2026 Midterms Mark Historic Wins for First-Time Governors

The 2026 midterm elections are projected to produce several historic firsts, including the election of the country's first Black, Native American, and Latina female governors.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democratic candidate, is projected to win the Georgia gubernatorial race, defeating billionaire Rick Jackson. This marks the first time a Democrat has won the state's governor's seat since 1998.

Deb Haaland, the former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, is projected to become New Mexico's first indigenous governor. Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, is also the first Native American woman to hold this position in U.S. history.

In Texas, Rep. Gina Hinojosa is projected to become the state's first Latina governor. She ran against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term. Hinojosa campaigned on education reform and criticized Abbott over AI data centers.

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds is projected to win Florida's gubernatorial race, making him the state's first Black governor. Donalds, who previously removed several references to Trump from his website, has also endorsed the president in recent statements.

Dr. Amy Acton is projected to become Ohio's first female and first Jewish governor, defeating GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton's campaign faced backlash after a Ramaswamy ad used her estranged mother's past to attack her credibility.