Hawaii elects transgender official

HONOLULU – A Hawaii woman won a seat on the state Board of Education and, according to national advocacy groups, a place in history as the nation’s highest-ranking transgender elected official.

Kim Coco Iwamoto, a 38-year-old attorney, did not tout her gender status in the campaign but has advocated for transgender youth and related issues.

Black Muslim elected in Minn.

MINNESOTA – A city of mostly white Christians made a black Muslim their next congressman. Keith Ellison, a state representative and criminal defense lawyer, will represent Minneapolis and its first-ring suburbs – and also become the first Muslim elected to Congress.

Write-in candidate successful

ATHENS, Ohio – After launching a successful write-in campaign to be the Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 6th congressional district, Charlie Wilson emerged victorious as the district’s representative.Wilson defeated Republican Chuck Blasdel with 61 percent of the votes tabulated by press time.

Compiled from Associated Press and U-Wire reports