Historic Firsts Sweep 2026 Midterms: Five Black Governors, First Muslim Senator Elected

Democrats won major races across the United States in the 2026 midterm elections, including in states long held by Republicans. The results produced a series of historic firsts. Four states elected their first Black governors, and four elected a woman governor for the first time. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in any US state. For the first time in US history, five Black governors will serve at the same time. At least 17 women will also serve as state governors simultaneously. **Governors** - **Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), Georgia:** The first Black woman elected governor in US history. She is also Georgia's first Black governor and first woman governor. - **Byron Donalds (R), Florida:** The first Black Republican elected governor in US history and Florida's first Black governor. - **Deb Haaland (D), New Mexico:** The first Native American woman elected governor in US history and New Mexico's first Native American governor. - **David Crowley (D), Wisconsin:** Wisconsin's first Black governor. - **Aaron Ford (D), Nevada:** Nevada's first Black governor. - **Gina Hinojosa (D), Texas:** Texas' first Latina governor and the state's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards in 1990. - **Xavier Becerra (D), California:** California's first elected Latino governor. - **Amy Acton (D), Ohio:** Ohio's first woman elected governor. - **Marsha Blackburn (R), Tennessee:** Tennessee's first elected woman governor. - **Amy Klobuchar (D), Minnesota:** Minnesota's first woman governor. - **Kathy Hochul (D) and Adrienne Adams (D), New York:** New York's first all-woman governor-lieutenant governor ticket. Adams is also the state's first Black woman lieutenant governor. **Senate** - **Abdul El-Sayed (D), Michigan:** The first Muslim senator in US history. - **Peggy Flanagan (D), Minnesota:** The first Native American woman US senator and Minnesota's first Native American senator. - **Chris Pappas (D), New Hampshire:** The first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. - **Annie Andrews (D), South Carolina:** The first woman elected to the US Senate representing South Carolina. - **Juliana Stratton (D), Illinois:** Illinois' second Black woman elected to the US Senate. Alongside Tammy Duckworth, she makes Illinois the first state represented by two women of color in the Senate. Three Black women will now serve in the Senate at the same time — another historic first. **House of Representatives** - **Melat Kiros (D), Colorado:** The first Gen Z woman elected to Congress, representing Colorado's 1st District. She is 29 years old. - **Adam Hamawy (D), New Jersey:** New Jersey's first Muslim member of Congress, representing the 12th District. - **Claire Valdez (D), New York:** New York's first Native American woman elected to Congress, representing the 7th District. - **Jeremy Moss (D), Michigan:** Michigan's first openly gay member of Congress, representing the 11th District. - **Denise Powell (D), Nebraska:** Nebraska's first Hispanic member of Congress, representing the 2nd District. Races in Alaska and Mississippi remain undecided.