Politics and views in the United States

New Hampshire Congressman Chris Pappas becomes the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, Georgia voters elect the nation's first Black female governor: Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Republicans keep control of several Florida elected offices.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

We knew the chaos and corruption in Washington were hurting our people.

Today, you said this has to stop.

Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Watley in the state's Senate race.

It's the first Senate race Democrats flipped away from a Republican for the night.

In New England, New Hampshire Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas defeated Republican John Sununu to replace outgoing Democratic Senator Gene Shaheen.

He's the first openly gay person elected to the high chamber.

The GOP saw the state as their best chance to flip a Democratic-held seat.

Pappas says his and other Democratic Party victories are shaking up the broken status quo.

Tonight's results are a wake-up call for corporate special interests and billionaires who have been rigging the economy.

For the cowards in Congress who have enabled health care cuts, tariffs, and war.

In deep blue Massachusetts, incumbent Democratic Governor Maura Healey won a second term.

The state's Democratic Senator, Ed Markey, has been re-elected to a third term.

The 80-year-old Markey says he'll use this next and possibly final term to keep pushing for policies like Medicare for all.

Florida Republican Ashley Moody fended off a challenge from Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon to win a special election to fill now Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Senate seat.

And Republican Representative Byron Donalds defeated Democrat Dave Jolly to become Florida's first black governor.

A historic result in Georgia, where Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is the first Black woman elected governor in the U.S. Speaking at a rally before Election Day, she said this election is about the needs of everyday people.

It's about whether everyday hardworking people can afford to put food on the table, whether our children have the opportunities that they deserve.

After a hard-fought campaign, short-term South Carolina incumbent Republican Darlene Graham lost to Democrat Annie Andrews.

Graham took over the remainder of her late brother GOP stalwart Lindsey Graham's turn when he died suddenly earlier this year.

Ohio Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican challenger Vivek Ramaswamy to become the Buckeye State's next governor.

The race took a sharp turn after Ramaswamy released an ad with Acton's mother, whose husband sexually abused Acton as a child.

Speaking to reporters on Election Day, Acton says people want real public servants again.

Often they don't even care what party you are.

They just want to know that you're going to solve problems of everyday life instead of making them, and they want you to bring this temperature down.

At the time of publication, the Maine Senate race remains too close to call.

Incumbent Republican Susan Collins faces a challenge from State Senator Troy Jackson.

The race changed after the initial Democratic nominee Graham Plattner left the race amid accusations of sexual assault and rape.

Collins' record of supporting President Donald Trump's agenda has made this race difficult for her, as have Trump's tariffs on Canada, a vital trading partner for the state.

However the race goes, Collins says she's proud to have served the state of Maine.

The crowds were huge.

The reception was warm.

And the response could not have been better.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.