From women to Native Americans to bisexuals to transgender – a look at candidates that could break down a series of barriers

The midterm elections are set to see a series of historic firsts, no matter how each party does. As they vote for women, Native Americans, bisexuals and transgender candidates, Americans are likely to break down a series of societal barriers.

Here are some of the possible historic firsts:

Paulette Jordan, first Native American governor

An underdog vying to become Idaho’s next governor, Jordan would be the first woman to lead the state and also America’s first Native American governor. The 38-year-old Democrat grew up on a farm and is a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe. Her grandparents and ancestors were influential chiefs and tribal leaders.

Rashida Tlaib, first Muslim congresswoman

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Rashida Tlaib is poised to be one of the first Muslim women to be elected in Congress. Photograph: Al Goldis/AP

The daughter of Palestinian immigrants and eldest of 14, this Detroit-native will – like Ilhan Omar – be the first Muslim woman to be elected. An attorney and former state legislator in Michigan’s House of Representatives, she snagged her district’s primary nomination and is now running unopposed.

Ilhan Omar, first Muslim congresswoman, first Somali-American in Congress

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ilhan Omar speaks to a supporters in Minneapolis. Photograph: Kerem Yucel/AFP/Getty Images

Minnesota’s fifth district hasn’t sent a Republican to Congress since 1962, so there’s a good chance Omar, a 36-year-old Somali refugee, will become the first Somali-American in Congress and – with Tlaib, running in Michigan unopposed – one of the two first Muslim women. Omar came to the US when she was 12, and is running a progressive campaign advocating Medicare-for-all and tuition-free college.

Deb Haaland, first Native American congresswoman

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Deb Haaland speaks at Netroots Nation in New Orleans. Photograph: Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

This single mom has already become a first: the only Native American woman to chair a state party. She leads the Native American Democratic Caucus of New Mexico, but now the tribal administrator is hoping to represent New Mexico’s first district in the US House as America’s first Native American congresswoman.

Sharice Davids, first Native American congresswoman

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Sharice Davids talks to supporters. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP

Once considered a longshot, the Democrat is running a strong campaign to take four-term Republican Kevin Yoder’s seat in the House, representing the third district in Kansas. An attorney and former MMA fighter who was raised by a single mother army veteran, she was a fellow in the Obama White House and has been endorsed by former VP Joe Biden. Like Haaland, she hopes to be the first Native American congresswoman in Congress.

Lupe Valdez, first Hispanic and lesbian Texas governor

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Democrat Lupe Valdez, 71, hopes to become the first Latino and open lesbian to become governor in Texas. Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Valdez was one of the first LGBT Americans elected to public office, and in 2004 became the first Latina to serve as sheriff in Dallas county. At the age of 71, the Democrat hopes to become the first Latino and open lesbian to become governor in Texas.

Christine Hallquist, first transgender governor

Play Video 8:40 Christine Hallquist: can the US's first transgender nominee for governor win in Vermont?

A former CEO who spent decades heading the second-largest state electric utility company, the 62-year-old Democrat resigned to run for governor. She already made history in August, as the first transgender person to win her party’s gubernatorial nomination.

Stacey Abrams, first black female governor

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Stacey Abrams is running to become the first African American female governor. Photograph: Tami Chappell/EPA

Born to two ministers in Gulfport, Mississippi, Abrams founded the New Georgia Project, an organization that registers voters of color, and co-founded Now Account, a financial services firm that helps small businesses. She has also written eight romantic suspense novels under the pen name Selena Montgomery. Now, at 44, the Democrat is running to become the first African American female governor anywhere in the US and the first non-white, non-male governor of Georgia..

Andrew Gillum, first black Florida governor

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Andrew Gillum speaks in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Currently mayor of Tallahassee, Gillum was once the youngest elected commissioner of his city, at 23. Now 39, he is running as the Democratic nominee and could become the first black governor. Born in Miami to a school bus driver and a construction worker, he was the first in his family to graduate from college.

Ayanna Pressley, first black House member from Massachusetts

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Massachusetts Democratic congressional candidate Ayanna Pressley addresses a town hall meeting in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

The first African American woman to serve on Boston’s city council, Pressley is set to make history again as the first black member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts. After defeating 10-term incumbent Michael Capuano in the primary, she won’t even face a challenger.

Marsha Blackburn, first female senator from Tennessee

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marsha Blackburn, a Republican who represents Tennessee’s 7th congressional district, during a get-out-the-vote rally at Henry Horton state park. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Before heading and founding two companies, Blackburn was the first female sales associate for Southwestern Company, then one of the first female sales managers, creating a division for women. She has represented Tennessee’s seventh congressional district since 2003 and now the 66-year-old Republican could be the first female senator in Tennessee’s history.

Kyrsten Sinema, first openly bisexual senator

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Democratic candidate Kyrsten Sinema prepares to debate Republican candidate Martha McSally in Phoenix, Arizona. Photograph: Rick D'Elia/EPA

Currently representing Arizona’s ninth district in the US House, the 42-year-old Democrat from Tucson was the first openly bisexual representative in Congress when she was elected in 2013. Now, she is hoping to be the first openly bisexual senator. A former social worker who was homeless as a child, she has a master’s degree, a PhD and a law degree.

Gina Ortiz, first Filipina-American congresswoman

A veteran of the Iraq war who has experience in the intelligence community, Ortiz is a first-generation American and lesbian running for Congress in Texas’s 23rd district. She would be the first Filipina-American elected.

Kristi Noem, first female governor of South Dakota

After serving in the US House for four terms, the former rancher is now running to become the first female governor of South Dakota. Currently part of the House ways and means committee, the 46-year-old Republican is considered a frontrunner.

Jay Gonzalez, first Hispanic governor of Massachusetts

A Democratic hopeful, Gonzalez would be the first Hispanic governor elected in the Bay state.

Eric Holguin, first LGBT Hispanic congressman

After a hard-won primary, the Democrat is vying for a seat in the House, representing the 27th congressional district in Texas. If he can overcome difficult odds in a mostly Republican area, he will be the first LGBT Hispanic congressman.

Jared Polis, first gay governor of Colorado

Currently representing Colorado’s second congressional district, the Democrat would be the first openly gay Colorado governor. A former businessman, he was named “entrepreneur of the year” by Ernst and Young and founded his first company while still a student at Princeton.