The midterm elections ushered in America's first openly gay male governor, as well as the country's first Native American congresswomen and first Muslim congresswomen.
Voters in Idaho, Utah and Nebraska approved ballot initiatives to expand Medicaid, overcoming roadblocks that had kept an estimated 300,000 people from obtaining coverage.
Hundreds of lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer candidates made the ballot Tuesday. And by Election Day's end, several of them had also made U.S. history.
The biggest story of the night is that Democrats took back the House. That will stop President Trump's agenda in its tracks unless he compromises with the other side.
It was a night with bragging rights and disappointments — a midterm election in which both parties took some lumps, but could also take some satisfaction. Rancor and wrangling are likely from now on.
Democrats made modest inroads on the GOP's commanding lead in governors' offices around the country. But did not fare well in marquee races in Florida and Georgia.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the first order of business will be a vote on campaign finance reform. House committees also will launch investigations of Trump administration officials.