The first Wisconsin woman, to be elected to the US Senate, has also become its first openly gay member.

Tammy Baldwin, seven-term Democratic congresswoman, defeated former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson in a win that advocacy groups hailed as a significant step toward bringing diversity to the Senate.

In her victory speech in Wisconsin, Baldwin acknowledged that she makes history as both Wisconsin's first female senator and the country's first openly gay senator.

"Now, I am well aware that I will have the honor of being Wisconsin's first woman senator. And I am well aware that I will be the first openly gay member," Baldwin said to loud cheers and chants of "Tammy, Tammy!" from her supporters. "But I didn't run to make history. I ran to make a difference."

She also called for unity.

"Tommy and I didn't always agree—in fact, in this campaign we didn't agree in much. But there can be no doubt that he shares my love and all of our love in Wisconsin," Baldwin said. "Tonight I want to reach out to his supporters and ask them to join me in standing up for our belief that we are all in this together"

There has never been an openly gay or lesbian member of the US Senate, according to several LGBT advocacy groups.

Baldwin is one of four openly gay House members, along with fellow Democrats Barney Frank, of Massachusetts; David Cicilline, of Rhode Island; and Jared Polis, of Colorado.

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