The 2026 U.S. midterm elections marked a series of historic precedents, with the victory of the first Black woman elected as a state governor and the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate, according to electoral projections announced by American media outlets, including CNN and the Associated Press.
The elections produced a diverse array of elected officials at both the state and national levels, who will assume their roles as U.S. President Donald Trump begins the second half of his second term.
Here are some of the standout winners who set these historic precedents:
Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected as a state governor in U.S. history, as well as the first woman and Black person to win the governorship of Georgia.
Bottoms served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and was among the women former U.S. President Joe Biden considered as a potential vice presidential candidate during the 2020 election. She later joined his administration.
Bottoms defeated Republican candidate Rick Jackson, Trump's endorsed candidate, after making the expansion of Medicaid, tax reductions for homeowners, and increased education funding the core priorities of her campaign.
Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate, after winning the race for New Hampshire's seat.
His victory means Democrats retain a crucial seat in a state Republicans had previously considered one of their best opportunities to capture a seat from the opposing party.
Pappas is a four-term member of the House of Representatives representing southeastern New Hampshire.
Byron Donalds was elected governor of Florida, becoming the first Black person elected to the position in the state's history.
His campaign focused on tax reforms and data center regulations, supporting Trump's agenda in a state now firmly Republican. He benefited early in the race from Trump's strong and clear endorsement.
Annie Andrews became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina after defeating appointed Senator Darlene Graham and capturing a seat Republicans had held for nearly three decades.
Trump arranged Graham's appointment to the seat left vacant by the sudden death of her brother, former Senator Lindsey Graham, in July. The U.S. president's support for a politically unknown figure sparked controversy in the solidly Republican state.
During her brief political career, Graham portrayed herself as more conservative than her brother, taking positions aligned with Trump, including supporting the repeal of the filibuster in the Senate and adopting a tougher stance on immigration.
In contrast, Andrews presented herself as a moderate with independent views, focused on the cost of living, quality of life, and combating corruption.
Gina Hinojosa also became the first Latina elected governor of Texas, unseating Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who had held the office for nearly 12 years.
The candidates clashed on social and cultural issues, including abortion, during the campaign.
Hinojosa, a 52-year-old lawyer and member of the state legislature, led Democrats to regain the governorship for the first time since Ann Richards won in 1990. She will be the third woman to hold the position.
Melat Kiros became the first Black woman elected to represent Colorado in Congress after winning the state's first electoral district.
Kiros, a 29-year-old lawyer and democratic socialist, will also join Generation Z members in Congress, becoming one of the youngest members elected to the House.
Adam Hamoui became the first Muslim elected to represent New Jersey in Congress after winning the 12th electoral district.
Hamoui, a retired military surgeon in the U.S. Army who served in combat zones, is known for his sharp criticism of Israel. He belongs to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and supports Medicare for All, as well as the abolition of medical and student loan debts.
Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, retaining for Democrats the seat occupied by Senator Gary Peters, who decided not to run for another term.
El-Sayed, 42, a former public health official, belongs to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Claire Valdez became the first Indigenous woman elected to represent New York in Congress, winning the state's seventh electoral district after serving a single term in the state House.
Valdez's victory marks another win for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which has grown in influence partly due to the popularity of New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani, who strongly supported her.
Jeremy Moss became the first openly gay person elected to represent Michigan in Congress after winning the 11th electoral district.
Moss is a state senator who will take the seat held by Representative Haley Stevens, who chose not to seek reelection and instead ran for the U.S. Senate, although she lost the primary.
Amy Acton became the first woman elected governor of Ohio, marking the Democrats' first gubernatorial victory in the state since 2006.
Acton, a physician, defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in a race that drew national attention due to a controversial attack ad.
Her campaign focused on the cost of living, proposing property tax reductions targeting middle-income and elderly Ohioans, and halting the creation of data centers unless they cover the cost of the utilities they consume.
Xavier Becerra became the first Latino elected governor of California, maintaining his party's control over the most populous U.S. state.
Becerra, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, served as California's attorney general and as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration. He emerged victorious from a competitive primary filled with candidates and intense competition, succeeding Governor Gavin Newsom.
Taking advantage of California voters' firmly liberal stance and a political climate favorable to his party in the midterm elections, Becerra repeatedly associated his Republican opponent Steve Hilton with Trump, attacking the president's endorsement of him and calling on Democrats to send a message of rejection to the administration.
