US Midterms: Keisha Lance Bottoms Makes History, Byron Donalds Wins Florida

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Byron Donalds secured historic victories in Tuesday’s US midterms, winning the governorships of Georgia and Florida respectively.

Bottoms defeated Trump-backed Republican Rick Jackson, becoming the first Black woman elected governor of a US state. Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly to become Florida’s first Black governor, keeping the office in Republican hands. reuters.com

Bottoms breaks barriers in Georgia

Bottoms’ victory makes her Georgia’s first woman governor and its first Black governor. It also marks the first Democratic victory in the state’s gubernatorial elections since 1998.

The former Atlanta mayor, who also served in the Biden administration, defeated Jackson, a businessman endorsed by President Donald Trump.

According to CBS News figures cited by ANI, Bottoms had 1,833,374 votes, or 55.4%, against Jackson’s 1,478,243 votes, or 44.6%, with 75% of the vote counted.

She will succeed Republican Brian Kemp, who is leaving office after two consecutive terms. Her victory gives Democrats control of the governor’s office in a state that has become a closely contested national battleground. reuters.com

Donalds keeps Florida Republican

In Florida, CBS News projected Donalds’ victory over Jolly, extending Republican control after eight years under outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis, who was barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

With 98% of the vote counted, Donalds had 4,091,479 votes, or 50.1%, while Jolly had 3,973,714 votes, or 48.6%, according to the figures cited by ANI.

Donalds celebrated the result with a message to Trump.

“Mr President, I want you to hear from Florida that we are still red.”

He said Trump was the second person to call him after his victory and thanked the president for supporting his campaign.

Affordability and safety top Donalds’ agenda

Donalds praised DeSantis’ leadership and pledged to build on his record, saying he wanted to keep Florida “the very best state in America”.

In a post on X, he outlined priorities including lowering living costs, improving public safety and investing in young people.

“As your Governor, I will give you everything I have,” he wrote. “We are going to make life in Florida more affordable. We are going to keep our streets safe.”

The two victories produced different political outcomes in neighbouring states. Bottoms ended a long Republican hold on Georgia’s governorship, while Donalds preserved his party’s control in Florida.

With inputs from ANI