2026 Midterms Deliver Historic Surge of Black Governors
Conservative and Democratic voters alike see a new era as multiple Black leaders win governor seats, including Florida’s first Black governor‑elect.
The Tuesday midterm elections of 2026 were held across the United States, as reported by ABC News.
In those races, Byron Donalds secured the Florida governor’s seat, Keisha Lance Bottoms won in Georgia, and Wes Moore took Maryland.
According to NBC and CBS, these victories mean that for the first time multiple Black governors will serve at the same time, and the election also produced the nation’s first Black woman governor and a total of six Black governors across the country.
MS NOW host Symone Sanders Townsend described Donalds as not true "kinfolk" because of his conservative policies.
Original reporting
NBC News
Tuesday’s elections bring historic first for Black governors
Wins by Byron Donalds in Florida, Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia and Wes Moore in Maryland mean multiple Black governors will serve simultaneously for the first time.
Read the original →New York Post
MS NOW host claims Byron Donalds isn’t true ‘kinfolk’ after historic Florida gubernatorial win
MS NOW's Symone Sanders Townsend called Florida's first Black Governor-elect Byron Donalds not true "kinfolk" over his conservative policies.
Read the original →CBS News
Black candidates for governor make history with midterm victories
Americans elected the country's first Black woman, and three other Black candidates, into gubernatorial roles during Tuesday's record midterm races.
Read the original →ABC News
Black candidates from both parties made history in midterm elections
Black candidates from both political parties made history in 2026, with six governors set to serve across U.S. states and new key milestones in Congress.
Read the original →
Facts this version was allowed to use
- Elections were held on Tuesday in the United States, described by outlets as midterm elections.
- The midterm elections took place in 2026, according to ABC News.
- Byron Donalds won the Florida gubernatorial election.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Georgia gubernatorial election.
- Wes Moore won the Maryland gubernatorial election.
- According to NBC News, the wins by Byron Donalds, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Wes Moore mean multiple Black governors will serve simultaneously for the first time.
- Byron Donalds is Florida's first Black governor-elect, according to the New York Post.
- MS NOW's Symone Sanders Townsend called Florida's first Black Governor-elect Byron Donalds not true "kinfolk" over his conservative policies.
- Symone Sanders Townsend is a host on MS NOW.
- According to CBS News, Americans elected the country's first Black woman and three other Black candidates into gubernatorial roles during Tuesday's record midterm races.
- According to ABC News, Black candidates from both political parties made history in 2026, with six governors set to serve across U.S. states.
- According to ABC News, the midterm elections brought new key milestones in Congress.
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