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Voters across ten states made history during Tuesday’s gubernatorial elections by electing candidates who broke major representation barriers. The nationwide milestones include the first Black woman governor, the first Native American woman governor, and several state-level firsts for Latino, Black, and female leaders.
Nationwide Firsts
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the race to become Georgia’s next governor, making her the country’s first Black woman elected governor of any state. The 56-year-old previously served as Atlanta’s mayor from 2018 to 2022 and as an adviser to former President Joe Biden. By defeating Republican billionaire health care executive Rick Jackson, Lance Bottoms also became the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial race in Georgia in over two decades.
In New Mexico, Deb Haaland of Pueblo Indian descent will become the first Native American woman governor. The Democrat defeated Republican Gregg Hull, adding to a history-making career that previously included serving in Congress and as Interior secretary under Biden, roles in which she was also the first Native American woman elected to Congress and the first Native American cabinet secretary.
Latino Representation
Democrat Xavier Becerra is set to become California’s first elected Latino governor after handily defeating Republican political outsider Steve Hilton. Becerra previously served as California attorney general, a member of Congress, and U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration, and he will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Hinojosa will serve as the state’s first Latino governor and its first Democratic governor in more than 30 years, a victory fueled by a demographic shift and a surge in the state’s Latino population.
Black Representation
Voters in Florida, Nevada, and Wisconsin elected the first Black governors in their respective states. Republican Byron Donalds won in Florida, Democrat Aaron Ford won in Nevada, and Democrat David Crowley secured victory in Wisconsin.
Donalds, backed by President Trump and a substantial campaign war chest, defeated Democrat David Jolly by focusing on affordability and vowing to maintain the conservative policies of outgoing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds has served in Congress since 2021 following two terms in the state legislature.
Ford, currently Nevada’s attorney general, unseated Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, making him the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River. Ford previously served as Nevada’s first Black Senate majority leader and attorney general after being elected to the state legislature in 2012.
Crowley, a Milwaukee County executive, defeated Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Despite temporarily suspending his campaign during the primary before reentering with support from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, Crowley campaigned successfully on his reputation as a deal maker capable of bridging the political divide.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Historic milestones for women were also achieved in gubernatorial races across three additional states.
Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn became the first woman to win a gubernatorial race in Tennessee by defeating Democrat Jerri Green and several independent candidates, though her victory margin was narrower than anticipated. Her campaign centered on limiting immigration, addressing China, and reducing government spending.
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar will take office in January as Minnesota’s first female governor after defeating Republican Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton pulled off a major upset to become the state’s first elected female governor, its first Jewish governor, and the first Democrat to hold the office in twenty years. Acton, who worked as the state’s chief public health officer during the pandemic, triumphed over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy following a race marked by intense late-campaign attacks.
