US midterm elections 2026 deliver historic firsts for Black, Native American, and LGBTQ+ leaders

The 2026 US midterm elections produced historic firsts, including the election of the country's first Black woman governor, first Native American woman governor, and first openly gay male senator. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman governor, while in New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland was elected the first Native American woman governor. Democrat Chris Pappas of New Hampshire became the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate, and Democrat Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota became the first Native American woman senator. The elections also saw record participation by women, with nearly 300 women running for Congress. In Illinois, Democrat Juliana Stratton's victory will make it the first state with two women of colour in the Senate. A close race in Michigan could still produce the first Muslim American senator.