WASHINGTON – From Zohran Mamdani in New York City to Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, a slew of candidates across the country broke barriers in the 2025 elections.

Women in Virginia and Detroit shattered the glass ceiling, while candidates of diverse backgrounds elsewhere became “firsts” in other ways.

Here’s a look at some of the groundbreaking winners.

Zohran Mamdani becomes first Muslim mayor of NYC

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old New York State Assembly member, skyrocketed to political stardom when he won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor earlier this year. On Nov. 4, he was elected the first Muslim mayor of the largest city in the U.S.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who ran on an affordability-focused platform, beat former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent.

Mamdani previously served three terms representing an area of Queens in the New York State Assembly. He was the first South Asian man and Ugandan to serve in the assembly and the third Muslim person to do so.

Spanberger elected Virginia’s first woman governor

Abigail Spanberger became the first woman elected to lead the Commonwealth of Virginia in its 236-year history as a state. Spanberger, 46, previously represented northern and central parts of Virginia in Congress.

“It’s a big deal that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that that can achieve anything,” Spanberger said during a victory rally in Richmond, Virginia.

“The history Virginia is making tonight is yours,” she told the crowd.

Virginia lieutenant governor also makes history

Spanberger wasn’t the only history-making candidate in Virginia. Democratic state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi beat Republican talk radio host John Reid in the state’s lieutenant governor’s election, becoming the first Muslim woman in the U.S. to be elected to a statewide office.

Hashmi is an educator who taught as a professor at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College. She was first elected to the Virginia Senate in 2019, becoming the first Muslim and the first South Asian American in the state legislature.

Hashmi emigrated to the United States from India at age 4 with her family.

Detroit, Boston see historic winners in mayoral races

Voters in Detroit and Boston also supported historic candidates to lead their cities.

In Detroit, City Council President Mary Sheffield became the first woman elected as mayor. And in Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu won a second term, continuing her tenure as the first woman and first Asian American mayor of the city.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These candidates made history in 2025 elections

Reporting by Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect