Alabama
1. Katie Britt
Attorney, and businesswoman, Katie Britt, who served as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama from 2018 to 2021 and as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Richard Shelby from 2016 to 2018, was the heavy favorite in a traditionally Republican state. She decided to replace her former boss Shelby after he announced that he would not seek reelection in 2022.
She defeated Representative Mo Brooks in a runoff for the nomination with 63% of the vote. Although two women have previously represented Alabama in the Senate, both secured their seats to fill vacancies. Britt became the first woman to be elected to that seat.
Arizona
2. Juan Ciscomani
Ciscomani, who was born in Mexico and immigrated to the US with his family as a child, had previously tasted defeat when he ran unsuccessfully for the Arizona Legislature in 2008. Since then he served as a senior adviser to Governor Doug Ducey, vice chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission.
When he threw his hat into the ring once more against Democratic Party nominee, Kirsten Engel, he knew he was in for a tight race. He would narrowly emerge victorious, making him the first Latino Republican elected to Congress from Arizona after becoming the member-elect to the United States House of Representatives from Arizona’s 6th congressional district.
