Meet The Black Candidates Running For Governor In 2026

By Sherdell Baker

With only seven weeks left until Election Day, voters are diving deeper into their understanding of candidates. Across both major parties, there are Black candidates seeking election to be governor of their respective states. If these candidates are elected, they have the potential to make history, as only three people have previously been appointed governor who are African American. One of the three previous elected governors is Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who is currently seeking reelection.

While Moore has been vocal about his desire for there to be more Black governors alongside him, candidates must appeal to a larger audience of voters than before, beyond just Black voters. Similar to the wave of Black female candidates who were running for Senate earlier this year, this is another historic number of Black candidates for this election cycle. This could be what sets the tone of a new era commencing for more minority representation in political leadership.

John James

With a blend of military service and political leadership roles. John James is running to be governor of Michigan. James served as a Ranger-qualified aviation officer in the Army for eight years before being elected to Congress in 2022.  He won the Republican primary election earlier last month and will now compete against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. James is also tied to President Trump as someone who has shown vocal support of his presidency. As well as, being personally endorsed for the governor position, which was what led to his win in the Republican primaries. Some of the priorities he’s emphasized along his campaign trail have included removing income tax for the state, strengthening the cannabis regulatory agency, and even a parents’ bill giving parents a heavier hand in their children’s education. If James wins the election, he would be the state’s first Black governor.

Byron Donalds

Similar to John James, Byron Donalds is also running for governor as a republican candidate. He currently serves as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 19th congressional district. He’s not only been endorsed by President Trump, but has made it a point to amplify his conservative perspective throughout his campaign. This has included vocalizing his stance on border control, property taxes, and data centers. The issues that he’s platformed during his campaign trail have included pushing back against illegal immigration, environmental preservation and restoration, and deepening economic opportunities for Florida residents through education and lower taxes.  In the event Donalds is elected, he will succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis in leadership.

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Former mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms is seeking to take things up a notch in her political career as she campaigns to be elected governor of Georgia. With a background of serving in all three branches of government, Bottoms’ background in political servitude has prepared her for the campaign she’s currently running. Some of the areas she’s highlighted during her campaign include lowering housing costs, retaining land ownership for farmers, and increased state support of local law enforcement to help improve public safety. Bottoms has also introduced a grocery and essentials tax relief plan that she hopes will lower the cost of groceries for families to have necessary essentials in their homes, with additional taxes on items. If elected, Bottoms would not only become the state’s first Black governor, but also the first Black female governor.

David Crowley

Serving in his second term as the seventh executive for Milwaukee County, David Crowley is vying for governor of Wisconsin. Much of his campaign has emphasized empowerment for residents, affordability in health care and housing, and climate advocacy. He has even been vocal about the recent emergence of data centers and their impact on residents across the state, expressing his belief that restrictions should be put on these entities to ensure residents’ resources and perspectives are being prioritized. Being endorsed by fellow political leaders such as Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, and current Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has helped Crowley keep strong footing in exposure ahead of Election Day.

Aaron Ford

Aaron Ford, who currently serves as Nevada’s attorney general, is also vying to be the state’s next governor. Going against Republican nominee Joe Lombardo, Ford is bringing his experience as a lawyer and former member of the Nevada Senate as minority and majority leader to the table. His priorities during his campaign have touched on public safety, living costs, and education. While in his role as attorney general, he helped to advocate for reproductive freedom and fought for Nevada residents who were experiencing predatory lenders and difficulty receiving medical insurance coverage. After being the first Black person to hold a statewide constitutional office in Nevada as attorney general, Ford could make history again as the state’s first Black governor.

Jermaine Johnson

Jermaine Johnson currently serves in South Carolina’s House of Representatives, where he sits on the committee for labor, commerce, and industry. His doctoral degree in organizational leadership from Northcentral University, alongside his experience working in education and the nonprofit sector, is the perspective he could bring to the table if elected governor. Some of the policies he’s emphasized during his campaign trail have included lowering taxes on property and income, providing more resources to trade schools, and passing more hate crime bills. Johnson is running alongside Sam Skardon, a well-known businessman in the area, to be his lieutenant governor.

Lisa Demuth

As one of the few Black female candidates for governor, Lisa Demuth is making a name for herself as one of the only women vying for office as a Republican candidate. Demuth currently serves as Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her background spans entrepreneurship, education, and political leadership, including being House Minority Leader and Speaker of the House, making her the first Republican woman and Black lawmaker to do so. Like other Republican candidates vying for governor, her priorities center on tax relief for residents, along with stricter parental controls and transparency in education. Demuth’s win would be historic for the state as it would make her the state’s first Black and first female governor.

Wes Moore

Almost four years after being elected to the role of governor of Maryland, Wes Moore must now advocate for himself again to remain in the position. He made history as the state’s first Black governor in 2023 and has made it a point to support economic growth through raising wages for workers, investing funds into HBCUs, and creating new roles as businesses opened across the state. Though he didn’t have an extensive political career prior to being elected governor, he is a combat veteran of the U.S. Army after years of service. His re-election campaign centers around continuing the work he’s already done for the state and ensuring that affordability is at the forefront for Maryland residents.

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