Black Governor in Georgia, Native American in New Mexico: Midterm Firsts

The 2026 US midterm elections broke Republican control and historical barriers, with Democratic minority candidates winning top offices, including the first Black female governor and first Native American senator. Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor, was elected governor of Georgia as the first Black woman to lead a US state. Deb Haaland of the Laguna Pueblo tribe became New Mexico's first Native American female governor, while Peggy Flanagan won Minnesota's first Native American Senate seat. Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic leader, is favored to become Speaker after his party's large majority, which would make him the first African American in that role.