Incoming class of US senators is full of historic firsts

When the newest class of US senators is sworn into office in January, it will include several of America's firsts — from the first Native American elected to the Senate and the first Muslim in the upper chamber to the Senate's first Paralympian.

The 2026 midterm election brought a significant shift in Congress as Democrats won big up and down the ballot. While not all races have been called, Democrats have flipped more than 40 House seats and picked up 7 Senate seats, giving them control of both chambers.

Josh Turek of Iowa will be the first Paralympian to serve in the Senate. The Democrat is a two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball. Turek is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair due to spina bifida. He beat Republican Ashley Hinson in the general election.

Julia Letlow has made history twice. She was the first Republican woman elected to the US House from Louisiana in 2021, running in a special election to replace her late husband, Congressman Luke Letlow, who died of COVID-19 in 2020. Now Louisiana voters have decided to send her to the Senate, where she will be the first Republican woman from the state to serve. She will succeed Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, whom she beat in the primary election.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, is the first Muslim person elected to the upper chamber. El-Sayed is an epidemiologist and the former health director for the city of Detroit. He beat Republican Mike Rogers for the hotly contested seat.

Minnesota's Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is the first Native American elected to the Senate. Flanagan is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. She was also the first woman of color elected to state office in Minnesota. Flanagan will replace outgoing Democratic Senator Tina Smith.

Chris Pappas is the first openly gay man elected to the Senate and the first gay man to represent New Hampshire. He served four terms in the House and beat Republican John Sununu in the election.

In one of the biggest election night upsets, Dr. Annie Andrews pulled out an underdog win in deep red South Carolina. Andrews is the first woman elected to the US Senate from the state. She beat Darline Graham, who was appointed to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham.

Texas and Kansas are both reliably Republican states, and both are sending pastors to Washington. In Texas, voters selected Democrat James Talarico as their next senator — the first time the state has sent a Democrat to the chamber since 1988. Talarico won against Republican nominee Ken Paxton.

After nearly 100 years, Kansas has elected a Democratic senator. Adam Hamilton will be the first Democrat to serve the state since 1932. He won a tough race against incumbent Republican Roger Marshall.