US midterms 2026: Muslim and gay senators among historic firsts

The 2026 US midterm elections produced historic firsts for minority candidates, with Democrats breaking the Republican majority and multiple glass ceilings. Key victories include a Black female governor, a Muslim senator, and an openly gay senator. Keisha Lance Bottoms was elected governor of Georgia, becoming the first Black woman to hold that office nationwide. Deb Haaland won in New Mexico as the first Native American female governor, while Peggy Flanagan entered the Senate from Minnesota as the first Native American senator. Abdul El-Sayed claimed victory in Michigan as the first Muslim senator, and Chris Pappas of New Hampshire became the first openly gay senator. Other milestones include Florida electing its first Black governor, Republican Byron Donalds, and California choosing Xavier Becerra as its first Hispanic governor. Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become the first Black Speaker of the House. Activists attributed these results to sustained community organizing between elections.