Bottoms and Donalds set historic milestones in 2026 midterms

Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia and Byron Donalds of Florida achieved historic firsts in the November 2026 midterm elections. Bottoms will become the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. governor. Donalds will become the first Black governor in Florida’s history.

The results marked a distinct moment in American political history. The elections concluded with citizens selecting leaders they believed capable of guiding the nation. For many voters, the process represented a fulfillment of constitutional rights. This sense of duty carries particular weight for Black Americans who recall the sacrifices made to secure the right to vote.

Bea Hints, a columnist for the Miami Herald, wrote about the post-election period in a piece published on Nov. 11. She described the days following an election as a time for both celebration and uncertainty. Voters often question whether their choices were correct. Hints noted that the election process itself serves as a check on leadership. If elected officials perform poorly, the next election offers an opportunity for the country to correct its course.

Hints, a Black American, reflected on the history of voting rights. She recalled an era when Black people faced violence, including killed individuals and burned homes, for daring to vote. Her writing emphasized the gravity of the constitutional right to choose leaders. For her, voting is not about party registration but about searching one’s conscience. She described the act of voting as a way to place the right person in office, even when the outcome does not align with personal hopes.

The columnist addressed the current state of the nation. She described a sense of division where America seems to function as two separate entities. This division, she wrote, brings grief to citizens who love the country. She pointed to specific examples of this tension, including efforts to reshape Black history and the treatment of long-term immigrants. Hints criticized attempts to minimize the history of slavery or ban books by Black authors.

She urged citizens to use the period between elections to evaluate their leaders. Hints called for a collective effort to work together for the good of all Americans. She suggested that the nation needs to focus on treating history accurately and supporting immigrants who have contributed to the country’s growth. The goal, she argued, is to ensure that the election leads to tangible changes in how the free press is treated and how public schools and libraries serve children.

The 2026 midterm elections are now complete. The people have chosen their representatives for the next two years. Hints expressed hope that these leaders will seek to end the division and hate she perceives in the country. She emphasized that strength comes from working together rather than dividing into red and blue camps. Her final point was a call to remember the purpose of the election: to choose leaders who will guide the nation effectively.