(BALTIMORE) — Bravo, America. I’m proud of what I saw at the polls on Nov. 3.
Georgia elected Keisha Lance Bottoms, the first Black woman ever elected governor of a U.S. state. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term incumbent Greg Abbott and will become the state’s first Latina governor. In New Mexico, Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, became the first Native American woman elected governor of a U.S. state. Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics · The Washington Post
Ohio elected Amy Acton, the first woman to win the governorship at the ballot box. Nancy Hollister briefly held the office through succession. Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Amy Klobuchar will become the first women to govern Tennessee and Minnesota, respectively. That’s history worth celebrating across party lines. Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics
At least 17 women are set to serve as governors in 2027. That’s 34% of the states, up from a record 14 women in 2025. The tally is based on preliminary results and could rise. Rutgers’ Nov. 4 analysis listed races involving women candidates in Alaska and Kansas as too close to call. Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics · Women governors data
I remember how I felt after the 2024 presidential election. It felt like everybody got crapped on. Women. Immigrants. Black people and other communities of color. We heard “DEI” used like a dirty word, as if there were something wrong with making room for people who had been shut out for generations.
So when I saw these results, I thought, There’s the America I love.
There’s no place for hate and misogyny in the America I believe in. I’m tired of watching a handful of rich white men act like they own the place. This country belongs to everyone. Everyone.
People send their sons and daughters off to serve this country. Our soldiers deserve the best. Our sailors deserve the best. So do our teachers, our seniors, and our children.
I’ve watched a few people get richer while too many families try to cover rent and buy groceries in the same week. That’s what I’ll be thinking about when these governors take office. Can a working family breathe a little easier? Can a senior afford to stay in the neighborhood they helped build? Can a child get a fair shot regardless of their ZIP code?
Those questions will remain after the celebrations. Today, I’m going to celebrate. Voters opened doors that had been closed for generations, and I’m glad I got to see it.
Congratulations to these powerful women. I wish you the very best as you take office. The people who sent you there deserve your best, too.
Hallelujah and amen.
