Nine states elect historic governors in Tuesday's midterms
The results include the first Black woman, first Native American woman, and first Latino governor in their respective states, reshaping leadership in nine regions.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Voters in nine states elected their next governors on Tuesday, marking a day defined by new faces in statehouses across the country. The outcomes feature individuals who are firsts in their states or the nation, spanning various backgrounds and political parties.
Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia is set to become the first Black woman to serve as a state governor in the United States. The 56-year-old Democrat defeated Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire health care executive. Her victory ends a long streak for her party in the Peach State, making her the first Democrat to win the governor's race there in more than two decades. Lance Bottoms previously served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and later advised former President Joe Biden.
In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland secured a win over Republican Gregg Hull. Of Pueblo Indian descent, Haaland will be the first Native American woman to hold the office of governor. She previously served in the U.S. Congress and as the Biden administration's Interior secretary, roles in which she also broke barriers as one of the first Native American women in those positions.
Latino representation saw two major shifts in the West. Xavier Becerra, the former California attorney general and HHS secretary, defeated Republican Steve Hilton to become California's first elected Latino governor. He will succeed Gavin Newsom. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa, a state representative, defeated incumbent Greg Abbott. Abbott had been a key ally of President Trump. Hinojosa's victory follows a demographic surge in the state's Latino population and makes her the first Democratic governor of Texas in over 30 years.
Florida and Wisconsin each elected their first Black governors. Republican Byron Donalds won in Florida, defeating Democrat David Jolly. Donalds, a member of Congress since 2021, campaigned on affordability and promised to continue the policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis. He received backing from President Trump and a large war chest. In Wisconsin, Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, had suspended his campaign during the primary but reentered with the support of outgoing Governor Tony Evers. He campaigned on his record as a dealmaker despite Tiffany's campaign spending significantly more.
Three other women won historic races in their states. In Tennessee, Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn defeated Democrat Jerri Green and several independent candidates. Although she was a favorite, her victory was narrower than expected. Her campaign focused on immigration, China, and government spending. In Minnesota, Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican Lisa Demuth, the state House speaker. Both women would have been the first female governors of their states.
The most unexpected result came from Ohio, where Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton, who served as the state's chief public health officer during the pandemic, is poised to become the state's first woman and first Jewish governor. She is also the first Democrat to hold the office in two decades. The race in Ohio was characterized by intense mudslinging and a nationally criticized attack ad in the final weeks.
These nine victories change the demographic and partisan makeup of state leadership. The new governors will take office in January, bringing diverse perspectives to the executive branches of their respective states.
