This past election day, many people stressed the importance of exercising your right to vote. Well, it's time to issue a thank you to everyone who did because many of the races won across the country were historic. These victories also send a message to the Trump administration about the greater call against bigotry. Meet some of the amazing winners who made history Tuesday night.

Justin Fairfax

Photo: Twitter/@FairfaxJustin

Justin Fairfax was elected to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. As a former federal prosecutor, he will be the second African-American to win statewide in Virginia.

Sheila Oliver

Photo: Meet The Leaders

Sheila Oliver was elected as the first female African-American lieutenant governor in New Jersey. Oliver is not new to this, but true to this, having broken records before. She also became the first African-American woman to be elected as Assembly speaker in New Jersey and only the second black female speaker in U.S. history.

Vi Lyles

Vi Lyles will be the first African-American female Charlotte mayor #CLTMayor
@wsoctv
pic.twitter.com/YuibomFAzm

— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) November 8, 2017

Vi Lyles was elected as Charlotte, North Carolina’s first female African-American mayor, defeating Republican candidate Kenny Smith.

Yvonne Spicer

Congrats to Yvonne Spicer, 1st mayor of the new city of Framingham @spicerformayor
pic.twitter.com/6S7w1EVa7f

— Anne Senecal (@commrhetprof) November 8, 2017

Yvonne Spicer was elected the first mayor of the city of Framingham, Massachusetts. Formerly known as “the largest town in America,” Framingham has decided to formally become a city making Spicer the first mayor, black mayor, and black woman mayor of the city. This vote altered the way the government will be run: by a mayor and a city council.

Ravinder Bhalla

Thank you Hoboken. I look forward to being your Mayor! #TeamBhalla
#FinishedStrong
pic.twitter.com/UKPuXkDWGX

— Ravinder S. Bhalla (@RaviBhalla) November 8, 2017

Ravinder Bhalla was elected as the mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey which will make Bhalla the first Sikh American to be elected mayor of the city. Last week, Bhalla was the target of racist flyers that showed a picture of him along with the words “Don’t let terrorism take over our town!” plastered above him. Talk about perseverance.

Elizabeth Guzman and Hala Ayala

Elizabeth Guzman and Hala Ayala both defeated Republican incumbents tonight to become the first-ever Latinas elected to the Virginia House of Delegates! #ElectionDay
#VirginiaElection
pic.twitter.com/6XApF5WTrO

— Women's March (@womensmarch) November 8, 2017

Elizabeth Guzman and Hala Ayala defeated Republican incumbents to become the first two Latinas elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.

Wilmot Collins

Photo: KTVH

Wilmot Collins was a refugee from Liberia who ended up in Helena, Montana 23 years ago. Today, the 54-year-old Naval reservist and child protection specialist with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services will become the first black mayor in Montana’s history.

Melvin Carter

Melvin Carter to be next St. Paul mayor. #stpaulmayor W/96 of 96 precincts in, he has 50.89% of 1st choice votes pic.twitter.com/E71skWJDsK

— Claude Peck (@claudepeck) November 8, 2017

Voters in St. Paul, Minn., made history by electing Melvin Carter as the city’s first African-American mayor.

Kathy Tran

Kathy Tran came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam when she was an infant. Tonight, she became the first Asian American woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Congrats @kathykltran! pic.twitter.com/NSynRwHJ7d

— Women's March (@womensmarch) November 8, 2017

A former Vietnamese refugee, Kathy Tran became the first Asian-American woman to join Virginia’s House of Delegates, representing the state’s 42nd district. She also takes the place of David Albo, a Republican who served 24 years.

Janet Diaz

Janet Diaz will become the first Latina member of Lancaster, Penn.’s city council.

Jonathan McCollar

Jonathan McCollar will become the first African-American mayor of Statesboro, Ga.

Brendon Barber

Photo: Georgetown And Beyond News

Brendon Barber, a Georgetown, S.C. city councilman since 1998, will become the city’s first-ever African-American mayor.

Mary Parham Copelanwill

Photo: Facebook

Mary Parham Copelanwill become Milledgeville, Ga.’s first female African-American mayor, beating incumbent Gary Thrower.

Booker Gainor

@timkaine Booker Gainor just became Cairo, Georgia's first African American Mayor!! Thank you for encouraging and supporting him!! pic.twitter.com/PqidvC2kEA

— Laura Register (@laurabregister) November 8, 2017

The 27-year-old will become Cairo, Ga.’s first African-American mayor.

Congratulations to everyone!

booker gainor

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