Black Candidates Pursue Historic Firsts in 2026 Midterms

Black candidates are competing in several high-stakes races for the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, with many seeking to become the first Black governors in their respective states. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Mayor of Atlanta, is running against billionaire Rick Jackson. A victory for Bottoms would make her the first Black woman governor in U.S. history. She has identified Medicaid expansion as a "day-one" priority that she said would cover an estimated 300,000 uninsured Georgians.

Other historic bids include Republican Byron Donalds for governor of Florida and Democrat Angie Nixon for U.S. Senator in the same state. In Nevada, Attorney General Aaron Ford is challenging incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo, while David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, is running for governor of Wisconsin against U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany. In South Carolina, Jermaine Johnson is also pursuing the governorship.

Meanwhile, Governor Wes Moore of Maryland is seeking reelection as the nation's only current Black governor. The broader gubernatorial landscape includes 36 seats on the ballot, with Decision Desk HQ favoring Democrats in 21 races. Other competitive contests include a toss-up race in Ohio between Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, as well as efforts by Democrats to secure historic wins in Alaska and Texas.