Gubernatorial Races: Ten States Elect Historic Winners
Voters chose firsts in leadership across the country, including the first Black woman governor and the first Latino governor of California.
By Lauren Bello ·
Keisha Lance Bottoms secured the governor's mansion in Georgia on Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman to hold the office in any state. The 56-year-old Democrat defeated Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire health care executive. Her victory marks the first time a Democrat has won a gubernatorial race in Georgia in more than two decades. Bottoms previously served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and later advised former President Joe Biden.
In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland won the governorship, making her the first Native American woman to lead a state. Haaland, who is of Pueblo Indian descent, defeated Republican Gregg Hull. She previously served in the U.S. Congress and as Interior secretary under the Biden administration. Her election follows a history of breaking barriers in both the House and the Cabinet.
Latino representation in statehouses expanded in two major states. Xavier Becerra will take office as California's first elected Latino governor. The former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services and former attorney general defeated Republican Steve Hilton. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Hinojosa, a state representative, will be the first Latina governor of Texas and the state's first Democratic governor in over 30 years.
Three states elected their first Black governors on Tuesday. Republican Byron Donalds won in Florida after campaigning on affordability and continuing the policies of outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis. He defeated Democrat David Jolly. In Nevada, Democrat Aaron Ford, the state attorney general, unseated Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. Ford will be the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River. In Wisconsin, Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany.
Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, had previously suspended his campaign during the primary. He reentered the race with the support of outgoing Governor Tony Evers after the candidate he initially backed dropped out. Crowley campaigned on his record as a deal maker who works across the political aisle. His opponent, Tiffany, spent significantly more on the campaign than Crowley did.
Women made history in three additional states. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn became the first woman to win a gubernatorial race in Tennessee. She defeated Democrat Jerri Green and several independent candidates. Her campaign focused on immigration, relations with China, and government spending. Democrat Amy Klobuchar defeated Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth to become the first woman governor of Minnesota. Demuth would have also been a first for her state.
Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, marking one of the larger upsets of the night. Acton, who served as the state's chief public health officer during the pandemic, will be the first woman and the first Jewish governor of Ohio. Her win also ends a two-decade stretch of Republican control of the office. The race was marked in its final weeks by aggressive attacks and a specific ad that drew national attention.
These results reflect a shift in state leadership across the political map. The winners in Georgia, New Mexico, California, Texas, Florida, Nevada, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Ohio take office in January. Their victories add new demographic diversity to the group of state executives in the United States.
