A British woman has made history as the first Black woman to be elected to run a major city in England, the BBC reports.
Joanne Anderson snagged victory in Liverpool’s mayoral race on Friday after a second round of voting, winning 59.2 percent of the vote.
Anderson is “proud and honored” to be not only the first Black woman to represent the a U.K. city, but also the first female mayor of Liverpool.
“Liverpool has always been a city of firsts – one that does things differently and that charters its own path,” she said after her win was announced. “Today we made history.”
She added, “Today is the beginning of the fresh start we all want and need.”
Anderson will replace Joe Anderson, with whom she shares no relation, after he stepped down due to becoming the focus of an ongoing police investigation. Both Andersons represent Britain’s Labour party.