All Four Women Of The Squad Win Reelection

The dynamic group of women of color, Reps. AOC, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley, have been reelected for a second two-year term to the House of Representatives.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley | Instagram/aoc
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley | Instagram/aoc

Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) all claimed reelection victories in their respective House races Tuesday. All four congresswomen were elected in the “blue wave” 2018 midterm elections and became known among their supporters and constituents as “The Squad.

Omar claimed victory in Minnesota's 5th congressional district with 64.6% of the vote against Republican challenger Lacy Johnson. As a Somali refugee who fled civil war as a child, Omar became the first Somali American elected to Congress and has been an outspoken voice on the floor. She has also helped elevate the voices of fellow immigrants while being a vocal critic of President Trump, who has frequently attacked her in racist and xenophobic ways.

Ocasio-Cortez, also known asAOC, was reelected in New York’s 14th congressional district with 68.8% of the vote, defeating Republican opponent John Cummings. After becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress in 2018, she has been dynamic and outspoken in her progressive advocacy and policy agenda, which has rattled both her GOP colleagues and the conservative press.

Pressley beat out independent challenger Roy Owens in Massachusetts' 7th congressional district handily, with 87.5% of the vote. She has notably spoken out about and proposed plans to fix the unfair criminalization and suspension levels of young Black girls. Earlier this year, she also released an inspiring video in which she opened up about having alopecia.

Tlaib claimed reelection victory over Republican opponent David Dudenhoefer in Michigan's 13th congressional district with 66.5% of the vote by midnight. Though votes are still being tallied in the race, she’s projected to win—her opponent is tracking at 29%. In 2018, Tlaib became the first woman of Palestinian descent in Congress and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, along with Omar. She has lent her voice to advocate for Middle Eastern and North African voices in the U.S. as well as to call out members of the Trump administration on corporate and possibly corrupt ties.

The Squad has also been repeatedly attacked by Trump, who often refers to them dismissively as “AOC plus three.” Last year, the president infamously told all four women of color to “go back” to the countries they came from—though all are American citizens, a requirement to be elected to U.S Congress in the first place. Omar is the only one of the four who was born outside of the U.S. and she was brought to America as a young girl.

The Squad has also been passionately advocating for Americans to vote in the 2020 election.