2022 Midterm Election Black Winners and Losers [Updated]

Murjani Rawls
·3 min read
6
Doolittle Community Center polling place is seen before polls close in Las Vegas, Nevada, during midterm elections, on November 8, 2022.
Doolittle Community Center polling place is seen before polls close in Las Vegas, Nevada, during midterm elections, on November 8, 2022.

Updated as of 11/23/2022 at 9:19 am ET

The results of the 2022 midterm elections are still coming in, long after Americans across the country cast their votes. There are still some important races still to be determined, but The Root has highlighted some important races to keep an eye on.

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Maryland Gubernatorial Race

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore addresses supporters after defeating Republican nominee Dan Cox on November 08, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. Moore will become Moore and will make history as the state’s first Black governor.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore addresses supporters after defeating Republican nominee Dan Cox on November 08, 2022, in Baltimore, Maryland. Moore will become Moore and will make history as the state’s first Black governor.

Democratic candidate Wes Moore beat Republican candidate Dan Cox to be Maryland’s next governor. Moore will be the first Black governor in Maryland’s history and the third Black elected governor in U.S. history.

Georgia Gubernational Race

Side by side of Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams
Side by side of Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp won his re-election bid for a second term as Georgia’s governor in a 2018 rematch against Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams.

Florida Senate Race

Side by side of Val Demmings and Marco Rubio
Side by side of Val Demmings and Marco Rubio

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio secured his third term in the Senate, defeating Democratic nominee Rep. Val Demings.

Pennsylvania Senate Race

side by side of John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz
side by side of John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz

Democrat John Fetterman defeated Republican nominee, Dr. Mehmet Oz, for the Pennsylvania Senate seat late last night.

North Carolina Senate Race

side by side of Tedd Budd and Cheri Beasley
side by side of Tedd Budd and Cheri Beasley

Republican Rep. Ted Budd won the North Carolina Senate race defeating Democrat Cheri Beasley, the first Black woman to be the state’s Supreme Court chief justice.

Florida 10th Congressional District Race

Maxwell Frost, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 10th Congressional district, participates in the Pride Parade in Orlando, Florida, on October 15, 2022. - Running in a Florida district generally won by his party, his path to the House of Representatives seems all mapped out during the mid-term elections in November
Maxwell Frost, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 10th Congressional district, participates in the Pride Parade in Orlando, Florida, on October 15, 2022. - Running in a Florida district generally won by his party, his path to the House of Representatives seems all mapped out during the mid-term elections in November

Democratic candidate Maxwell Frost won the House seat for Florida’s 10th Congressional district against Republican Calvin Wimbish. Frost will be the first Democratic member of Gen Z, and the first Afro-Cubano, to head to Congress.

Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Race

OAKS, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Lt. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Austin Davis arrives to deliver a victory speech with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro to supporters at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on November 8, 2022, in Oaks, Pennsylvania. Shapiro defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.
OAKS, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Lt. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Austin Davis arrives to deliver a victory speech with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro to supporters at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on November 8, 2022, in Oaks, Pennsylvania. Shapiro defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.

Austin Davis won Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor race and will be the first African American to ever hold that position in the state.

New York Attorney General Race

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: New York Attorney General Letitia James makes an appearance after being the projected winner of her reelection campaign on November 8, 2022, in New York City. In her bid for re-election, Governor Hochul faces Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: New York Attorney General Letitia James makes an appearance after being the projected winner of her reelection campaign on November 8, 2022, in New York City. In her bid for re-election, Governor Hochul faces Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.

New York Attorney General Letitia James won her re-election bid defeating Republican challenger Michael Henry in the general election.

