History is being made in the Senate.

For the first time in over 200 years, two Black women have been elected to Congress’ upper chamber at the same time.

Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester secured the seat vacated by Democratic Sen. Tom Carper, overcoming a self-funded opponent who spent more than $60 million in the primaries. Meanwhile, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks triumphed over former Gov. Larry Hogan in Maryland.

The landmark achievement reflects significant strides in representation and diversity in political leadership.

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The senators, who refer to one another as “sister senator,” will become the fourth and fifth Black women to serve in the Senate when they’re sworn in on Jan. 3.

The first Black woman elected was Carol Moseley Braun in 1992, followed by Kamala Harris, who won her seat in 2016. Sen. Laphonza Butler, set to leave Congress at the end of her term, was the third Black woman to serve in the Senate, appointed to complete late Sen. Dianne Feinstein‘s term, which ends in January.

Both Rochester, 62, and Alsobrooks, 53, were surrogates on the Harris campaign, and have long considered the vice president a mentor and friend.

“Now there are some who think our politics are too broken for bright hope. But if you want to see hope, just look. Bright hope is record numbers of Black and brown entrepreneurs starting businesses,” Rochester said at the Democratic National Convention in August. “Bright hope is four words: Madam President Kamala Harris.”

While neither Rochester nor Alsobrooks ran for Senate to make history — “but to make a difference, an impact, on people’s lives,” Rochester said while campaigning — both senators are motivated by this milestone. 

“So many people created the opportunities for us to be in the space that we are in … Coretta Scott King said that freedom is never really won; we have to fight it and win it in every generation,” Alsobrooks previously told ELLE about the importance of her race.

“It’s going to be our responsibility to ensure that we make the kind of impact that allows people from similar backgrounds to have the same opportunity. The housekeepers like [my grandmother] Sarah, the car salesmen like my father, the receptionists like my mother, those people should be able to see themselves in each of us.”

Being elected to the Senate was even more special for Rochester and Alsobrooks because they have each other as “built-in allies.”

“We’re going to be able to do some really big and bold work,” Rochester said. “The history-making part is good, but the impact is what we’re all going for, to make a difference in people’s lives. The ability to go to the Senate and be one of 100—but also as two of only five [Black women senators] in the history of this country.”