Nine states elect firsts in Tuesday's governor races

Voters in nine states elected new governors on Tuesday, marking firsts in American political history. The results include the first Black woman, first Native American woman, and first Latino governor to win statewide executive offices in their respective regions.

In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become the state's next chief executive. At 56, she becomes the first Black woman elected governor in the United States. A former Atlanta mayor and adviser to President Joe Biden, Bottoms is also the first Democrat to win a governor's race in Georgia in more than 20 years.

New Mexico elected Deb Haaland, a Democrat of Pueblo Indian descent, to the governorship. She defeated Republican Gregg Hull. Haaland, who previously served as Interior secretary and in Congress, becomes the first Native American woman governor. Her prior roles also made her one of the first Native American women in Congress and the first Native American cabinet secretary.

California and Texas saw the election of their first Latino and Latina governors, respectively. Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former attorney general and HHS secretary, defeated Republican Steve Hilton. He will succeed Gavin Newsom. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa, a state representative, defeated incumbent Greg Abbott. Her win makes her the first Democrat to hold the office in over 30 years and the state's first Latina governor.

Florida and Wisconsin elected their first Black governors. Republican Byron Donalds won in Florida, defeating Democrat David Jolly. Donalds, a former congressman, campaigned on affordability and the continuation of conservative policies. In Wisconsin, Democrat David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, defeated Republican Tom Tiffany. Crowley, who briefly suspended his primary campaign, ran on his record as a bipartisan negotiator.

Three other states elected women to the governorship for the first time. In Tennessee, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn defeated Democrat Jerri Green. Her campaign focused on immigration and spending cuts. In Minnesota, Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated House Speaker Lisa Demuth. Klobuchar will assume office in January.

Ohio elected Democrat Amy Acton as its next governor, a result described as a major upset. She defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton, who served as the state's chief public health officer during the pandemic, becomes the first Jewish governor and the first Democrat to serve in the office in two decades.