Democrats also made history in Georgia, where former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson, flipping control of the battleground state office for the first time in 24 years. Bottoms’ victory means she will become the first Black female governor in U.S. history.
Bottoms is one of three Black gubernatorial candidates who won Tuesday, along with Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in Maryland and Republican Byron Donalds in Florida. There has never been more than one Black governor serving at a time before.
In Iowa, State Auditor Rob Sand beat Republican Zach Lahn, making him the first Democrat to be elected to lead the state in two decades. Trump won Iowa in 2024 by 13 points.
And in Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton beat Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, succeeding Republican Mike DeWine.
Republicans entered Tuesday’s midterms with a 26-24 advantage in governor’s offices, but that majority appeared to be at risk early Wednesday. Thirty-six gubernatorial contests were on the ballot this year.
“This incredible milestone marks a new era of Democratic leadership in states across the country,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement. “Democratic governors and the DGA pulled off this amazing turnaround by competing and winning everywhere, staying focused on the biggest issues impacting Americans every day, and always standing up for our values.”
