Ten states elect historic governors in Tuesday midterms

Voters in ten states made history on Tuesday with their choices for governor.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the race for Georgia governor. The 56-year-old former Atlanta mayor will be the first Black woman elected to lead any state. She defeated Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire health care executive. Her victory also makes her the first Democrat to win a governor's race in Georgia in more than two decades. She previously served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden.

Deb Haaland won the governor's race in New Mexico. The Democrat, who is of Pueblo Indian descent, will be the first Native American woman to serve as governor. She defeated Republican Gregg Hull. Haaland previously served in Congress and as the U.S. secretary of the Interior. She was one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and the first Native American cabinet secretary.

Xavier Becerra defeated Republican Steve Hilton to become the next governor of California. The Democrat will be the first elected Latino governor of the state. He previously served as California attorney general and U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. He will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas. The Democrat will be the first Latina governor of the state. She is also Texas' first Democratic governor in more than 30 years. Her win follows a demographic shift in the state with a surge in its Latino population. She previously served as a state representative.

Voters in Florida, Nevada, and Wisconsin elected their first Black governors. Republican Byron Donalds won in Florida after campaigning on affordability and continuing the policies of outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis. He defeated Democrat David Jolly. Aaron Ford, Nevada's attorney general, won in the Silver State, becoming the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River. He defeated Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. David Crowley won in Wisconsin after defeating Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, suspended his campaign during the primary but reentered with the support of outgoing Gov. Tony Evers. He campaigned on his record as a deal maker.

Three women won historic gubernatorial races in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Ohio. Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn defeated Democrat Jerri Green and independent candidates to become the first woman governor of Tennessee. Her campaign focused on immigration, China, and government spending. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House. Klobuchar will be the first woman governor of Minnesota in January. Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio. Acton, the former state chief public health officer, will be the first woman and first Jewish governor of the state. She will also be the first Democrat to hold the office in two decades.