Black voters fuel Democratic wins and historic firsts in midterms

Black voters' strong turnout helped Democrats achieve sweeping midterm victories on Tuesday, including several history-making Black candidates winning in Southern districts redrawn by Republicans to weaken their chances. U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures won reelection in Alabama despite GOP lawmakers reshaping his district, while Georgia's Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. Black women also secured statewide offices in Georgia, and North Carolina's Don Davis won in a redrawn district. Near-misses occurred in Florida and Louisiana, where Democratic candidates lost by narrow margins. Party leaders framed the results as a repudiation of President Trump and the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act weakening. Black voter support for Democrats rose to about 9 in 10 in House races, up from 2024, with Black men shifting significantly. Activists cited racism concerns and economic frustrations as key motivators, though some races remained uncalled.