The 2026 US midterm elections have delivered several historic firsts, with candidates breaking longstanding barriers in gubernatorial and Senate races across the country.Democrats Keisha Lance Bottoms, Deb Haaland, Gina Hinojosa and Amy Klobuchar have made history with their victories in governors’ races, while Peggy Flanagan and Chris Pappas have broken new ground in the Senate.The results include the election of the first Black woman governor in US history, the first Native American woman to lead a state, the first Latina governor of Texas and the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. Republican Byron Donalds has also become Florida’s first Black governor.The victories mark milestones for representation in American politics, particularly for communities that have historically been under-represented in elected office.
US Midterm Election Results 2026
The victories also mark milestones for Democrats in states where Republicans have held power for decades.
Historic firsts in gubernatorial races
Keisha Lance Bottoms: First Black woman governorFormer Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has become the first Black woman elected governor in US history. She defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson, flipping Georgia’s governorship to Democrats for the first time since 1998.Bottoms’ victory also makes her Georgia’s first governor of colour. All 83 of the state’s previous governors were white men, according to the latest Associated Press report.“Tonight should remind us all that no matter what community we come from, Georgia is not defined by one moment in time or by one person,” Bottoms told supporters after her victory. “It’s been defined by all of us, and I will be a governor for everyone in this state.”Her win came alongside Democrat Jon Ossoff’s re-election to the Senate, where he will serve with Raphael Warnock, Georgia’s first Black senator. Ossoff is the state’s first Jewish senator, according to the news agency AP.Byron Donalds: Florida’s first Black Republican governorRepublican Byron Donalds has become Florida’s first Black governor, breaking a longstanding barrier in the state’s political history.His victory is also part of a wider increase in the number of Black leaders contesting and winning gubernatorial elections. Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the only serving Black governor before Tuesday’s election, also won re-election.Deb Haaland: First Native American woman governorDemocrat Deb Haaland has become the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state after defeating Republican Gregg Hull in New Mexico.A citizen of the Laguna Pueblo, Haaland highlighted the significance of her victory, saying: “Tonight, in our nation’s 250th year, I stand before you as the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history.”Haaland previously became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018. She later served as interior secretary under former President Joe Biden, becoming the first Native American to lead a Cabinet department.“I want every child watching to know that your dreams matter and that New Mexico is a place where you can build the life you want,” she said.Gina Hinojosa: Texas’ first Latina governorDemocrat Gina Hinojosa has made history as the first Latina elected governor of Texas. She defeated Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, ending more than three decades of Republican control of the state’s governorship. She will also be the first woman to lead Texas since 1995, Axios reported.Hinojosa, a state lawmaker from Austin, spoke about her upbringing along the Texas-Mexico border during her campaign and highlighted priorities including support for public school teachers and limiting the influence of billionaires in politics.“It never bothered me that they doubted me. It bothered me that they doubted us,” she told supporters after her victory.Abbott called to congratulate her and offered to assist with the transition.Amy Klobuchar: Minnesota’s first woman governorDemocrat Amy Klobuchar has won Minnesota’s gubernatorial election, becoming the state’s first female governor.She defeated Lisa Demuth, the former Minnesota House speaker, who had been seeking to become the first Black woman elected governor of the state.
Historic breakthroughs in the US Senate
The Senate contests also produced milestones, particularly for Democrats in states that have traditionally favoured Republicans.Peggy Flanagan: First Native American woman elected to the SenateMinnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has become the first Native American woman elected to the US Senate. A citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, she defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter.Tafoya would have become the first Republican woman of Latina heritage to serve in the Senate had she won.Adam Hamilton: First Democratic Senate win in Kansas since 1932Democrat Adam Hamilton’s victory in Kansas marks the party’s first win in a US Senate election in the state since 1932.James Talarico: First Democratic senator elected in Texas since 1988Democrat James Talarico has won the Texas Senate race, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent the state in the US Senate since Lloyd Bentsen’s victory in 1988. Talarico was born the following year.His win also marks the first Democratic victory in a statewide Texas election since 1994.Annie Andrews: First woman elected to represent South Carolina in the SenateDemocrat Annie Andrews has become the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the US Senate.She defeated Republican Darline Graham, who had been appointed to fill the seat after the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham.Chris Pappas: First openly gay man elected to the SenateDemocrat Chris Pappas has won New Hampshire’s Senate race, becoming the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. He defeated former Republican Senator John E Sununu, who had previously served in both chambers of Congress.Pappas had played down the historic significance of his candidacy during the campaign, saying: “I’m not running to make history.” He also welcomed the fact that his sexual orientation had not become a major point of discussion among voters.Abdul El-Sayed: First Muslim American elected to the SenateDemocrat Abdul El-Sayed has defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s US Senate race, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate. His victory marks a historic breakthrough in the representation of Muslim Americans in the upper chamber.The Decision Desk HQ projection confirms his win, with El-Sayed securing 53.34% of the vote against Rogers’ 44.90%El-Sayed, an epidemiologist born in Michigan, faced attacks from Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who questioned his American identity and accused him of being too extreme. El-Sayed and his supporters denounced the remarks as Islamophobic and racist.Other Senate milestonesDemocrat Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy in Illinois, securing a seat alongside fellow Democrat Tammy Duckworth.Their presence will make Illinois the first state represented by two women senators of colour. Stratton’s victory will also bring the number of Black women serving in the Senate to three.In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola remained in contention to unseat Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. If elected, she would become the first Alaska Native to serve in the US Senate. Peltola had earlier made history in 2022 as the first Alaska Native elected to the House of Representatives.
Other milestones: California and the House
Democrat Xavier Becerra has won California’s gubernatorial election, becoming the state’s first Latino governor since the late 19th century. He defeated Republican Steve Hilton and will succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become the first Black Speaker of the House if Democrats secure control of the chamber and his colleagues elect him to the post.The results also reflected a wider increase in the number of women contesting elections.According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, 19 Democratic women and seven Republican women ran for governor in this election cycle. Nearly 300 women, including incumbents, contested seats in the US Senate and House.Democrats had flipped several Republican-held House seats, although the race for control of the chamber remained too close to call at the time of the latest update.The election-night results also saw Democrats win control of the US Senate, ending Republican control of the chamber. The party had flipped six Senate seats and was seeking a majority in the House as well.