New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland (center) speaks to the media during the New Mexico Democratic Party’s Election Night celebration at the Route 66 Hotel-Casino after being elected governor on November 3, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Haaland becomes the first Native American woman elected governor in US history. Sam Wasson/Getty Images hide title toggle title i Sam Wasson/Getty Images Midterm coverage: Live results | Stories from around the country Stay connected: NPR Politics Podcast | NPR Politics Newsletter | NPR App Voters in nine states made history Tuesday with their gubernatorial elections. National-first Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won her race to be Georgia’s next governor, will be the first Black woman elected governor of any state in the country. The 56-year-old was mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and later served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden. His defeat of Republican billionaire Rick Jackson, a health care executive, makes Lance Bottoms the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial race in the state in more than two decades. Georgia Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms hugs a family member during an election night watch party at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on November 3, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. Bottoms defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson to become the country’s first black female governor. Megan Varner/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption i Megan Varner/Getty Images Deb Haaland of New Mexico, of Pueblo Indian descent, will be the first Native American governor. The Democrat, who defeated Republican Gregg Hull, served in Congress before becoming Interior Secretary during the Biden administration. She also made history in each of those roles: as one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and the first Native American cabinet secretary. Latino Representation Democrat Xavier Becerra will be the first elected Latino governor of California when he takes office, while Democrat Gina Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of Texas. Becerra, a former California attorney general and former member of Congress who served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration, will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom after handily defeating Republican Steve Hilton, a political outsider. Texas Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa speaks during her election night watch party at Assembly Hall on November 3, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Hinojosa will be the first Latino governor of Texas and the first Democratic governor in more than 30 years. Joel Angel Juarez/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption i Joel Angel Juarez/Getty Images Hinojosa, a Texas state representative, defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, one of the most influential governors in the country and an ally of President Trump. Hinojosa’s victory follows a demographic shift in the state, which has seen an increase in its Latino population. Hinojosa will be the first Democratic governor of Texas in more than 30 years. Black Representation Voters in Florida and Wisconsin elected the first black governors in their states: Republican Byron Donalds in the Sunshine State and Democrat David Crowley in the Badger State. President Donald Trump listens as Republican Rep. Byron Donalds speaks at a campaign rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday. Donalds won his election and will become Florida’s first black governor. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo hide caption toggle caption i Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo Donalds, who had the backing of President Trump and a sizable electoral war chest, defeated Democrat David Jolly by campaigning on affordability and promising to continue the conservative policies of outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds has been in Congress since 2021 and served two terms in the state legislature. Crowley, a Milwaukee County executive, defeated Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, whose campaign vastly outspent Crowley’s. In fact, Crowley suspended his campaign during the primary, but returned to it, with the support of outgoing Governor Tony Evers, after the candidate Crowley endorsed withdrew. Crowley campaigned on his record as a “deal maker” who can work across political parties. Breaking the glass ceiling Other gubernatorial candidates achieved historic victories in three states. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn is the first woman to win a gubernatorial race in Tennessee. Although Blackburn, who defeated Democrat Jerri Green and multiple independent candidates, had long been a favorite in this race, her victory was narrower than expected. His campaign focused on reducing immigration, confronting China and cutting wasteful government spending. Amy Acton greets supporters during a campaign rally with former President Barack Obama at the Cleveland Public Auditorium on October 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption i Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar will become Minnesota’s first woman governor when she takes office in January. He defeated Republican Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Demuth, like Green in Tennessee, would also have been her state’s first female governor. In one of the biggest surprises of Tuesday’s election, Democrat Amy Acton is poised to become the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the state’s first Jewish governor. She will be the first Democrat to hold the office in two decades. Acton, who served as the state’s public health director during the pandemic, defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, in an election marred in recent weeks by vicious smears and an attack ad that drew national criticism.
