Winners of more than a dozen U.S. congressional and gubernatorial races broke longstanding barriers of race, gender and sexuality in Tuesday's midterm elections, according to a States Newsroom DC bureau roundup carried by 14 state outlets^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14}.

The shared report said the results set records for the most Black governors and the most women governors serving at once, and identified Georgia Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms as the first Black woman governor^1,11,13.

Democrats flipped the U.S. House and Senate and accounted for more of the historic firsts listed, the outlets said, while Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican, will become the first elected Black Republican governor^1,3,14.

Nevada Democrat Aaron Ford ousted Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, Wisconsin Democrat David Crowley won, and Maryland Democrat Wes Moore was reelected, bringing five Black governors into office at once, a record in the roundup^1,6,10,13.

Seventeen women will serve as governor in 2027, breaking a previous record of 14 in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, the outlets said, including Democrat Deb Haaland in New Mexico as the first Indigenous woman elected governor^1,4,9,10.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar will become that state's first woman governor, Texas Democrat Gina Hinojosa its first Latina governor after defeating Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, and Ohio Democrat Amy Acton that state's first woman and first Jewish governor, the shared account said^1,6,11.

Three Democratic senators-elect will make history when sworn in for the 120th Congress in January, the outlets said: New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas as the first openly gay elected senator, Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim senator, and Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan as the first Native American woman senator^1,5,6,9.

Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola, an Alaska Native, could join that Senate first if she wins a race the roundup said was too close to call Wednesday; in Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom could become the first Black senator from the state since Reconstruction if he defeats Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith^1,8,12.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will grow to more than 50 members from 44, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to at least 22, the outlets said, citing Rep. Grace Meng; Democrats will control 28 governorships to 20 for Republicans, with two results still unknown^1,3,4,10,11.

Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics, said in a statement carried by the outlets that women set records and broke barriers around the nation^1,5,9.

Sources

1. Alaska BeaconMidterm winners include several who made history4:56 PM
2. Arkansas AdvocateMidterm winners include several who made history4:30 PM
3. Florida PhoenixMidterm winners include several who made history6:11 PM
4. Iowa Capital DispatchMidterm winners include several who made history4:18 PM
5. Maine Morning StarMidterm winners include several who made history6:55 PM

Michigan Advance · Daily Montanan · North Dakota Monitor+6 moreHide

1. Michigan AdvanceMidterm winners include several who made history6:00 PM
2. Daily MontananMidterm winners include several who made history4:13 PM
3. North Dakota MonitorMidterm winners include several who made history7:07 PM
4. New Hampshire BulletinMidterm winners include several who made history4:22 PM
5. Source NMMidterm winners include several who made history4:28 PM
6. Ohio Capital JournalMidterm winners include several who made history4:12 PM
7. Tennessee LookoutMidterm winners include several who made history7:45 PM
8. Wisconsin ExaminerMidterm winners include several who made history5:35 PM
9. West Virginia WatchMidterm winners include several who made history5:12 PM

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