The 2026 midterm elections came with a wave of history-making wins. See every historic first.

• Democrats swept the 2026 midterm elections, securing wins in long-held Republican states.
• Four states elected their first Black governors, and four elected their first women governors.
• Abdul El-Sayed became the Senate’s first Muslim member, and Chris Pappas, its first openly gay man.

Four states elected their first-ever Black governors, and four also elected a woman governor for the first time. In Georgia, it was both, with Keisha Lance Bottoms making history as the first Black woman elected governor in any US state.

Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), Georgia

Democratic Keisha Lance Bottoms is now the first Black woman elected governor in US history after defeating Republican Rick Jackson.

She is also Georgia’s first Black governor and first woman governor.

Byron Donalds (R), Florida

Byron Donalds is now the first Black Republican elected governor in US history and Florida’s first Black governor.

Deb Haaland (D), New Mexico

Deb Haaland is now the first Native American woman elected governor in US history and New Mexico’s first Native American governor after defeating Republican Gregg Hull.

David Crowley (D), Wisconsin

David Crowley is now Wisconsin’s first Black governor after defeating Republican Tom Tiffany.

Aaron Ford (D), Nevada

Former Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is now Nevada’s first Black governor after defeating the Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo.

Gina Hinojosa (D), Texas

Xavier Becerra (D), California

Amy Acton (D), Ohio

Marsha Blackburn (R), Tennessee

Marsha Blackburn is now Tennessee’s first elected woman governor.

She was the first woman elected to represent the state in the Senate in 2018.

Amy Klobuchar (D), Minnesota

Amy Klobuchar was elected as Minnesota’s first woman governor.

In 2006, she became the first woman from the state to be elected to the US Senate.

Kathy Hochul (D) and Adrienne Adams (D), New York

Kathy Hochul and Adrienne Adams are now New York’s first all-woman governor-lieutenant governor ticket, and Adams is New York’s first Black woman lieutenant governor.

Hochul became the state’s first woman governor after taking office in 2021.

Abdul El-Sayed (D), Michigan

Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim senator in US history.

Peggy Flanagan (D), Minnesota

Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota will become the first Native American woman US senator and Minnesota’s first Native American senator.

Chris Pappas (D), New Hampshire

Chris Pappas is the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate.

In his acceptance speech, he thanked his supporters and his husband, Vann Bentley, whom he married in 2023.

Annie Andrews (D), South Carolina

Annie Andrews became the first woman elected to the US Senate representing South Carolina.

She defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was appointed to fill his seat after he died in July.

Juliana Stratton (D), Illinois

Juliana Stratton is Illinois’ second Black woman elected to the US Senate. Alongside Tammy Duckworth, she makes Illinois the first state to be represented by two women of color in the Senate.

Her victory means three Black women will serve in the Senate at the same time — another historic first.

Melat Kiros (D), Colorado

Melat Kiros is the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress, representing Colorado’s 1st congressional District. She is 29 years old.

Adam Hamawy (D), New Jersey

Representing New Jersey’s 12th District, Adam Hamawy is the Garden State’s first Muslim member of Congress.

Claire Valdez (D), New York

Claire Valdez made history as New York’s first Native American woman elected to Congress, representing New York’s 7th District.

Jeremy Moss (D), Michigan

Jeremy Moss, elected to represent Michigan’s 11th District, made history as Michigan’s first openly gay member of Congress.

Denise Powell (D), Nebraska

It was also a historic night for Denise Powell, who became Nebraska’s first Hispanic member of Congress. She will represent the state’s 2nd District.

Five Black governors will serve simultaneously for the first time in US history.

They are Democrats Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia, David Crowley of Wisconsin, Aaron Ford of Nevada, and Wes Moore of Maryland, plus Republican Byron Donalds of Florida.

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