Pennsylvania 12th Congressional District Race

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 17: Pennsylvania Democratic Congressional candidate, state Rep. Summer Lee talks to the press outside her polling station at the Paulson Recreation Center after voting with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on May 17, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 17: Pennsylvania Democratic Congressional candidate, state Rep. Summer Lee talks to the press outside her polling station at the Paulson Recreation Center after voting with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on May 17, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Democratic candidate Summer Lee is the projected winner of Pennsylvania’s Congressional District 12 race defeating Republican Mike Doyle. Lee will be the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania

Kentucky Senate Race

side by side of Rand Paul and Charles Booker
side by side of Rand Paul and Charles Booker

Republican incumbent Rand Paul is projected to win his third term as Kentucky Senator defeating Democratic challenger Charles Booker.

Wisconsin Senate Race

Side by side of Ron Johnson and Mandela Barnes
Side by side of Ron Johnson and Mandela Barnes

Republican incumbent Ron Johnson defeated Democratic nominee Mandela Barnes in a very close election race for a Wisconsin Senate seat.

California Secretary of State Race

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 03: California State Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) speaks during a news conference to announce new legislation to address recent deadly police shootings on April 3, 2018, in Sacramento, California
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 03: California State Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) speaks during a news conference to announce new legislation to address recent deadly police shootings on April 3, 2018, in Sacramento, California

Democrat Shirley Weber became California’s first elected Black secretary of state after beating Republican challenger Robert Bernosky.

Maryland Attorney General Race

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 17: U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) (C) listens during a news conference on May 17, 2021, in Baltimore, Maryland. Members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation held a news conference to discuss the “Reconnecting Communities Act,” legislation to “reconnect and revitalize areas that were harmed by the construction of the Interstate Highway System” and “reform the long history of inequity in infrastructure.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown became the first Black attorney general in Maryland history when he defeated Republican Michael Peroutka.

Georgia Senate Race

Side by side of Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker
Side by side of Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker

Neither Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) nor his Republican opponent Herschel Walker was able to hit the 50% threshold needed to win the Georgia Senate seat. They will head to a runoff election that will take place on Dec. 6th.

Massachusetts Attorney General Race

Andrea Campbell, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, at her primary election night event in Boston, Sept. 6, 2022.
Andrea Campbell, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, at her primary election night event in Boston, Sept. 6, 2022.

Andrea J. Campbell became the first Black woman to be elected as Massachusetts Attorney General when she defeated Republican Jay McMahon.

Los Angeles Mayoral Race

Side by side of Karen Bass and Rick Caruso
Side by side of Karen Bass and Rick Caruso

Rep. Karen Bass became the first female mayor in Los Angeles’s history when she defeated businessman Rick Caruso.

Connecticut State Treasurer Race

Erick Russell
Erick Russell

Democrat Erick Russell defeated Republican Harry Arora to become Connecticut state Treasurer. With that win, Russell is the first Black LGBTQ candidate elected to statewide office.

Michigan 10th Congressional District Race

John James, Michigan GOP Senate candidate, speaks at an election night event after winning his primary election at his business James Group International August 7th, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. James, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, will face Democrat incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in November. (
John James, Michigan GOP Senate candidate, speaks at an election night event after winning his primary election at his business James Group International August 7th, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. James, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, will face Democrat incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in November. (

John James will be the first Black Republican to represent Michigan after he defeated Democrat and former prosecutor Carl Marlinga for the 10th Congressional District House seat.

Michigan Supreme Court

Photo: Courtesy of Kyra Harris Bolden
Photo: Courtesy of Kyra Harris Bolden

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court. Bolden will be the first Black woman to serve on the state’s high court.

Texas State House Races

side by side of Venton Jones, Jolanda Jones and Christian “Manuel” Hayes
side by side of Venton Jones, Jolanda Jones and Christian “Manuel” Hayes

The Texas legislature will have three Black LGBTQ+ representatives within the House. Jolanda Jones, who will be representing Houston, became the state’s first openly gay and Black state legislator when she won a special election in June. Christian “Manuel” Hayes and Venton Jones became the first two openly gay Black men elected to the Texas legislature during the midterms. They will be representing Beaumont and Dallas.

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