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Sharice Davids made history in the United States Congress on Tuesday, November 6 after winning a local election in the 2018 midterms. Davids, a former mixed martial arts fighter, was able to pull off a big victory by defeating four-term incumbent Republican Representative Kevin Yoder to win Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District.
It was a monumental win for not only the Democratic Party but for minority groups in the country.
Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, becomes the first Democrat to sit in the Kansas House seat in a decade, the first openly LGBT representative for the state, and the first Native American woman to serve in Congress.
The magnitude of Davids’ win was not lost on her.
“We have the opportunity to reset expectations about what people think when they think of Kansas,” Davids said during her victory speech, via the Kansas City Star. “We know there are so many of us who welcome everyone, who see everyone and who know that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed.”
More about Sharice Davids can be seen below.
Who Is Sharice Davids?
Before turning to politics, Davids was immersed in the mixed martial arts scene where she earned a 5-1 record as an amateur. After turning pro, Davids racked up a 1-1 record. She tried out for the UFC reality competition The Ultimate Fighter during season 20 which crowned the promotion’s inaugural women’s strawweight champion, but ultimately failed to make the cut.
Davids obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City while beginning her MMA career, before earning her Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.
Now, she is a member-elect of the United States House of Representatives for Kansas’ 3rd congressional district where she succeeds four-term incumbent Kevin Yoder.
