The 2026 midterms produced a series of historic firsts across the country. Several states are set to have their first Black or female governor, while the Senate is expected to welcome its first Muslim member, among other milestones.
In Florida, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds won the governor’s race and is set to become the state’s first Black governor. Wisconsin Democrat David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, also won his race and will be the state’s first Black governor.
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia’s gubernatorial election. She will be the first Black woman to serve as a governor in the United States, as well as Georgia’s first woman and first Black governor.
In Texas, Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. She is set to become the state’s first Hispanic governor.
Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in the Senate race. If he takes office, El-Sayed will be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate.
More Senate firsts
New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat, defeated former Republican Sen. John Sununu. Pappas is set to become the first openly gay man in the Senate.
In South Carolina, Republican Sen. Darline Graham was appointed to the chamber after her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, died. She was the first woman to serve as a senator from the state, but lost her election to Democrat Annie Andrews. Andrews will be the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate.
Women also won gubernatorial races in states where both major-party candidates were women. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar won in Minnesota, while Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn prevailed in Tennessee.
Former Ohio health director Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to become the first woman elected governor of Ohio. The state did have a woman governor briefly more than two decades ago: then-Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister took over for less than two weeks when George Voinovich left the office to join the Senate.
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a Democrat, won New Mexico’s governor’s race. She is set to become the first Native American woman to serve as a state governor.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is the first Native American woman elected to the Senate. The Alaska Senate race has not been decided; if former Rep. Mary Peltola wins, she would become the second Native American woman elected to the chamber.
In Louisiana, Rep. Julia Letlow won the Senate race and is set to become the state’s first Republican woman senator.
