Sharice Davids makes history: Kansas’ 1st gay rep, 1st Native American woman in Congress. Via @KatyBergen & @BryanLowry3. https://t.co/FUt2YTZ8mt
— Mary Kate Metivier (@MKMetivier) November 7, 2018
Former mixed martial arts fighter Sharice Davids scored a major political victory in her home state, as she was elected in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday night.
Davids, who once tried out for “The Ultimate Fighter 20,” defeated David Yoder to capture the Kansas City seat, the first time a Democrat has won the spot in a decade. In the process, she became the first Native American woman to serve in Congress and the first openly gay woman to represent the state of Kansas, according to a report from the Kansas City Star.
“We have the opportunity to reset expectations about what people think when they think of Kansas,” Davids said during her victory speech. “We know there are so many of us who welcome everyone, who see everyone and who know that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed.”
Davids, a member of Ho-Chunk nation, worked for five years on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota before earning a White House fellowship in 2016. She graduated from Cornell University.
Prior to her political career, Davids tried out for Season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which crowned the UFC’s inaugural strawweight champion. Davids did not make it onto the house for the reality show, but she did notably submit Nina Ansaroff during tryouts to earn a bonus from UFC President Dana White.
Davids was 1-1 as a pro and 5-1 as an amateur in MMA. Her last professional bout came in March 2014.
Thank you, #KS03. pic.twitter.com/sRKrFv7eIv
— Sharice Davids (@sharicedavids) November 7, 2018