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| Mid-terms 2018: How these elections broke records | Mid-terms 2018: How these elections broke records |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| This year's crucial mid-term elections were always likely to make history. | This year's crucial mid-term elections were always likely to make history. |
| More women and LGBT people ran than ever before and, with a polarising president in the White House, many predicted voters would head to the polls in their droves. | More women and LGBT people ran than ever before and, with a polarising president in the White House, many predicted voters would head to the polls in their droves. |
| While the headline remains that the Democrats won the House and the Republicans held the Senate, these elections will be remembered for a host of different reasons. | While the headline remains that the Democrats won the House and the Republicans held the Senate, these elections will be remembered for a host of different reasons. |
| So here are just some of the records that were broken and some of the winners who sealed their place in history... | So here are just some of the records that were broken and some of the winners who sealed their place in history... |
| Year of the woman | Year of the woman |
| This was how the mid-terms were being billed by some, a reference to the 1992 elections in which the number of women in Congress doubled. | This was how the mid-terms were being billed by some, a reference to the 1992 elections in which the number of women in Congress doubled. |
| And that has proven true. The number of women in both chambers will be at a record high come January, beating the current tally of 107. | |
| It's worth noting that there are still some districts still to be counted, so yet more women could serve in the 116th Congress. | |
| Hillary Clinton's surprise defeat to President Donald Trump two years ago, a man who has a history of making sexist remarks, appears to have been a galvanising moment for American women. | Hillary Clinton's surprise defeat to President Donald Trump two years ago, a man who has a history of making sexist remarks, appears to have been a galvanising moment for American women. |
| The new intake heading to Washington includes a number of historic firsts. Such as... | The new intake heading to Washington includes a number of historic firsts. Such as... |
| The youngest congresswoman | |
| Last year, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was mixing cocktails at a restaurant in New York City. | Last year, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was mixing cocktails at a restaurant in New York City. |
| Now, the 29-year-old will swap the tequila and taco bar for the grandeur of the Capitol building after becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. | Now, the 29-year-old will swap the tequila and taco bar for the grandeur of the Capitol building after becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. |
| Ms Ocasio-Cortez, a former Bernie Sanders volunteer who led a progressive campaign, stormed to victory with more than 78% of the vote in New York's 13th district. | Ms Ocasio-Cortez, a former Bernie Sanders volunteer who led a progressive campaign, stormed to victory with more than 78% of the vote in New York's 13th district. |
| "We have made history tonight," she told cheering supporters after the result was confirmed. | "We have made history tonight," she told cheering supporters after the result was confirmed. |
| Meanwhile, more than 1,000 miles (1600km) away in the state of Iowa, Abby Finkenauer also joined the ranks of the nation's youngest representatives. | Meanwhile, more than 1,000 miles (1600km) away in the state of Iowa, Abby Finkenauer also joined the ranks of the nation's youngest representatives. |
| Ms Finkenauer, 29, won a close race in Iowa's first district and will unseat Republican Rod Blum. | Ms Finkenauer, 29, won a close race in Iowa's first district and will unseat Republican Rod Blum. |
| More on the mid-terms: | More on the mid-terms: |
| Historic wins for minorities | Historic wins for minorities |
| Elsewhere, two women from distant states made history together. | Elsewhere, two women from distant states made history together. |
| In Kansas, Sharice Davids defeated a long-time Republican incumbent while, in New Mexico, Debra Haaland cruised to a landslide victory in the state's first district. | In Kansas, Sharice Davids defeated a long-time Republican incumbent while, in New Mexico, Debra Haaland cruised to a landslide victory in the state's first district. |
| The two Democrats are the first Native American women to be elected to Congress. | The two Democrats are the first Native American women to be elected to Congress. |
| Ms Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and a former mixed martial arts fighter who was raised by a single mother. | Ms Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and a former mixed martial arts fighter who was raised by a single mother. |
| Democrats Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and Ilhan Omar in Minnesota became the first female Muslim representatives. | Democrats Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and Ilhan Omar in Minnesota became the first female Muslim representatives. |
| Ms Omar fled Somalia's civil war with her parents at the age of eight and spent four years at a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the US. | Ms Omar fled Somalia's civil war with her parents at the age of eight and spent four years at a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the US. |
| "It is up to us to fulfil the promise of America," she told supporters after her win. | "It is up to us to fulfil the promise of America," she told supporters after her win. |
| "Let's get to the business of dancing and celebrating," she added. "We're going to Washington!" | "Let's get to the business of dancing and celebrating," she added. "We're going to Washington!" |
| History was also made in Colorado, where Democrat Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to be elected a state governor. | History was also made in Colorado, where Democrat Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to be elected a state governor. |
| An energised electorate | An energised electorate |
| These elections broke records for early voting, leading experts to predict that turnout could be exceptionally high. | These elections broke records for early voting, leading experts to predict that turnout could be exceptionally high. |
| We won't know the official numbers for several days, but some exit polls showed that it had soared when compared to 2014. | We won't know the official numbers for several days, but some exit polls showed that it had soared when compared to 2014. |
| The New York Times estimates that 114 million votes were cast, compared to 83 million four years ago. | The New York Times estimates that 114 million votes were cast, compared to 83 million four years ago. |
| Our reporters witnessed long queues at polling stations across the country and also say turnout appeared to be high. | Our reporters witnessed long queues at polling stations across the country and also say turnout appeared to be high. |
| Money, money, money | Money, money, money |
| The amount spent on campaigns during this election cycle broke all previous records, experts say. | The amount spent on campaigns during this election cycle broke all previous records, experts say. |
| The total spend reached more than $5.2 billion (£3.9bn), according to analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP). | The total spend reached more than $5.2 billion (£3.9bn), according to analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP). |
| This is a 35% increase on four years ago and the largest increase in at least two decades, the non-profit research group says. | This is a 35% increase on four years ago and the largest increase in at least two decades, the non-profit research group says. |
| "It's safe to say that this is a new mid-term record," a CRP researcher told news website Axios. | "It's safe to say that this is a new mid-term record," a CRP researcher told news website Axios. |
| This spending covers things like TV and radio broadcasts and digital advertising. | This spending covers things like TV and radio broadcasts and digital advertising. |
| But is this money well spent? Perhaps not. | But is this money well spent? Perhaps not. |
| The BBC's Georgina Rannard spoke to a number of voters ahead of the elections who agreed on one thing: they were sick and tired of political attack ads. | The BBC's Georgina Rannard spoke to a number of voters ahead of the elections who agreed on one thing: they were sick and tired of political attack ads. |