- Democrats secured majority in both House and Senate.
- Abdul El-Sayed became first Muslim US Senator.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms made history as first Black woman Governor.
The 2026 US midterm elections have brought a wave of change to American politics, dealing a major blow to President Donald Trump while also creating history across the country. Several candidates from diverse racial, religious and cultural backgrounds have won key races, breaking barriers and making their mark on the political landscape.
Democrats are expected to win at least 252 seats in the House of Representatives, well above the 218 needed for a majority, according to NBC News projections. The final number could change by a few seats as counting continues. In the Senate, Democrats have crossed the 51-seat mark needed to take control. The party has flipped several Republican-held seats, including those in Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, Suth Carolina and Texas.
Among the biggest milestones, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, while Keisha Lance Bottoms made history as the first Black woman elected governor of a US state.
Several other candidates also made history in the elections, including the first Native American woman elected to the Senate and the first openly gay man elected to the upper chamber.
Here are some of the key winners who made history in the 2026 US midterm elections.
1. Abdul El-Sayed: First Muslim US Senator
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed made history by becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed became the first US Muslim Senator by defeating Republican candidate Mike Rogers, who was earlier endorsed by Trump himself. While Sayed managed to secure 2,062,121 votes (51.6 per cent), Rogers could only get 46.4 per cent of the total votes.
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A former public health official and doctor, El-Sayed, 42, focused his campaign on reducing living costs, improving healthcare and limiting the influence of large corporations.
He previously served as Detroit's health director and headed the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services.
In 2020, he was also part of former President Joe Biden’s Unity Task Force on Healthcare, which worked on shaping healthcare policies.
2. Keisha Lance Bottoms: First Black Woman Governor
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor of a US state after defeating Republican candidate Rick Jackson in Georgia.
Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor, won the race for governor in the southern state of Georgia and made her the first woman and the first Black person to become governor of Georgia.
Bottoms previously served as the mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022. Her election ended the Republicans' long hold on the governor's office in Georgia, which they had controlled since 2003.
Former president Barack Obama rallied for Bottoms in Georgia in late October.
3. Peggy Flanagan: First Native American Woman Senator
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan became the first Native American woman elected to the US Senate after defeating Republican Michele Tafoya.
Flanagan is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. Before entering the Senate race, she served as Minnesota's lieutenant governor from 2019. Flanagan’s first elected office was a seat on the Minneapolis Board of Education, where she served from 2005 to 2009.
She represented St. Louis Park as a member of the Minnesota State Legislature from 2015 until she was picked by Gov. Tim Walz to be his lieutenant governor in 2018, resigning in 2019 after they won.
Her victory marks another important milestone for Native American representation in the US Congress.
4. Deb Haaland: First Native American Woman Governor
Democrat Deb Haaland made history by becoming the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state. She defeated Republican Gregg Hull in New Mexico.
Haaland previously served as the US Interior Secretary under former President Joe Biden. In 2021, she became the first Native American to lead a US federal department.
From 2015 to 2017, Haaland chaired the New Mexico Democratic Party, becoming the first Native American woman to lead a state party. In 2018 she was elected to the US House of Representatives, becoming one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.
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A member of the Laguna Pueblo community, her election marks another milestone for Indigenous representation in American politics.
5. Chris Pappas: First Openly Gay Man Elected to the Senate
Democrat Chris Pappas won the New Hampshire US Senate race making history as the first openly gay male elected to the United States Senate.
Pappas previously served as a member of the US House of Representatives. He was first elected to Congress in 2018 and became one of its first openly gay members.
His victory marks a new milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in the Senate.
6. Adam Hamawy: First Muslim Member of Congress from New Jersey
Democrat Adam Hamawy won New Jersey's 12th Congressional District, becoming the first Muslim from the state to be elected to the US Congress.
Hamawy is a plastic surgeon and former US Army combat surgeon. He defeated Republican candidate Gregg Mele in the election.
He treated wounded civilians in Gaza during Israel's war on the enclave. His experience there also played a significant role in his decision to enter politics.
A first-time candidate, Hamawy has said that his experience in Gaza was what prompted him to pursue a career in public service. His victory makes him the first Muslim from New Jersey to serve in Congress.
7. Gina Hinojosa: First Latina Governor of Texas
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Greg Abbott, one of America's longest-serving governors, to become the first Latina elected governor of Texas.
She defeated the three-term Republican incumbent, marking a historic victory for Democrats in the state.
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Her win makes her the first Latina governor in Texas history and the first Democrat to win the state's highest office since Ann Richards left office in 1995.