Voters for the first time elected two Black women to serve simultaneously in the Senate and sent an openly transgender lawmaker to Congress on Tuesday. They’re among historic choices in nearly a dozen races showing Americans opting for more diverse representation even with issues such as affirmative action and LGBTQ inclusion driving deeper divisions.

Laphonza Butler, a longtime ally of Harris who decided to forgo a run herself for a full Senate term, said both newly minted senators' decision not to lean too much into race and gender would be “sort of Captain Obvious.