US Congress hits diversity record as Democrats win with economic focus

Democrats won historic victories in the US midterm elections, achieving record diversity in Congress, but experts say this was achieved by deliberately avoiding culture war issues. The party's success is attributed to a focus on economic concerns rather than identity politics. Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim man and Chris Pappas the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, while Keisha Lance Bottoms became Georgia's first Black female governor and Deb Haaland the first Native American female governor of New Mexico. Experts argue these candidates won due to strong campaigns, not their backgrounds. Analysts credit the Democratic victory to Trump's unpopularity, the costly Iran war, and an aggressive economic populism strategy that united voters across racial lines. Experts predict this marks a permanent shift toward left-wing populism, despite Republicans attempting to provoke debates on immigration and transgender issues.