The 2025 election results are in, with the media reporting several “firsts.” New York City’s first “Muslim Mayor,” who is also a “person of South Asian descent,” according to NPR. Syracuse’s first Black mayor, per Syracuse.com. Virginia’s first female Governor – ABC News, NBC News, Fox5 DC, The Washington Post, . . . basically, everyone.

Notice anything? Perhaps not. It isn’t unusual for the media to highlight the gender, race, hue of skin, or religion of elected officials when they are not White Christian males. But placing undue emphasis on one or two characteristics of a candidate is a failure to accurately portray them as individuals. They, like all humans, should be seen and valued for the totality of who they are, not as one or a few specific characteristics. 

Being seen is about the embedded Dimensions of Diversity that are easily perceived by others. Being valued is about the authentic Dimensions that others do not easily perceive, such as knowledge, abilities, lived experience, creativity, and several more. 

When the headline or lede features the gender or appearance of a successful candidate, the message, intended or not, is that they are somehow outside of the “norm.” If we are ever to be a nation where everyone feels like they belong, we must get past this practice and embrace a norm that those who govern should reflect the diversity of the governed.