Democrats won governor's races in four states currently led by Republicans on Tuesday night, according to projections by NBC News, CBS News and The Associated Press: Texas, where state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott; Ohio, where Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy; Iowa, where State Auditor Rob Sand defeated Zach Lahn; and Georgia, where Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Rick Jackson.
Republicans won governor's races in Florida, where Rep. Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly, and in South Carolina, Arkansas, Vermont and Wyoming, according to NBC News and CBS News projections.
What the Right Is Saying
Donalds' win extends Republican control of Florida's governor's office after eight years under Gov. Ron DeSantis, CBS News reported, and would make him the first Black Republican elected governor in U.S. history. In South Carolina, Republican Alan Wilson defeated Democrat Jermaine Johnson, NBC News projected at 11:33 p.m. ET.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont won another term over Democrat Amanda Janoo, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas defeated Democrat Fred Love, and Republican Eric Barlow won Wyoming's governor race over Democrat Kenneth Casner, according to NBC News projections.
What the Left Is Saying
In her acceptance speech, Bottoms told supporters she is standing on "shoulders made of steel," NBC News reported. Bottoms is the first Democrat to win a Georgia governor's race since 1998, and will be the first woman and first Black governor of Georgia and the first Black woman to serve as governor of any state, according to CBS News.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley won the open governor's race, defeating Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany and keeping the office in Democratic hands, NBC News projected at 11:05 p.m. ET. Crowley is the first Black person to be elected governor of Wisconsin, according to NBC News.
What the Numbers Show
Sand will be the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in 20 years, NBC News reported, in a state Trump carried by 13 points in 2024. Hinojosa's win returns the Texas governorship to Democrats for the first time since 1995, according to NBC News. NBC News projected the Ohio governor's race at 10:49 p.m. ET and the Texas race at 11:07 p.m. ET.
Other NBC News projections: Democrat Xavier Becerra won California's governor race over Republican Steve Hilton; Democrat Deb Haaland defeated Republican Greggory Hull in New Mexico; Gov. Kathy Hochul defeated Republican Bruce Blakeman in New York; Democrat Phil Weiser defeated Republican Victor Marx in Colorado; and Gov. Ned Lamont defeated Republican Ryan Fazio in Connecticut. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is projected to win re-election, CNBC reported.
The Bottom Line
Several governor's races were still open late Tuesday. CBS News rated the Kansas governor's race as leaning Democratic at 9:53 p.m. ET, with Democrat Cindy Holscher leading Republican Ty Masterson. In Michigan, Democrat Jocelyn Benson faces Republican John James, and CBS News described Nevada's governor's race as competitive. All results are projections by the outlets named and may change as counting continues. This story will be updated.