The lookback
By Harry
Monday 9 November
Elections brought new firsts, ballots backed rights, wildlife rebounded, and people helped stranded animals home.
Where things are happening: United States, United Kingdom, China, Ireland, India, Chile
01
This week's ballots wrote a lot of new firsts
In this week's elections, candidates broke longstanding barriers to become the first person of their background to hold a given office, often in states that had never before elected someone like them. Deb Haaland became New Mexico's first Native American woman governor and Peggy Flanagan the first Native American woman elected to the US Senate, while Keisha Lance Bottoms became the nation's first Black woman governor in Georgia and Gina Hinojosa the first Latina governor of Texas.1,8,2,3 Amy Acton became Ohio's first elected woman governor, Chris Pappas the first out gay man elected to the US Senate, six transgender and nonbinary candidates won their first-ever legislative or local seats across six states, and Abdi Daisane became the first Somali-American elected to Minnesota's legislature.4,5,6,7
And 5 more
02
Voters picked rights and limits at the ballot box
In this week's votes, several US ballot measures expanded protections or restricted development rather than cutting back rights. Virginia voters approved amendments protecting reproductive healthcare, same-sex and interracial marriage, and restoring voting rights after prison sentences, while Missouri voters rejected a measure that would have overturned the state's abortion protections.1,2 California voters made permanent a tax on high earners to fund schools, and other voters passed dozens of measures restricting data centre development and expanding protections for animals.3,4,5
03
Birds and wolves are making a comeback
Several wildlife populations grew markedly over recent years in different parts of the world. Southern Scotland's golden eagles reached more than 50 birds, their highest number in 300 years, while sandwich terns at England's Pagham harbour rebounded from zero to 756 pairs in three years.1,2 China's mangrove forests more than doubled since 1998, with recorded bird species in them climbing from 148 to 397, and Europe's gray wolf population rose 58% between 2012 and 2022.4,5
04
Strangers and strangers alike lent a hand to lost animals
Across these stories, animals that had been separated from home, family or habitat were helped back to safety by people who noticed and acted. In Ireland, two brown bears finally reached a forest sanctuary after a five-year journey from cramped cages in Russia's Dagestan region, while in Belfast railway staff reunited two swans separated by a storm on the River Lagan.1,4 In Alaska an intern and a biologist rescued an orphaned walrus calf, a juvenile orangutan seized in Mumbai was sent back to Sumatra for eventual release, and in Northampton a passing driver spotted an escaped pet budgie hiding in a storm drain, leading the RSPCA to reunite it with its owner.2,3,5
Wildcard
That's the week. The next one's out Monday morning.