These 2026 Election-Winners Made History in Their States

In the 2026 midterms, several candidates made history in their respective states. In Alabama, Katherine Robertson became the first female Attorney General and first openly transgender state lawmaker. The state also elected Allison Montgomery, the first openly transgender state lawmaker in the state House of Representatives.

Arizona elected Amish Shah as the first Indian American to the U.S. House of Representatives and Clara Pratte as the first indigenous woman to the state's utility commission. In California, Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, will become the first elected Latino governor, succeeding term-limited Democrat Gavin Newsom. Becerra is of Mexican descent and previously served as California's Attorney General and Health and Human Services Secretary.

Colorado elected Melat Kiros, who will become the first Black woman in Congress and the first Gen Z woman in the House. Kiros is a 29-year-old Ethiopian-born lawyer. Amanda Gonzalez, a Latina and first openly LGBT Colorado Secretary of State, also made history.

Florida's first Black governor and first South Asian congressperson is Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, while Democrat Pia Dandiya becomes the state's first South Asian congressperson. Georgia will see the first Black woman elected Secretary of State, first female Attorney General, and first Black female Commissioner of Labor with Penny Brown Reynolds, Tanya Miller, and Nikki Porcher, respectively. Bentley Hudgins became the first trans and nonbinary person elected to Georgia's state legislature.

In Indiana, J.D. Ford, a Democrat, will be the first openly gay congressman. The state also elected its first Black governor and first South Asian congressperson with Republican Rep. Byron Donalds and Democrat Pia Dandiya, respectively.