Midterm Winners Include First Black Woman Governor, First Muslim Senator, and Other Firsts

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, won Georgia's governor race in the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. She defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive who spent more than $200 million, and returns the office to Democrats after more than two decades of Republican control. Bottoms and three other Black candidates won governor races: Republican Byron Donalds in Florida, Democrat David Crowley in Wisconsin and Democrat Wes Moore, reelected in Maryland. Democrat Aaron Ford led in Nevada by more than 70,000 votes. Moore said the number of Black governors had at least doubled in one cycle. Michigan voters chose Democrat Abdul El-Sayed over Republican Mike Rogers, making him the first Muslim U.S. senator. Ohio elected Democrat Amy Acton, its first woman governor, over Vivek Ramaswamy. Illinois elected Juliana Stratton, who will join Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angela Alsobrooks as three Black women serving in the Senate together.

The Daily Wire, the only right-leaning outlet here, covers only El-Sayed, in a commentary that says the press is celebrating a milestone when it should ask whether he puts Sharia or the Constitution first. It stresses his election-night religious phrases and CAIR's tallying of Muslim wins, and lists his policy positions, including Medicare for All and ending unconditional aid to Israel. CBS News leads with the Black gubernatorial wins and quotes Moore, while The New Republic praises El-Sayed's campaign and Bottoms's platform and adds Stratton and Acton. Both sides agree El-Sayed is the first Muslim senator but disagree on whether the story is a milestone or a question about loyalties. The Hindu adds more firsts and Democratic gains, and Democracy Now! stresses Black turnout in Georgia.