Newly-elected members of the House of Representatives posed for a picture in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
When you think about this November’s election, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the reelection of President Barack Obama. However, many other candidates were elected or reelected to important offices this year. The 2012 election also had many “firsts.”
On November 6, many Americans waited in lines for hours to vote. Others voted before Election Day through early or absentee voting. More than 118 million citizens cast votes to elect local, state, and national leaders. There were important elections in several states for senators and representatives. As a result, the Republicans kept their majority in the House of Representatives, while the Democrats’ majority in the Senate grew. Members of both parties hope that they can work together despite their many disagreements.
In some parts of the United States, voters made choices about different laws and amendments. For example, in Puerto Rico, voters decided that they would like to become an official state of the United States. Before Puerto Rico can become a state, however, the idea has to be approved by Congress. For now, Puerto Rico is still a United States territory.
In January 2013, when the newly-elected senators are sworn in, the Senate will have 20 female senators. This is the most women senators that Congress has ever had. The states of Massachusetts, North Dakota, Hawaii, and Wisconsin have each elected a woman senator for the first time. New Hampshire became the first state to elect all female senators and representatives to Congress. They also elected a woman governor, Maggie Hassan. In Hawaii, Mazie Hirono was elected to the Senate. Hirono is the first Asian-American woman elected senator. She is also the first Buddhist and the first person who was born in Japan to be elected to the Senate.
Image credit: ©AP Photo/Susan Walsh
Related Link
- Election 2012 — TIME for Kids
Read all about the election, the conventions, the debates, the candidates, and more.
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