Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history in Georgia governor’s race
Keisha Lance Bottoms makes history as the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history and the first Democrat-elected governor of Georgia since 1998. The former Atlanta mayor defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson to flip the governor’s office from Republican control.
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The 2026 midterm elections yielded historic results around the nation, with Black and female politicians slated to serve as governors for the first time in some states, the first Muslim set to join the U.S. Senate, and more.
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., won the Sunshine State’s gubernatorial race, and will become the state’s first Black governor, while Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin, will be the Badger State’s first Black governor.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won Georgia’s gubernatorial election, will become the first Black woman to serve as the governor of any state in American history — she will also be the Peach State’s first female governor and first Black governor.
Democratic Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who defeated incumbent GOP Gov. Greg Abbott in the Lone Star State’s gubernatorial race, will be the state’s first Hispanic governor.
Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Republican rival former Rep. Mike Rogers, is slated to become the first Muslim senator in the nation’s history.
WATCH 2026 MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS LIVE & KEY RACE CALLS IN TX, OH, MI, WI, GA, IA, NV, ME, FL
Gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., gives a thumbs up as he arrives to an election rally with President Donald Trump at Alico Arena on Oct. 23, 2026 in Fort Myers, Fla. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., who defeated Republican opponent former Sen. John Sununu, will be the first openly gay man to serve as a U.S. senator.
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who was appointed to the Senate following the death of her brother Sen. Lindsey Graham, is the first woman to serve as senator from the Palmetto state — but she lost the Senate election to Democratic rival Annie Andrews, who is now the first woman to ever be elected as a senator in South Carolina.
Women are set to serve as governors in several states for the first time, though in Minnesota and Tennessee, that outcome was anticipated since the gubernatorial races featured female Republican and Democratic candidates. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., won in Minnesota’s gubernatorial contest, while Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., won in Tennessee.
ABDUL EL-SAYED DELIVERS MAJOR BLOW TO GOP IN MICHIGAN AFTER BRUISING SENATE RACE
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a midterm election night watch party at the Department at Hudson’s on Nov. 4, 2026, in Detroit, Mich. (Salwan Georges/Getty Images)
Former Ohio Department of Health director Amy Acton, who defeated Republican rival Vivek Ramaswamy in the state’s gubernatorial contest, is the first woman ever elected to serve as governor in the Buckeye State. More than two decades ago, Ohio’s then-Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister ascended to the governorship for a brief period of less than two weeks, succeeding George Voinovich, who departed the governorship to serve as a U.S. senator.
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a Democrat who won New Mexico’s gubernatorial race, is slated to become the first Native American woman to serve as governor in any state.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is the first Native American woman elected to serve in the Senate chamber. And while the outcome of the Alaska U.S. Senate contest remains unclear, if former Rep. Mary Peltola were to win that race, she would join Flanagan as the first two Native American women elected to the Senate.
GEORGIA GOVERNOR’S MANSION PROJECTED TO FLIP BLUE FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 30 YEARS
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the victorious Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks onstage during her election night watch party on Nov. 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
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In Louisiana, Rep. Julia Letlow won the state’s U.S. Senate race and will become its first Republican female senator.