Democrats are hoping to win a majority of governor’s offices across the US after marking significant victories in Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Iowa.One of the biggest prizes of the night was the Texas governorship, with Democratic state representative Gina Hinojosa unseating Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in a stunning upset. Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of the state, and the first Democrat elected to the Texas governorship in 30 years.Keisha Lance Bottoms, meanwhile, was elected governor of Georgia, marking a major win for Democrats in another red stronghold.
Republicans have held the Georgia governor’s office and both chambers of the state legislature for more than 20 years.The former Atlanta mayor, who defeated billionaire Rick Jackson, will be the first Black woman to be elected governor of any state.In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. The campaign drew national attention after Ramaswamy’s campaign aired a much-maligned ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother, who lost custody of her children after her husband was accused of sexually abusing Acton as a child, sharply criticizing her daughter.
Acton is the first Democrat elected governor in the state since 2006, and the first woman elected governor of Ohio.And in Iowa, Democrat Rob Sand pulled off an upset against Republican Zach Lahn, marking a major step towards the party rebuilding its standing in a state that has voted for Donald Trump three times and where the GOP has dominated state politics in recent years.Democrats also racked up gubernatorial victories in Pennsylvania, where popular incumbent Josh Shapiro handily defeated Stacy Garrity, and New York, where Kathy Hochul sailed to re-election. Democrat Deb Haaland was elected governor of New Mexico, making her the first Native American woman to win a governorship, while Xavier Becerra, also a Democrat, was elected California’s first Latino governor.In Florida, Byron Donalds, Republican congressman and a strong Trump ally, edged out the former Republican turned Democrat David Jolly, becoming the Sunshine state’s first Black governor.While media attention has focused intensely on the battle to control the US Congress, and whether Democrats could not only flip the House of Representatives but also win most of the Senate, upsets in gubernatorial races in traditionally Republican states could reset the map before the 2028 presidential contest.Most of the so-called swing states that help determine who wins the White House – including Michigan and Wisconsin – are among the 36 states electing governors in Tuesday’s midterm elections.The first two years of Donald Trump’s second term as president have underscored the roles Democratic governors play in serving as a bulwark against Trump’s most excessive policies, including by filing lawsuits and other executive actions.
While rules differ state by state, some governors appoint election officials who oversee elections, and can sign legislation to protect voter rights.Republicans have held a majority of governorships since the 2010 election.