US midterms: Top 5 historic firsts from Black female Senator to Indigenous Governor

Riding the wave of Tuesday’s election successes, the Democratic Party is expected to reassume control of the House of Representatives and the US Senate. The 2026 midterms were also full of historic firsts, including the election of the first Native American woman to govern New Mexico and the first openly gay man elected to the Senate in New Hampshire.

As of Wednesday morning, Democrats are on track to take over the House after two years of President Donald Trump‘s second term. 

While election officials are still counting ballots and some races remain undecided, the 2026 midterms are already bringing significant changes to American political representation, breaking barriers, including racial or religious identity, that were around for decades. 

• Annie Andrews: First South Carolina woman to the Senate
• Three Black women will serve together in the Senate
• Keisha Lance Bottoms and Deb Haaland: First Black and Indigenous women to become governors
• James Talarico breaks a 32-year Texas losing streak
• ‘I Voted’ stickers become memorial tributes

Annie Andrews: First South Carolina woman to the Senate

Democrat Annie Andrews, a paediatrician, defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham, who was appointed to the seat after her brother Lindsey Graham died in July. 

Andrews is the first woman elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate and the first Democrat to win a Senate race there since Fritz Hollings was re-elected in 1998. Trump had endorsed Graham.

South Carolina, you have shown the nation — in an era of partisan divides, of vitriol and namecalling, in a politics dominated by billionaires, special interests, and insiders in Washington — that we will not bow down. We will not back down. And we will chart our own course. https://t.co/lQMOTRZgnE

— Dr. Annie Andrews (@AnnieAndrewsMD) November 4, 2026

Three Black women will serve together in the Senate

Illinois Lt Gov Juliana Stratton defeated Republican Don Tracy to succeed retiring Senator Dick Durbin. She will join Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks and Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester to be the first time in January that three Black women are in the Senate at the same time. 

Read more: Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York mayor on the Quran

Illinois elected the state’s first Black woman to the Senate, Carol Moseley Braun, in 1992.

A year and a half ago I stood before you and promised that if you sent me to the United States Senate, I would fight tooth and nail for you. I promised that I would bring a bold new vision to Washington and not give Donald Trump an inch. Well, you held up your end of the bargain, and now I’m ready to hold up mine. I am incredibly proud to stand before you today as the next U.S. Senator from the great state of Illinois. This moment is about more than any one of us. It’s a mandate for change, for bold new leadership, and to put our country back on the path towards progress and prosperity. You’ve entrusted me with a monumental responsibility, and I don’t take it lightly. But I’m ready. Let’s get to work.

— Juliana Stratton (@JulianaStratton) November 4, 2026

Keisha Lance Bottoms and Deb Haaland: First Black and Indigenous women to become governors

In Georgia, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of a US state.

President @BarackObama has a message for Georgia: he’s standing with Keisha Lance Bottoms. Keisha is ready to bring her experience and leadership to the Governor’s office and deliver for every Georgian. She will lower costs, expand Medicaid, strengthen rural hospitals, and ensure our children and families have the opportunity to thrive. President Obama believes in Keisha. We believe in Keisha. And now it’s time for Georgia to believe in what’s possible. Early voting starts October 13.

— Keisha For Georgia (@KeishaForGA) October 8, 2026

Meanwhile, Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo resident, was elected governor of New Mexico, becoming the state’s first Indigenous woman to ever hold this office. She defeated Republican Gregg Hull after serving as Joe Biden’s interior secretary, becoming the first Native American to lead a US Cabinet department. 

Thank you, New Mexico! It is the honor of my lifetime to be elected your 33rd Governor. Tonight, you made history. You chose a future where New Mexico comes first, where working families have a chance to get ahead, and where every New Mexican has a voice. I know the challenges ahead are real. But I also know that New Mexicans have never backed down from a fight — and we are going to tackle these challenges together. Whether you voted for me or not, I will always be your Governor, too. Because this campaign was about all of us, and the future we deserve. Let’s keep New Mexico, New Mexico. Let’s build a brighter future for our families. And let’s get to work.

— Deb Haaland (@DebHaalandNM) November 4, 2026

James Talarico breaks a 32-year Texas losing streak

Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Trump backed. The Senate win ended a statewide losing streak for Texas Democrats dating back to 1994. Trump carried Texas by 14 points just two years ago.

I’m running for the U.S. Senate. Billionaires have taken over Texas and taken over America — but together, we can take power back for working people. Join this movement: https://t.co/Cam7Y742fM https://t.co/jPIrIJeX0A

— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) September 9, 2025

‘I Voted’ stickers become memorial tributes

In Minneapolis, voters left their stickers at memorials for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who federal immigration agents killed in January.

Read more: Billionaire Bill Ackman donates $10K to fundraiser for ICE agent linked to Minneapolis shooting

Voters in Minnesota are leaving their ‘I Voted’ stickers at the memorials of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the two Minnesotans shot and killed by ICE. (via @MinnPost) https://t.co/ozqhGCmmHH

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 3, 2026

In Houston, voters left stickers and handwritten messages at a memorial for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, whom immigration agents shot and killed in July. His son, Ronaldo, left his sticker there during the first week of early voting.