Five Black Americans were elected to gubernatorial seats in the 2026 midterm elections, including four newly elected governors and the reelected Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who became the state’s first Black governor in 2022. Here are brief summaries of the higher education backgrounds of the country’s new Black governors.
Keisha Lance Bottoms, incoming governor of the state of Georgia, is the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state. A native of Atlanta, Bottoms attended historically Black Florida A&M University for her undergraduate education, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in broadcast journalism. She went on to earn her juris doctorate from the Georgia State University College of Law. From 2018 to 2022, Bottoms served as mayor of the City of Atlanta.
David Crowley, a native of Milwaukee, is the first Black American elected governor of the state of Wisconsin. Once he assumes office, Crowley, age 40, will be the country’s youngest governor. Since 2020, Crowley has served as the executive of Milwaukee County. He is also the first African American and the youngest person to serve in that role. Crowley began his undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2006, but did not complete his degree until nearly two decades later. In December 2024 — while serving as county executive — Crowley earned his bachelor’s degree in community engagement and education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, delivering the commencement address at his graduation ceremony.
Byron Donalds is the first Black American elected governor of the state of Florida. He is the only Republican governor-elect among this cohort. Born in Brooklyn, Donalds began his undergraduate education at Florida A&M University. He ultimately transferred to Florida State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing. Prior to his gubernatorial election, Donalds represented Florida’s 19th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Aaron Ford is the first Black American elected governor of the state of Nevada and will become the first Black governor of a state west of the Mississippi River. He has been serving as the state’s attorney general since 2019. Born in Dallas and raised in Houston, Dr. Ford holds the most postsecondary degrees among these incoming Black governors. He received his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University, making him the first in his family to graduate from college. After earning a master’s degree in international education from George Washington University, Dr. Ford went on to complete three degrees at Ohio State University: a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in education administration and a juris doctorate.
