WASHINGTON — Besides fighting on behalf of her constituents as the new U.S. House District 30 Representative, Jasmine Crockett will also champion the interests of her colleagues in her new role. Crockett announced via Twitter that her colleagues elected her to be the freshman leadership representative.

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Jasmine Crockett's elected her to be the freshman leadership representative making her the first Black woman in the role since the Democrats added it back in 2016

  • Crockett, U.S. House District 100 Representative, won the U.S. House District 30 seat occupied by longtime Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson who's retiring after decades of serving in Congress

  • In her new role, Crockett will advocate for the best interests of her colleagues before party leadership 

“Big news,” she tweeted. “I’ve just been elected freshman leadership representative. For decades, freshman have selected members of their class to advocate for their best interests before party leadership. Thank you to my colleagues for your confidence in me. Let’s get to work.”

According to the U.S. House of Representatives, freshman class leaders date back to at least the 1940s. First-year representatives also called freshman in each party elect their own class president who aids in not only developing but also communicating policy goals while building relationships across the aisle. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., was elected freshman class president — the first openly LGBTQ person elected freshman class president in Congress.

“Honored and excited to be elected Freshman Class President of the 118th Congress for House Democrats,” Garcia tweeted. “Now, let’s get to work.”

Crockett makes history being the first Black woman elected to the position of freshman leadership representative since Democrats added it in 2016. Last month, the Texas House District 100 Representative won U.S. House District 30 seat replacing longtime Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, who announced her retirement last year. Continuing a string of historic firsts, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries was elected minority leader following Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to not seek reelection on Wednesday. He becomes the first Black politician to head a major political party in Congress.

“Humbled to be elected incoming House Democratic Leader,” Jeffries tweeted. “Ready to get to work. We will fight for economic opportunity in every corner of America.”

Also, voters sent the highest number of Latino lawmakers to Congress with over 10% of the House of Representatives, either Hispanic or Latino. To date, 38 Latinos hold office in Congress with 28 being Democrats and the remaining 10 Republicans per the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Education Fund.

In an interview with NBC News, Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., chairman of BOLD PAC, said the historic shift should send a message to politicians and voters, alike.

“Invest in Latino voters. Talk to Latino voters early and recruit Latinos and Latinas to run and not just in majority Latino districts,” he told NBC News. “We have a lot of Latino members here who won and not in majority Latino districts.”

El Paso Rep. Veronica Escobar — another Texan elected to a leadership role — will serve as one of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee co-chairs. Back in 2019, Escobar served as freshman co-representative.