Black Candidates Win Five Governor Races in 2026

Black candidates won five state governors’ races in the November 3, 2026 election, setting a record for simultaneous service when new terms begin in January. In Brooklyn, Hakeem Jeffrieswon reelection and launched a bid that could make him the first Black speaker of the U.S. House.

A Record for Black Governors

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottomsdefeated Republican businessmanRick Jacksonin Georgia with54.3% of the vote, an 8.6-point margin. The former Atlanta mayor became the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state and the first Democrat to win Georgia’s governorship since 1998.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, congressional delegate Stacey Plaskettand running mateMilton Potter, the territory’s Senate president, took62.8% in unofficial results.

Plaskett is set to take office before Bottoms, making her the first Black woman to take office as an elected governor in the United States.

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported that Wisconsin and Nevada elected their first Black governors. Wisconsin elected David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive. Nevada electedAaron Ford, who previously became the state’s first Black Senate majority leader and attorney general.

The newspaper also reported that Florida elected Republican U.S. Rep.

Byron Donalds, who will become the country’s first electedBlack Republicangovernor. Maryland Gov.Wes Moore, the only Black governor currently serving, won reelection. Before this election, only three Black governors had been elected in U.S. history.

Jeffries’ Bid for Speaker

Jeffries secured an eighth congressional term in New York‘s 8th Congressional District. TheAssociated Press called the race and tabulated the preliminary returns, with 87.04% of precinctsreporting as of November 5.

• Jeffries received 128,197 votes (78.94%).

• Republican and Conservative Party challenger Lewis Mizrahi received 31,969 votes (19.68%).

• Write-ins accounted for **2,238 votes (1.38%).

Certification remains subject to the final canvass by the New York State Board of Elections. With Democrats projected to win control of the House, the Wall Street Journal described Jeffries as the presumptive speaker.

The House minority leader notified Democratic colleagues of his candidacy in a letter ahead of their closed-door caucus elections on November 18, 2026.

“I write to humbly request your support in connection with my candidacy to serve as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Jeffries wrote.

Senate and State Milestones

Illinois Lt. Gov.Juliana Stratton became the fifth Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Her victory means three Black women will serve in the chamber at the same time for the first time.

In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom held a narrow lead over Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smithin unofficial results as ofNovember 6, with the race still uncalled.

A victory would make him Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction.

In New York,Adrienne Adams will become the state’s first Black woman elected lieutenant governor. She previously served as speaker of the New York City Council, where she was the first Black person to hold the post.

Minnesota’s County and State Races

In its Minnesota roundup, the newspaper reported that state Rep. Cedrick Frazier, a former public defender, narrowly defeated former acting U.S.

Attorney Anders Folkto becomeHennepin County’s first African American county attorney. Frazier declared victory, while Folk had yet to formally concede.

“I will work every single day to uphold equal justice and strengthen public safety,” Frazier said in a statement.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellisonwon a third term with54.3% of the vote, against Republican Ron Schutz’s45.5% share. In Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, U.S.

Rep. Ilhan Omar won a fifth term with 76.5% of the vote.

Abdi DaisanedefeatedRepublican Mike Conway and flipped a Republican-held district, becoming the St. Cloud area’s first Somali American state lawmaker.

His win and five reelection victories bring Somali American representation in the Minnesota Legislature to six seats. The next legislative session is scheduled to begin January 12, 2027.

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