Black, Latino, and Indigenous politicians made history in the American election

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections saw unprecedented victories, including the election of the first Native American woman, Peggy Flanagan, to the Senate. Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim senator, while Chris Pappas was elected as the first openly gay male senator. Illinois' Julianna Stratton increased the number of Black women in the Senate to three. Significant breakthroughs occurred at the gubernatorial level, with Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming Georgia's first Black female governor, Deb Haaland as the first Native American female governor in New Mexico, and Gina Hinojosa as Texas' first Latina governor. Despite national losses, Republicans retained the governorship in Florida with Byron Donalds, the first Black Republican governor. Hakeem Jeffries has the chance to become the first Black Speaker of the House if elected in the new Congress.