Last night’s election was historic for a number of reasons, but not for all the reasons you may think. Republicans took control of Congress for the first time in eight years but also experienced a number of first time accomplishments.

1. A New South…

South Carolina’s Tim Scott became the first black Southern Republican elected since Reconstruction.

2. A Mormon mom of three also made history.

Utah’s Mia Love became the first female black Republican in Congress – ever.

3. First Iraqi War Vet

Arkansas native and Republican Tom Cotton became the first Iraq War

veteran elected to the Senate.

4. Republican Elise Stefanik’s win in New York…

…making her the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

5. Republicans won the majority of the Senate in the following key races (results as of 9:30 am est.):

• Kentucky – McConnell 56% Grimes 41%
• South Carolina – Graham 54%  Hutto 39%
• Arkansas – Cotton 56% Pryor 40%
• Nebraska – Sasse 65% Domina 31%
• South Dakota – Rounds 51% Weiland 29%
• Texas – Cornyn 62% Alameel 34%
• Colorado – Gardner 49% Udall 45%
• Mississippi – Cochran 59% Childers 39%
• Alabama – Sessions (uncontested)
• Tennesse – Alexander 62% Ball 32%
• West Virginia – Capito 62% Tennant 34%
• Wyoming – Enzi 72% Hardy 18%
• Montana – Daines 58% Curtis 40%
• Maine – Collins 68% Bellows 32%
• Georgia – Perdue 53% Nunn 45%
• Idaho – Risch 66% Mitchell 34%
• North Carolina – Tillis 49% Hagan 47%
• Iowa – Ernst 52% Braley 44%
• Oklahoma – Inhofe 68% Silverstein 29%
• Kansas – Roberts 53% Orman 42%

6. Republicans maintained control of the House…

…and added 13 new seats for a total of 243 (with more races still being counted).

7. Republicans also won a surprising amount of state governor races, including the following blue states:

• Maryland – Hogan 54% Brown 45%
• Massachusetts – Baker 48% Coakley 47%
• Illinois – Rauner 51% Quinn 46%

8. There were surprising wins for the Democrats too.

The Democrats had some surprising victories too, with Jeanne Shaheen holding her seat in New Hampshire and Ted Kennedy, Jr. winning the Senate seat in Connecticut after choosing not to run in his home state of Massachusetts.

9. It was also historic for all of the wrong reasons – there were once again polling problems:

In Virginia, voting problems were reported in 43 precincts, where a tight race against Democrat Mark Warner and Republican Ed Gillespie is currently too close to call.

Meanwhile in Florida (a state you would never expect), Democratic candidate Charlie Christ’s request to leave voting places open after several reports of machine malfunctions was denied by a judge. He later conceded the gubernatorial race to Rick Scott.

Altogether, the night represented a huge victory for the Republican party, just as many Americans appeared to be sending a direct message of frustration to the current Congress and President Obama with their votes.