Indianapolis, Indiana Democrat Andre Carson won last Tuesday's special election to succeed his grandmother, the late U.S. Rep. Julia Carson, and fill out the final 10 months of her term. His win makes him only the second Muslim nationwide to serve there.  He must now win the May 6 primary election and the November general election to win a full two-year  term in Congress. Both Muslims are African-American.

With New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's  resignation after a sex-scandel, Lt. Gov. David Paterson has become the first African-American governor of the state and the fourth in U.S. history (only two were elected).  The only other current Black governor is Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts.  Patrick was elected into office.