The 2026 U.S. midterm elections produced a series of historic victories across state and federal races, with several candidates set to become the first people from their communities to hold their respective offices. The results also included Democratic gains in a number of governorships, according to the election report.
In Georgia, governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history and the first Democrat to hold the office in 25 years. New Mexico’s Deb Haaland, a former U.S. interior secretary, became the first Native American woman elected governor, winning more than 57 percent of the vote.
Texas elected Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who defeated former governor Greg Abbott to become the state’s first Latina governor. In California, former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra became the first Latino elected governor by state voters. The report notes that Romualdo Pacheco, California’s first Latino governor, took office in 1875 after succeeding his predecessor rather than winning election to the role.
Ohio elected Amy Acton as its first woman governor. She defeated Vivek Ramaswamy, and Democrats returned to the governor’s office after a 20-year absence. Wisconsin elected David Crowley as its first Black governor, while Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford became the state’s first Black governor after winning a seat previously held by a Republican.
Florida’s Byron Daniels, the only Republican governor-elect among those highlighted, became the state’s first Black governor. The report also points to Maryland incumbent Wes Moore alongside Bottoms, Crowley and Ford among Black governors.
The Senate races brought further firsts. New Hampshire’s Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate. Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan became the first Indigenous woman to hold a Senate seat, while Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed became the country’s first Muslim senator after winning a highly visible campaign.
Sources: Mashable.