At fundraisers and front doors, Angela Conley told voters she was a renter, rode the bus and once relied on county services in a tough time.
Only then would she mention that if elected she would become the first black commissioner in Hennepin County's 166-year history.
"Jaws would drop," said Conley, 41. "But there's so much more to this than being the first black person to be on the board."
Twin Cities women of color achieved many historic firsts in Tuesday's election, not only at the State Capitol and on Capitol Hill in Washington but also in city halls and local government centers.
Richfield elected the state's first Latina mayor, Maria Regan Gonzalez. Mandy Meisner, who was born in South Korea, became the first person of color on the Anoka County Board. And Hennepin County elected its first two commissioners of color, Conley and Irene Fernando.
The pattern was reflected nationally, in the record numbers of women of color who ran for office.
"At the local level, women of color are looking around and not seeing or hearing their voices and perspectives adequately represented," said Kathryn Pearson, an associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota whose work focuses on women in politics.
It wasn't just race, the newly elected officials said. The elections also ushered in office holders diverse in class, age and background.