16 Wonderful Things That Happened In 2013

Some of the awesome that happened this year, brought to you by College Democrats in no particular order.

1. Democrats Sweep Virginia’s Off-Year Election

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It's Governor Terry McAuliffe. Also: former DNC chair, businessman and basically all-star Democrat.

2. Bill de Blasio Elected First Democratic New York City Mayor In Two Decades

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Does it signify the start of a Progressive Renaissance?

3. DOMA and Prop 8 Are Struck Down

Because Love not Hate.

4. Nancy Pelosi Says What She Really Thinks About Michelle Bachmann

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"Who cares?"

5. The Senate Joins the 21st Century

Democratic Senators decided they'd had enough, and went nuclear.

6. Wendy Davis Shoots to Stardom With 11-hour filibuster

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In the words of Sen. Leticia R. Van de Putte: "At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over her male colleagues?”

7. The People Take Over

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When Republicans tried to ignore their own rules to push through their assault on Texas Women, the people took over and stopped them dead in their tracks.

8. President Obama Gives Major Address To Pledge Action on Climate

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And releases his plan.

9. Nina Pillard? You Mean The Honorable Judge Nina Pillard

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Republicans might have called her a “militant” and “radical feminist," but now that she's been confirmed, she gets the last laugh from her perch on the second highest court in the nation.

10. Mark Takano Is First to Vine a Bill Submission

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Mark Takano isn't just a first-term Democrat. He's also congress' only LGBT person of color, only LGBT member from California and the internet's congressman.

11. Elizabeth Warren Slams Republicans for Shutting Down the Government

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"Madam President, I come to the floor today in a state of disbelief..."

12. Albuquerque Voters Respect Women, Stomp on Anti-Abortion Measure

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Thanks to a grassroots campaign which included the University of New Mexico College Democrats, voters handed the Republican War on Women its latest setback

13. Democratic Women Prepare to Make 2014 Another Year of the (Senate) Women

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Allison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky

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Natalie Tennant in West Virginia

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Michelle Nunn in Georgia

14. Love Spread Across the Nation

And the number of states where marriage equality is the law doubled.

15. #TweetsFromHillary Makes a Spectacular Entrance

Will @HillaryClinton run or won't she? TBD...

16. House Democrats Display Unprecedented Diversity

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House Democrats become the first major party congressional caucus where white men are a minority in U.S. history.

These are just some of the many reasons to smile about 2013 and plan even greater things for 2014.

Mentions do not constitute endorsements in any primary.