Nine States Elect Historic Governors in Midterm Results

Voters in nine states cast ballots on Tuesday, November 3, selecting new governors who will make history as the first of their gender, race, or ethnic background in their respective states. The results mark a sharp shift in leadership across the country, with Democrats and Republicans each securing landmark victories.

In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become the state's next governor. At 56, the former Atlanta mayor and Biden administration adviser will be the first Black woman elected governor of any state in the nation. Her victory also ends a long streak, making her the first Democrat to win the governor's race in Georgia in more than two decades.

Deb Haaland of New Mexico will become the first Native American woman to serve as governor. The Democrat, who is of Pueblo Indian descent, defeated Republican Gregg Hull. Haaland previously served in Congress and as U.S. Interior Secretary under President Biden, roles in which she also set precedents for Native American representation.

Latino representation reached new heights in two major states. Xavier Becerra will become the first elected Latino governor of California, succeeding Gavin Newsom. The former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services defeated political outsider Steve Hilton. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Greg Abbott to become the state's first Latina governor. This marks the first time a Democrat has held the office in Texas in over 30 years, a win driven partly by the state's growing Latino population.

Byron Donalds will be the first Black governor of Florida. The Republican, who has served in Congress since 2021, defeated David Jolly. Donalds campaigned on affordability and pledged to continue the conservative policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, with the backing of President Trump and a large war chest.

In Wisconsin, David Crowley became the first Black governor of the state. The Milwaukee County executive defeated Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Crowley, who suspended his campaign briefly during the primary, reentered the race with the support of outgoing Governor Tony Evers. He positioned himself as a bipartisan deal maker despite facing a candidate who outspent him significantly.

Marsha Blackburn won the governor's race in Tennessee, becoming the first woman to hold the office. The Republican senator defeated Democrat Jerri Green and several independent candidates. Her campaign focused on immigration, relations with China, and government spending, though her margin of victory was narrower than many polls had predicted.

Amy Klobuchar will become the first woman governor of Minnesota. The Democratic senator defeated Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Demuth would have also been a first for her state, but Klobuchar secured the win in a competitive race.

Amy Acton of Ohio completed the list of historic winners on Tuesday. The Democrat will be the first woman and first Jewish person elected governor of Ohio. She defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in a race that featured intense negative advertising in its final weeks. Acton, who served as the state's chief public health officer during the pandemic, is the first Democrat to hold the Ohio governorship in two decades.

The new governors will assume office in January, bringing a diverse group of firsts to the highest executive offices in their respective states.