Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) celebrated what he called the return of diversity, equity and inclusion after Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, according to Breitbart.
In a video posted on X, Khanna said, "Tonight, DEI is back as America celebrated diversity and inclusion." He continued, "Likely three black governors, the first Latina governor in Texas, the first Muslim-American senator, the first gay senator. I love this America."
The three black governors Khanna referenced are Republican Rep. Byron Donalds in Florida, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia and Democrat David Crowley in Wisconsin. Donalds, a Republican, won Florida's governor's race even as his party lost ground nationally.
The "first Latina governor" refers to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who unseated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The "first Muslim-American senator" appears to refer to Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race.
Khanna's "first gay senator" line is not quite accurate. Rep. Chris Pappas, who won New Hampshire's open Senate seat, is the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, but Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay senator in 2012.
Democrats defended DEI throughout the campaign as Republicans attacked it. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) asked in an October interview what people "have against" diversity, equity and inclusion.
Rep. Dave Min (D-CA) argued on CNN in September that Republicans were using DEI to change the subject. "They are looking for distractions," Min said, pointing instead to "rising costs," housing, tariffs and the Iran war.
Login