Midterms launch wave of historic firsts across the United States

Terry TangNovember 5, 2026 — 11:49amFollow along to our live coverage of the 2026 US midterms here. Yes, the 2026 midterms will be remembered for the astonishing number of losses that Democrats handed to President Donald Trump. But in the background, something perhaps equally seismic unfolded: a wave of firsts that elevated members of groups that had, until now, been kept largely at the margins into high office.Abdul El-Sayed is America’s first Muslim senator, while Keisha Lance Bottoms (centre) and Deb Haaland are now pioneering state governors.Cheers and happy tears rang out at election parties from New Mexico to Georgia late on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) once it became clear voters had elected the country’s first black female governor, the first Native American female governor, the first Native female senator, and the first openly gay male senator.‘For years, people of colour and LGBTQ+ communities have organised, knocked on doors, talked to voters … These wins are because of them.’Alexis Anderson-Reed, president and chief executive of advocacy network State VoicesBy early Wednesday, the list of barrier-breaking milestones also added the first Muslim senator. The astonishing blue wave also means America will probably have its first black Speaker of the House.Most of these firsts are Democrats, but the Republicans have also broken new ground.While some of these candidates have avoided focusing on the inherent historic value of their race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, some voters’ rights advocates are celebrating how the electorate has expanded.“These firsts show how our country is changing,” Alexis Anderson-Reed, president and chief executive of State Voices, a network of advocates for civic engagement and equity in democracy, said.“For years, people of colour and LGBTQ+ communities have organised, knocked on doors, talked to voters, held conversations, and done the hard work of saving our democracy.“These wins are because of them.”Here are some of the races where history was and could be made.First Native American female governorDemocrat Deb Haaland celebrated her history-making moment as the nation’s first Native American female governor. Haaland defeated Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor, to lead New Mexico.America’s first female Native American governor, Deb Haaland.AP Photo/Susan Montoya BryanThe Laguna Pueblo citizen noted that Native Americans were still here despite past efforts by the federal government to strip them of their languages and culture.“Tonight, in our nation’s 250th year, I stand before you as the first Native American woman elected governor in US history,” Haaland told ecstatic supporters at a victory celebration.In 2018, Haaland was one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. Then she became the first Native American cabinet secretary, running president Joe Biden’s Department of the Interior. Charles Curtis, from the Kaw Nation, was the first Native cabinet member as president Herbert Hoover’s vice president.Oklahoma was the only state to elect a Native American citizen for governor – Democrat Johnston Murray in the 1950s and current Republican Governor Kevin Stitt.“I want every child watching to know that your dreams matter and that New Mexico is a place where you can build the life you want,” Haaland said, adding that she was living proof.First female Native American senatorsMinnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has become the first Native American female senator, helping Democrats win back the Senate.Peggy Flanagan has become the first female Native American senator.AP Photo/Abbie ParrA citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Flanagan defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter.Tafoya would have been the first Latina-heritage Republican to serve in the Senate.Mary Peltola, who is Yup’ik Democrat, could also become the first Alaska Native senator. Votes in her race to unseat Republican incumbent senator Dan Sullivan are still being tabulated.Peltola was considered a trailblazer in 2022 when she became the first Alaska Native elected to the House of Representatives.First black female governorDemocrat Keisha Lance Bottoms was declared the winner on Wednesday AEDT in the Georgia governor’s race, ending 250 years of American history without a black woman elected as a state’s governor.The former Atlanta mayor was running against Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman.Victorious Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at an election night event in Atlanta, Georgia.AP Photo/Brynn Anderson“Tonight should remind us all that no matter what community we come from, Georgia is not defined by one moment in time or by one person,” Bottoms told euphoric supporters.“It’s been defined by all of us, and I will be a governor for everyone in this state.”She will also be Georgia’s first governor of colour. All 83 previous governors of Georgia have been white men.Lisa Demuth, however, missed her chance to become the first black female governor. The former Minnesota House Speaker was overtaken by longtime Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar.Stacey Abrams had been the only black woman to come close to winning a governor’s race when she earned the Georgia Democratic Party’s nomination in 2018 and 2022.First Muslim senatorMichigan winner Abdul El-Sayed enters Congress as the first Muslim senator.AP Photo/Julia Demaree NikhinsonAbdul El-Sayed will become the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate.The contentious Michigan race was called for him early Wednesday morning. The battle between the progressive Michigan Democrat and Republican Mike Rogers had grabbed national attention, especially after El-Sayed’s primary opponent endorsed Rogers.“You took a chance on the unlikeliest of candidates,” El-Sayed told a Detroit crowd. “Thank you. This is all yours.”El-Sayed has had to contend with Republicans all the way up to Trump implying or overtly stating that the Michigan-born epidemiologist is not American and supports terrorism.Trump has called him “dangerously radical” and “too extreme” and referred to him as “Mohammed.” El-Sayed and his supporters have denounced the attacks as Islamophobic or racist affronts to religious freedom.First openly gay male senatorDemocrat Chris Pappas won his race in New Hampshire and will become the country’s first openly gay male senator. He defeated former senator John Sununu, a Republican who previously served in both chambers of Congress.Chris Pappas (right) celebrates his Senate win in New Hampshire alongside his husband, Vann Bentley.AP Photo/Reba SaldanhaPappas has not dwelled on this new benchmark while campaigning, saying, “I’m not running to make history.” But he also applauded the fact that his sexual orientation was not a huge source of discussion among potential voters.First black and Latino governorsAmerica went from having only three elected black governors in its 250-year history to gaining several more.On Tuesday, Maryland Governor Wes Moore won re-election, while Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Crowley were elected as the first black governors in Florida and Wisconsin, respectively.Wes Moore, who was America’s only serving black governor, has secured another term in Maryland.BloombergWith Bottoms’ victory in Georgia, a black leader will govern two Deep South states for the first time.Moore, chair of the National Governors Association, has called the presence of so many black gubernatorial contenders “a unique moment”. It’s not “an applause line” but a challenge to make diverse gubernatorial nominees more common, he said.Latinos, both Democrats, will take on the highest state office in two of the biggest states. Texas voters rejected governor Greg Abbott in favour of Gina Hinojosa, who will be the state’s first Latina governor.Xavier Becerra, former California attorney-general, outpaced Republican Steve Hilton. He will be California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco in 1875.Record year for female candidatesThese midterms have broken records for women vying for state and federal offices. Democrats increased their 2022 female candidate count to 19 running for governor, according to the Centre for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.Theopia Johnson Tate poses at an election night event for Georgia’s winning gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms.AP Photo/Brynn AndersonThe Republican Party had seven women running for governor.Like Minnesota, Tennessee elected its first female governor, with Republican senator Marsha Blackburn beating Democrat Jerri Green, a Memphis city councilwoman.Nearly 300 women, including incumbents, ran for the Senate and House, according to Rutgers’ Centre.Among them was Democrat Juliana Stratton in Illinois, who defeated Republican Don Tracy on Tuesday. Stratton, the current lieutenant governor, will succeed retiring Democratic senator Dick Durbin.With fellow Democrat senator Tammy Duckworth, who is of Thai heritage, the pair will make Illinois the first state to be represented by two female senators of colour. Stratton’s win also means three black women will serve in the Senate.APRead more on the midterms:More:US midtermsDonald TrumpUS politicsLGBTQRacismUS CongressGender equalityUSAFor subscribersFrom our partners