America elects its first ever Black female governor in Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, who beat Republican billionaire Rick Jackson to become the first Black female governor of Georgia.
President Donald Trump politics has re-imaged US political map with histories made, voter behaviour exposed and apparent referendum on Trump’s style of leadership; a leadership said to have brought pain on US citizens, divided a nation that prides its strength on diversity and triggered fears of external aggression on Americans.
Below are some historical feats and facts about the election that put control of Congress firmly in the hands of Democrats and dissolved the lines of racism, religion and gender limitations that defined elections in the past.
America elects its first ever Black female governor in Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, who beat Republican billionaire Rick Jackson to become the first Black female governor of Georgia.
Texas’s first Latina governor: Democrat Gina Hinojosa beat three-term governor Greg Abbott to become Texas’s first Latina governor and the first Democrat to win the office since 1990.
Florida gets first Black governor: Republican Byron Donalds has emerged Florida’s first Black governor, succeeding Ron DeSantis who is serving out his term limit.
First openly gay man elected to US Senate: Democrat Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire representative, has been elected to the US Senate, making him the first gay man to serve in the chamber. Pappas won despite hefty spending by Trump and Musk to bolster the chance of the Republican candidate.
First Native American woman elected to Senate: Democrat Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, becomes the first Native American woman to be elected to the US Senate. Flanagan is Ojibwe and a member of the White Earth Nation. The Ojibwe are a major indigenous group of the Northeastern Woodlands and Subarctic regions in North America.
Victory not as you spend: The Republicans spent more in the US midterm elections including cash splash by Elon Musk and President Trump. but Democrats won.
First Muslim Senator in US history: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s highly contested Senate race defeating Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim senator ever elected into US Senate.
First elected Latino governor: The state of California brought a certain uniqueness to the drama by electing Democrat Xavier Becerra as the state’s first elected Latino governor. He defeated Republican challenger Steve Hilton. Becerra is the son of Mexican immigrants.
First female Native American governor: Not to be outdone, New Mexico elected its first female Native American governor, Deb Haaland, a former US interior secretary, seen by many as a true torchbearer of the dreams of native Americans. Haaland is a member of Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, a federally recognized tribe of Native American Pueblo people in west-central New Mexico.
First Black governor of Wisconsin: Democrat David Crowley won Wisconsin’s governor race, becoming the first Black person to hold the office. Despite being outspent by his Republican opponent, Tom Tiffany.
First female governor of Ohio: Democrat Amy Acton, was elected Ohio’s first female governor, beating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. She won despite blistering advert by Republicans attacking her character, especially an advert featuring Acton’s estranged mother calling her daughter a liar. Acton’s mother lost custody of her children after her husband, Acton’s stepfather, was accused of raping Acton at the age of 12.
A Political Economist compilation
