the state Senate.

The incoming Congressman told X, “Thank you, Delaware! Because of your votes and values, I am proud to be your next Congressman-elect.

“Delaware has sent a message loud and clear that we must protect reproductive freedom, guarantee paid leave and affordable child care for all families, make housing and health care available to all, and be a big enough democracy for all of us. [The first black woman to serve in the Senate was Carol Moseley Braun, who has served since 1993, but 2024 will be the first time two black women have been elected at the same time.

Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democrat) was elected to the Delaware Senate and Angela Alsobrooks (Democrat) was elected to the Maryland Senate.

Brant Rochester told X, “From my heart, Delaware, thank you.”

Alsobrooks said, “From my heart, I thank each and every Marylander. Serving this state, my home state, is an honor I will never forget.”

New York voters passed Proposition 1, also known as the “Equal Rights Amendment,” which, according to NBC New York, would expand the protections set forth in Article 11 of the state constitution.

Proposition 1 would make it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of: “race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed [or] religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health and autonomy).

Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, stated in a press release, “Whatever happens in the rest of the country, New York is moving forward. In New York, equality and inclusion are now the law of the land” (via HuffPost).

Access to abortion is one of the major issues heading into this election, and states are taking action to protect the rights of those seeking abortions; as reported by NPR, Arizona has passed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion up to 24 weeks.

Similarly, voters in Missouri chose to repeal the state's abortion ban, which allowed abortions only in the event of a medical emergency, NPR reported. The new amendment allows abortions up to fetal viability (approximately 24 weeks).