Pending the counting of absentee ballots and the final tally of election results, New York’s new congressional delegation will include at least three and as many as four new children of Africa. Among the four will be two of the nation’s first openly Black LGBT congresspersons, Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones.

In New York, the process of counting absentee ballots won’t begin after the July 4th holiday said the New York City Board of Elections executive director Michael Ryan. The count of absentee ballots in Kentucky did not bring good news to Democrat Charles Booker. Republicans had few jolts of their own.

The seismic shift in the demographics of elected representation left Dave Weigel of the Washington Post tweeting: “If the Jamaal Bowman numbers hold, there won’t be a straight White man representing any part of New York in the House from Oneonta to Central Park.” While Torres, Jones, and Bowman are in safe Democratic districts, Jackie Gordon hopes to flip the seat now held by Steve King (R-NY).

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Trump has “done more to help my community come out of the darkness than any president in my lifetime.”

-Leading congressional candidate Burgess Owens of Utah

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Interestingly, Torres and Jones woud represent districts on the opposite ends of the economic spectrum with District 15 (Torres) being the lowest-income congressional district in the country with a median household income of $30,483. And, District 17 (Jones) being one of the highest-income districts with a median household income of $96,125. The two may join the seven LGBQT+ members serving in the 435 member House and the two in the 100 member Senate.

Racially, Torres was on traditionally friendly territory, where 66 percent of the people identify as Hispanic and 28 percent Black (A person, like Torres, can identify as Black and Hispanic versus being Black and Anglo as are most Africans in America.) Torres’ father is Puerto Rican and his mother is African-American.

Jones, like an increasing number of Black congress people, would represent a majority non-Black district. The district is only 11 percent Black. Brown’s district is multi-racial with an even split of Whites, Blacks, and LatinX. Jackie Gordon is hoping to flip a district that is 60 percent White.

No matter how historic the victories, Torres’ victory is probably the most poetic. He defeated Rubén Díaz, Sr., an African-Puerto Rican ordained Pentecostal minister who is extremely homophobic. Interestingly, his son, Rubén Díaz Jr., is borough president of the Bronx and they often oppose each other, including on marriage equality.

Furthermore, Torres won with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez backing another candidate, and the Congressional Black Caucus supporting another. The New York Times editorial board and the New York Daily News endorsed Torres.

Jones, who may share a historic entry into congress with Torres told TIME, “Growing up poor, Black and gay, I would never have imagined that someone like me could run for Congress, let alone be a leading contender for the Democratic nomination. I’m really grateful for this opportunity to inspire people and to change history.”

Jones jumped in the race a year ago, ready to primary Nita Lowey from the left before she announced her retirement. “The historic nature of this moment is not lost of me,” Jones continued in TIME, adding that “it’s not just about representation. It’s about what your lived experience brings to policy discussions.” As for Bowman, it was Justice Democrats, the group that helped launch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional career, that recruited him.

In Utah, Burgess Owens snagged a big, early lead with 43% of the vote in the Republican primary. He wants to unseat Ben McAdams, who beat his fellow Black Republican Nia Love by less than 700 votes in 2018.

The former football player for the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders sees Donald Trump, as “an advocate for Black Americans, Black kids getting educated, having a choice." He added, "I love the fact he’s all about having Black Americans having jobs,” saying Trump has “done more to help my community come out of the darkness than any president in my lifetime.”

Two Republican House candidates opposed by President Trump, one in North Carolina and one in Kentucky, won their primaries. Madison Cawthorn, who life changing accident left him partially paralyzed and $3 million worth of medical debt, is against free health care for all.

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Interestingly, Torres and Jones woud represent districts on the opposite ends of the economic spectrum with District 15 (Torres) being the lowest-income congressional district in the country with a median household income of $30,483. And, District 17 (Jones) being one of the highest-income districts with a median household income of $96,125.

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"If I was in a country of practice socialized medicine, I genuinely believe I would be dead today. You know at that point, when you are using a single payer or premium based market of health care, that gives health care to all, you obviously have to start rationing care to all. I only had a 1% chance to live. It was an absolute miracle that I was able to pull through," Cawthorn said on “The View.” Cawthorn, 24, could be the youngest person elected to Congress.

In Kentucky, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie was re-nominated for a sixth House term despite his forcing lawmakers to return to Washington during the pandemic to vote on the economic relief package. Trump labeled him a “disaster for America.”  

Also, in the Bluegrass state, Charles Booker lost his primary race by about 7,000 votes and the chance to challenge Mitch McConnell in the general election. He lost to Amy McGrath.

In his confession speech, Booker said, “I want to be clear: this isn't about me and Amy. I accept the results of this election, and concede this race. But we will push in the coming days to ensure transparency and accountability in our state's electoral system, because it is essential that every single Kentuckian has faith in our democracy as we go forward . . . No matter where you are from, what color your skin is, how much money you have, who you love, what pronoun you use, whether you walk or use a wheelchair, or what you believe, you matter. . . Let”s dedicate to the work of beating Mitch, so that we can get him out of the way . . . From the hood to the holler – Charles Booker.