Keisha Lance Bottoms becomes first Black woman elected governor in US history

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia's governor's race, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in the country's history, as Republican Byron Donalds won in Florida to become the state's first Black governor and Chris Pappas won a Senate seat in New Hampshire.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia's race for governor on Tuesday, NBC News projected, defeating Republican Rick Jackson and flipping the office for Democrats for the first time in 24 years. She is the first woman and the first Black person elected governor of Georgia, and the first Black woman elected governor in the country's history.

Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta and a former Biden administration official, overcame a large spending gap against Jackson, a wealthy healthcare executive who put more than $100 million of his own money into his campaign. She campaigned on affordability and tied Jackson to President Donald Trump, who has low approval ratings in the state. She will succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

Byron Donalds, who will become Florida's first Black governor (file photo)

In Florida, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly, NBC News projected, extending the GOP's nearly three-decade hold on the governor's office. Donalds, who was endorsed early by Trump, will become Florida's first Black governor. "Even if you didn't vote for me, you have my word that I will be your governor, too," he told supporters.

In New Hampshire, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas defeated former Sen. John Sununu to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Associated Press projected. He becomes the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.

Chris Pappas, elected as the first openly gay man to win a U.S. Senate seat (file photo)