When the new governors take office in January 2027, five Black governors will serve at the same time, the first time in United States history, when before this election only three Black governors had ever been elected.
Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia on November 3, 2026, the first Black woman elected governor of a state in United States history.
Byron Donalds won Florida, the state first Black governor and the first Black Republican ever elected governor of any state.
David Crowley won Wisconsin, the state first Black governor.
Aaron Ford flipped Nevada from Joe Lombardo, becoming Nevada first Black governor and the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River.
Wes Moore of Maryland was reelected by about 63 percent to about 33 percent, and he continues to lead a state where his work has already made him a familiar figure in national politics.
View this post on Instagram
Together, these five leaders represent a historic shift in who holds the highest office in a state, and they show how much has changed in a country where, before this election, only three Black governors had ever been elected. Their wins came in different regions, from the Southeast to the Midwest to the West, and they came through different paths, from statewide office to county leadership to reelection after a first term. For many voters, the moment is about more than one race, and it is about seeing leadership that reflects the full diversity of the nation. For others, it is about the policies these governors will pursue, the teams they will build, and the way they will lead their states 
through the years ahead. As January 2027 approaches, attention will turn to inaugurations, to first actions in office, and to how these five 
governors work together and with other leaders across the country. The Talk Lounge will continue to follow each transition, each new administration, and the reaction from voters in Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Nevada and Maryland as a historic new chapter begins.
through the years ahead. As January 2027 approaches, attention will turn to inaugurations, to first actions in office, and to how these five governors work together and with other leaders across the country. The Talk Lounge will continue to follow each transition, each new administration, and the reaction from voters in Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Nevada and Maryland as a historic new chapter begins.
