Nine states elect historic governors in Tuesday midterms
Voters chose nine firsts across the nation, including the first Black woman governor and the first Latino governor of California.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
Nine states elected governors with historic backgrounds on Tuesday. The results include the first Black woman governor, the first Native American woman governor, and the first Latino governor of California. These outcomes mark a shift in leadership across the country.
Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governorship in Georgia. At 56, she is the first Black woman elected to the office in any state. She defeated Republican Rick Jackson. Bottoms served as Atlanta mayor from 2018 to 2022 and later advised former President Joe Biden. Her victory makes her the first Democrat to win a Georgia governor's race in more than 20 years.
Deb Haaland of New Mexico will be the first Native American woman governor. The Democrat defeated Republican Gregg Hull. Haaland previously served in Congress and as U.S. Interior secretary under President Biden. She was one of the first Native American women in Congress and the first Native American cabinet secretary.
Xavier Becerra will become the first elected Latino governor of California. The former attorney general and HHS secretary defeated Republican Steve Hilton. He will succeed Gavin Newsom. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott. Hinojosa is the first Latina governor of Texas and the first Democrat to win the office in more than 30 years.
Florida and Wisconsin elected their first Black governors. Byron Donalds won in Florida with the support of President Trump. He defeated David Jolly by campaigning on affordability. David Crowley won in Wisconsin after defeating Tom Tiffany. Crowley suspended his campaign during the primary but reentered with support from Gov. Tony Evers.
Women also broke barriers in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Ohio. Marsha Blackburn is the first woman to win a Tennessee gubernatorial race. She defeated Jerri Green and independent candidates. Amy Klobuchar will be the first woman governor of Minnesota. She defeated Lisa Demuth. In Ohio, Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton is the first woman and first Jewish person elected governor of Ohio.
