CBS News
DACA recipient wins New Mexico legislative seat and other historic 2024 election wins
As the 2024 election results continued rolling in Wednesday morning, the outcomes of federal and state races took shape across the United States. A handful of them marked historic victories, with Congress’ first transgender representative and Maryland’s first Black senator among them.
In New Mexico, voters elected Cindy Nava to join the state legislature, paving the way for a former undocumented person and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipient to hold a position in public office.
Nava, a Democrat, won New Mexico’s state Senate contest in District 9, which includes a region just north of Albuquerque. She bested Republican candidate Audrey Trujillo with 55% of the vote, according to results shared online by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office.
Originally from Mexico, Nava came to the U.S. as a young child with her family. She was a Dreamer — a recipient of the DACA program — which was designed to protect undocumented people who arrived in the country as children from being deported. The Obama-era policy took effect in 2012.
Years later, after graduating from college in New Mexico, Nava was appointed to serve as a senior policy adviser at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Biden administration. She was the first former DACA recipient appointed by the White House, said Nava in a biography that appears on her campaign website.
“I am the first in my family to graduate college, and the first Dreamer (DACA recipient) in the country to be appointed by the White House,” the bio reads. “Now, I am among a small handful of Dreamers in the country who are running for public office.”
Nava’s victory in New Mexico’s state legislature was unprecedented because a former DACA recipient had never successfully become an elected official before this latest election. She could potentially share that milestone with Luis Mata, a Democratic candidate for Tennessee’s House of Representatives in 2024 who was also a Dreamer.
Historic election triumphs touched multiple states.
Delaware
Delaware made huge strides in the 2024 congressional elections. Sarah McBride, a Democrat who has served in the Delaware State Senate and worked in the Obama administration, won her U.S. House race and became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, also a Democrat, also became the first woman and the first Black person elected to serve in the U.S. Senate from Delaware. She reached the same milestone for Delaware when she was elected to represent the state in the House in 2017.
The upcoming congressional term will mark the first time two Black women serve simultaneously in the Senate, owing to Rochester’s victory in Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks’ victory in Maryland.
Maryland
Alsobrooks, a Democrat, will become Maryland’s first Black senator after winning her congressional race. She currently serves as the county executive for Prince George’s County, near Washington, D.C.
New Jersey
Democrat Andy Kim won his congressional race in New Jersey, becoming the first Korean American person elected to the U.S. Senate.
North Dakota
Julie Fedorchak, a Republican who sits on North Dakota’s public service commission, will become the first woman from the state in Congress. She was elected to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ohio
Republican Bernie Moreno, of Ohio, became the first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate in that state.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
A majority of Americans were stressed before Election Day, and now post-election, emotions are still running high for many across the country.
Experts say Americans with varying political views may be overcome with emotion in the wake of the election results, from pride and optimism to disappointment, frustration and even fear.
“Feelings of, ‘How did this happen?’ are likely widespread and would have been whichever way the vote had gone. For many, these strong emotions reflect the heightened stakes of what has been called one of the most important elections in U.S. history, as people contemplate what the results mean for their values, communities and hopes for the future,” Chaitali Sinha, psychologist and chief clinical research and development officer at mental health app Wysa, told CBS News.
If you’re someone looking to better cope with heightened emotions around the election, here are some tips according to experts.
Coping with election results, loss
Know you’re not alone: “It’s completely normal for people to feel a sense of loss or fear when election results don’t align with their hopes,” Sinha said, adding these emotions can “take a toll on mental health,” making coping strategies important.
Use happy, healthy distractions: “Engaging in self-care activities, such as spending time outdoors, exercising or connecting with supportive friends can offer relief and a break from the stress,” Sinha said.
Grounding techniques like deep breathing, journaling or simply naming your emotions to help process them can also be helpful, she said.
Once you’re feeling calmer, redirecting your energy into actions can help you feel more empowered, according to Dr. Michele Nealon, clinical psychologist and president of The Chicago School. This could include taking a walk, reading a book, volunteering or finding other ways to contribute positively.
“Acknowledging your feelings and focusing on what you can influence can ease stress and bring back a sense of control and purpose,” Nealon said.
Limit doomscrolling: “It is important to take a break from the news,” Sinha said.
Psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma recently told CBS News she suggests setting a timer on social media apps to set boundaries on phone notifications.
“It’s really important to have and carve out sacred spaces throughout your day where you don’t have constant notifications,” she said.
Seek help if needed: For those feeling especially overwhelmed, talking to a mental health professional can also provide guidance — and some are already leaning on organizations that can help.
The Trevor Project, for example, reported Tuesday that the LGBTQ+ youth-focused mental health organization saw a nearly 200% increase in conversation topics related to the election across its crisis services in the days leading up to the results.
Tips for navigating family who voted differently
With Thanksgiving around the corner, some are already worried about political differences making family gatherings feel tense.
Sinha warns no good comes from heated political arguments with your family members.
“Approach these interactions with curiosity and empathy wherever possible, rather than judgment, no matter how challenging that may feel,” she advised. “Try to listen actively and find common ground on shared values, even if your political beliefs differ.”
If that’s not possible, setting boundaries can help.
This can looking like politely steering the topic elsewhere if a conversation gets to heated or uncomfortable or simply step away.
Mental health resources post-election
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine
For more information about mental health care resources and support, The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email at info@nami.org.
The Trevor Project
For LGBTQIA+ youth looking for free, confidential crisis support, call 1-866-488-7386, text ‘START’ to 678-678 or visit their website to chat with a gender-affirming and queer-friendly counselor.
Veterans’ Crisis Line
Call 988 then press 1, text 838255 or chat online here.
Substance abuse support
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have resources on their website, including virtual meetings.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline for mental and/or substance use disorders can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
