The 2026 midterm elections have witnessed a Democratic wave that is shifting the Republican majority, simultaneously propelling representatives of minorities into prominent roles. These victories represent the breaking of political and symbolic barriers that, in some cases, date back centuries. A key milestone is the election of Keisha Lance Bottoms as the governor of Georgia. At 56, the Democrat becomes the first Black woman to hold a governorship anywhere in the United States and the first woman ever to lead the state. Republicans had controlled the Georgia governorship since 2003. Bottoms, who describes herself as a descendant of enslaved people from a Georgia plantation, previously served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022 and later as Director of Public Engagement at the White House under President Joe Biden. She gained national recognition during the 2020 anti-racist protests for her management of the pandemic and her calls for peaceful assembly following the death of George Floyd.
In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland has made history as the first Native American woman to become a governor. A member of the Laguna Pueblo people, the 65-year-old politician had previously marked US political history twice: in 2018, she became one of the first two Native American women elected to the House of Representatives, and in 2021, President Biden appointed her as Secretary of the Interior, making her the first Native American to hold a cabinet position. Her personal journey, which included relying on social assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps as a single mother before studying law in her thirties, played a role in her campaign.
In the Senate, Democrat Chris Pappas has secured victory in New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay man to enter the upper chamber of the US Congress. While several LGBT women had previously served in the Senate, including Tammy Baldwin elected in 2012, Pappas's election marks a new milestone. The 46-year-old Harvard graduate comes from a Greek-American family known for operating the Puritan Backroom restaurant chain for over a century. A member of the House since January 2019 and part of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, Pappas was a supporter of the Equality Act. Following his victory, he appeared on stage with his husband, though he noted that his sexuality was not the central theme of his campaign, emphasizing instead his focus on addressing the daily challenges of New Hampshire residents.
David Crowley has also achieved a historic first by winning the governorship of Wisconsin. At 40 years old, he becomes the first Black governor in the state's 178-year history and marks the first time a Democrat has held the office for more than eight consecutive years. Growing up in Milwaukee amidst economic hardship, including parental addiction and repeated evictions, Crowley entered politics working on Russ Feingold's 2010 Senate campaign before being elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2016. In 2020, he became the first African American and youngest leader of Milwaukee County. His campaign focused on the cost of living, healthcare access, public school funding, and family support, securing a crucial swing state for Democrats after Donald Trump won there in 2016 and 2024.
Historic breakthroughs were not limited to Democrats. Byron Donalds, a Republican ally of Donald Trump, has been elected governor of Florida, becoming the first African American to lead the state. At 48, the successor to Ron DeSantis is a prominent figure in the MAGA movement. Originally a Democrat who switched to the Republican Party in 2010 during the rise of the Tea Party, Donalds was born in Brooklyn and moved to Florida for his studies. He worked in finance and banking before entering politics, serving in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 and in the US Congress since 2020.
Finally, speculation is mounting regarding the leadership of the House of Representatives. Current Democratic Speaker Hakeem Jeffries is expected to take the gavel following his party's significant majority win. If confirmed, he would become the first African American to preside over the House.
Sources: Le Figaro.