Election Firsts

Jeannette Rankin of Montana, Blanche K. Bruce of Mississippi, Wilma Mankiller of Oklahoma, Hiram Fong of Hawaii, Shirley Chisholm of New York, and Dennis Chávez of New Mexico-all six of these people established election firsts in the United States.

Five blazed trails into the United States Congress, while the sixth became the first woman to serve as the principal chief of a major United States Indian tribe. Their journeys from diverse backgrounds and upbringings to elected offices are exciti...