First ever Muslim women elected as Democrats take over US house of reps

Two Muslim women emerged victorious as Democrats took over the US house of representatives at the midterm elections on Tuesday.

Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Democrats from Minnesota and Michigan respectively, will be the first Muslim women to serve in congress.

Massachusetts will also get its first black congresswoman while Arizona and Tennessee are set to elect their first female senators.

The result of the elections means that the Republicans no longer hold both wings of the US congress, handing President Donald Trump’s political opponents a stronger foothold in Washington.

Taking control of the lower chamber of congress for the first time in eight years will enable Democrats thwart some of the president’s agenda.

Nancy Pelosi, Democratic leader of the house, told cheering supporters in Washington: “Thanks to you, tomorrow will be a new day in America.”

However, the Democrats did not win a majority in the senate as the historic “blue wave” they hoped for failed to be achieved.

Republicans, with a strong grip on the senate, unseated a string of Democratic senators up for re-election in states Trump won in 2016.

Key gains for the Republicans came in Indiana, Missouri and North Dakota, where they unseated Democrat incumbents.

­ Sarah Sanders, White House press secretary, said: “Anybody that was anticipating a blue wave tonight is not going to get it.”

Beto O’Rourke, Republican Texas senator, lost the race to Ted Cruz who was re-elected.