In the November 2026 midterm elections, Democrats secured a majority of U.S. governorships for the first time in 16 years, wresting control from Republicans across 36 state races. Key flips in former Republican strongholds included Gina Hinojosa winning in Texas and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, making Bottoms the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. The victories reshape state-level power dynamics ahead of the 2028 presidential race.
Democrats gain national gubernatorial majority
- ▪Democratic candidates flipped control of four governor's mansions in states that Donald Trump carried in 2024: Georgia, Iowa, Texas, and Ohio
- ▪Democratic gubernatorial wins in key swing states across 36 state elections on November 3, 2026, expanded party control ahead of the 2028 presidential election
- ▪In the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, Democrats secured a majority of U.S. governorships for the first time since 2010, taking control from Republicans who previously held a 26-24 majority
Keisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governorship
- ▪Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson on November 3, 2026, to become the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state
- ▪Keisha Lance Bottoms' November 3, 2026 victory in Georgia flipped the governor's office from Republican control for the first time in over 20 years
Texas gubernatorial election
- ▪In the November 3, 2026 election, Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, becoming Texas's first Latina governor and marking the first Democratic Texas gubernatorial win in 30 years
- ▪Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa overcame a massive campaign spending deficit to defeat incumbent Greg Abbott in the November 3, 2026 Texas gubernatorial election
Iowa gubernatorial flip
- ▪Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn, making him the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in two decades
- ▪Democrat Rob Sand won the November 3, 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election in a state that Donald Trump carried by 13 percentage points in 2024
Amy Acton wins Ohio governorship
- ▪In the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race, Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign faced public criticism after running an ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother discussing past family abuse accusations
- ▪In the November 3, 2026 election, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to become the first woman and first Democratic governor elected in Ohio since 2006
Wisconsin gubernatorial race
- ▪Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated Republican Tom Tiffany to become the state's first Black governor
- ▪Democrat David Crowley temporarily withdrew from the Wisconsin governor's race before re-entering at Governor Tony Evers' request and overcoming a fundraising gap to win
Historic Black governor victories
- ▪Keisha Lance Bottoms' election victory in Georgia alongside Democratic victory by Wes Moore in Maryland and Republican victory by Byron Donalds in Florida marked the first time more than one Black governor served simultaneously
- ▪In the November 3, 2026 election, Republican Congressman Byron Donalds defeated David Jolly to become Florida's first Black governor
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