The world of MMA earned a spot in Congress, as Kansas voters tabbed Sharice Davids to represent them in the 3rd Congressional District earlier this week during mid-term elections.
Davids defeated Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder, marking the first time a Democrat has won the suburban Kansas City seat in Congress in a decade.
The victory was historical for Davids, as she is one of two to become the first Native American woman to serve and the first openly gay person to represent Kansas.
“We have the opportunity to reset expectations about what people think when they think of Kansas,” Davids, 38, said during her victory speech, told The Kansas City Star. “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 attempted to earn a spot in the UFC through The Ultimate Fighter, competing on Season 20. She scored a submission victory over Nina Ansaroff and earned a bonus for her efforts.
A graduate of Cornell University, Davids went 5-1 as an amateur and 1-1 as a pro fighter.