January 12, 1932: On this day, Hattie W. Caraway, a Democrat from Arkansas, became the first elected woman US senator.

Born in 1878, Caraway was appointed to the Senate on November 13, 1931, to fill out the term of her husband, Senator Thaddeus Caraway, who had died a few days earlier.

On January 12, 1932, she won a special election to fill the remaining months of his term. Subsequently elected to two more terms, she served in the Senate until January 1945.

She was an adept and tireless legislator (once introducing 43 bills on the same day), who worked for women's rights (once co-sponsoring an equal rights amendment) and supported New Deal policies.

She died December 21, 1950, in Falls Church, Virginia.

**The first woman appointed to the Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton, who, in 1922, served for two days. You can read more about her and check out this list I put together featuring the 38 women who have served in the US Senate through the years (which includes 17 who are currently serving).

November 7, 1989: On this day, L. Douglas Wilder was elected governor of Virginia, becoming the first elected black governor in US history. He defeated Republican Marshall Coleman by a spread of less than half a percent. The closeness of the margin prompted a recount, which certified Wilder's victory. He served as governor from 1990 to 1994. 

Wilder had previously served as lieutenant governor of Virginia, becoming the first black leader elected to statewide office in the South since Reconstruction.

L. Douglas was named after poet Paul Laurence Dunbar and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.