A record number of candidates could be historic firsts this year
The day after Election Day, several states and congressional districts will likely have made history by sending the first black, LGBTQ, Native American, and Muslim women to the halls of Congress or governors’ mansions.
There is an impressive slate of candidates aiming to make history in 2018. While the large majority are Democrats, there’s at least one Republican — South Dakota gubernatorial candidate Kristi Noem — who could become the state’s first woman governor.
In Florida and neighboring Georgia, Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams are looking to make history as the first black governors of their respective states. Maryland Democrat Ben Jealous is hoping to do the same, but he’s in a tough race against incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan. Abrams would make national history if she wins as America’s first black woman elected governor. The Gillum and Abrams campaigns have captured the attention of many voters of color, who helped propel both to win their respective primaries.
In Colorado, Rep. Jared Polis (D) could become America’s first openly gay governor if he wins his race. And in Vermont, Democratic candidate Christine Hallquist is blazing a trail as the first transgender major-party nominee for governor.
The slate of 2018 candidates mirrors the history-making turns that dozens of Democratic candidates for municipal and state office made last year, as transgender candidates won races in four states, cities in Minnesota and Montana elected their first black mayors, and Charlotte, North Carolina, elected a black woman as mayor for the first time.
The 2018 candidates for governor and Congress are building on that momentum and sending a clear message: America wants to elect candidates who actually look like the people they’re representing.
Georgia Governor
Stacey Abrams aims to be America's first black woman governor
GOP | Brian Kemp | 1,978,408 | 50% | |
DEM | Stacey Abrams | 1,923,691 | 49% | |
LIB | Ted Metz | 37,236 | 1% |
Florida Governor
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum could become the state's first black governor
GOP | Ron DeSantis | 4,074,728 | 50% | |
DEM | Andrew Gillum | 4,040,155 | 49% | |
OTH | Darcy Richardson (Reform Party) | 47,109 | 1% | |
IND | Kyle Gibson | 24,381 | 0% | |
IND | Ryan Foley | 14,760 | 0% | |
IND | Bruce Stanley | 14,760 | 0% |
Maryland Governor
Ben Jealous, a former NAACP president, aims to be the state's first black governor
GOP | Larry Hogan | 1,222,925 | 56% | |
DEM | Ben Jealous | 928,461 | 43% | |
LIB | Shawn Quinn | 12,369 | 1% | |
GRN | Ian Schlakman | 10,321 | 0% |
Colorado Governor
Jared Polis is well-positioned to become the first openly gay person elected governor
DEM | Jared Polis | 1,345,156 | 53% | |
GOP | Walker Stapleton | 1,076,916 | 43% | |
LIB | Scott Helker | 69,156 | 3% | |
OTH | Bill Hammons (Unity Party) | 25,722 | 1% |
Vermont Governor
Christine Hallquist is the nation's first openly trans gubernatorial candidate
GOP | Phil Scott | 151,271 | 55% | |
DEM | Christine Hallquist | 110,339 | 40% | |
IND | Trevor Barlow | 3,266 | 1% | |
IND | Charles Laramie | 2,288 | 1% | |
IND | Cris Ericson | 2,129 | 1% | |
OTH | Stephen Marx (Earth Rights Party) | 1,855 | 1% | |
OTH | Emily Peyton (Liberty Union Party) | 1,841 | 1% |
Minnesota US House 5
Ilhan Omar is a Somali American and aims to be one of the first Muslim women in Congress
DEM | Ilhan Omar | 267,690 | 78% | |
GOP | Jennifer Zielinski | 74,437 | 22% |
Michigan US House 13
Rashida Tlaib aims to be one of the first Muslim women in Congress
DEM | Rashida Tlaib | 163,782 | 85% | |
OTH | Sam Johnson (Working Class Party) | 21,978 | 11% | |
GRN | D. Etta Wilcoxon | 7,903 | 4% |
New Mexico US House 1
Deb Haaland aims to be one of the first Native American women in Congress
DEM | Debra Haaland | 144,342 | 59% | |
GOP | Janice Arnold-Jones | 89,069 | 36% | |
LIB | Lloyd Princeton | 11,143 | 5% |
Idaho Governor
Paulette Jordan aims to become the country's first Native American governor
GOP | Brad Little | 361,671 | 60% | |
DEM | Paulette Jordan | 231,065 | 38% | |
LIB | Bev Boeck | 7,259 | 1% | |
OTH | Walter Bayes (Constitution Party) | 6,381 | 1% |
Massachusetts US House 7
Ayanna Pressley would be the first black woman to represent Massachusetts in the House
DEM | Ayanna Pressley | 197,026 | 100% |
South Dakota Governor
Kristi Noem aims to be South Dakota's first woman governor
GOP | Kristi Noem | 172,894 | 51% | |
DEM | Billie Sutton | 161,416 | 48% | |
LIB | Kurt Evans | 4,844 | 1% |
Maine Governor
Janet Mills aims to be Maine's first woman governor
DEM | Janet Mills | 305,360 | 51% | |
GOP | Shawn Moody | 257,159 | 43% | |
IND | Teresea Hayes | 35,607 | 6% |
New Mexico Governor
Michelle Lujan Grisham aims to become the state's first Democratic Latina governor
DEM | Michelle Lujan Grisham | 392,215 | 57% | |
GOP | Steve Pearce | 294,875 | 43% |
Kansas US House 3
Sharice Davids aims to be one of the first Native American women in Congress
DEM | Sharice Davids | 164,253 | 53% | |
GOP | Kevin Yoder | 136,104 | 44% | |
LIB | Chris Clemmons | 7,643 | 2% |
Colorado US House 2
Joe Neguse would be the first African American elected to the US House from Colorado
DEM | Joe Neguse | 259,516 | 60% | |
GOP | Peter Yu | 144,847 | 34% | |
IND | Nick Thomas | 16,343 | 4% | |
LIB | Roger Barris | 9,745 | 2% |