Black Women Voters Drive Democratic Midterm Gains

Black women were a powerful force behind Democratic victories in the November 3 midterm elections, with exit polls indicating that 93 percent voted for Democratic candidates. Their participation helped deliver wins in statewide and congressional contests, even as some ballots were still being counted on November 10.

In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor’s race with 54 percent of the vote, becoming the first Black woman elected to lead a state. Seven other Black women won statewide offices there. Georgia also saw a sharp rise in early voting by Black residents: more than 560,000 Black women voted early, 31 percent more than in 2022, along with more than 330,000 Black men, an increase of 27 percent.

Black candidates also prevailed in closely contested races shaped by redrawn congressional districts. Alabama Democratic incumbent Shomari Figures won nearly 54 percent in the reconfigured Second District. In Tennessee, Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson lost to Republican Brent Taylor by one percentage point, despite a new district map that had given Taylor a substantial advantage.

In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom held a narrow lead over Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith as ballots were counted. In Florida’s Senate special election, Democrat Angie Nixon came within three points of Republican Ashley Moody; exit polls showed 94 percent of Black women voters supported Nixon. Democrats also won major Texas statewide races, including the Senate and governor’s contests, and picked up Senate seats in several other states.

Organizers and political scholars credited years of voter mobilization, including work by Black women’s groups, for the turnout. They also argued that Black women’s influence should extend beyond election-day praise to a greater role in Democratic Party leadership and decision-making.

Black Women’s Organizing Powers Democratic Midterm Wave

Black women delivered a decisive message at the ballot box on November 3: efforts to dilute voting power did not stop them from helping Democrats win. Exit polls found that 93 percent voted Democratic, as the party captured major statewide offices and congressional seats across the country.

The results came after Southern states redrew congressional maps in ways intended to reduce Black voters’ influence. Yet Alabama Democrat Shomari Figures won nearly 54 percent in a newly configured district, and Tennessee Democrat Justin Pearson came within a single percentage point of victory in a district designed to favor Republican Brent Taylor. Georgia’s Keisha Lance Bottoms also made history, winning the governorship with 54 percent and becoming the first Black woman elected governor.

The turnout was built through years of organizing, not last-minute appeals. In Georgia, more than 560,000 Black women voted early, up 31 percent from 2022. Mississippi Democrat Scott Colom held a narrow Senate lead as counting continued, while Florida candidate Angie Nixon came within three points of Republican Ashley Moody after winning 94 percent of Black women’s votes.

Democratic victories should not become an excuse to offer Black women public praise while leaving them outside the rooms where party strategy and resources are decided. Their organizing helped shape these results; the case for giving them meaningful leadership roles is now harder to dismiss.

Democrats’ Midterm Gains Rest on Black Voter Turnout

Democrats’ midterm victories depended heavily on Black women turning out for the party. Exit polls showed 93 percent supported Democratic candidates, helping deliver wins in statewide races and close contests across the country. That reliance underscores the importance of turnout to a party whose success is being framed as a broad national shift.

The election also exposed the limits of Republican efforts to shape outcomes through redrawn districts. Alabama Democrat Shomari Figures won nearly 54 percent in a reconfigured congressional seat, while Tennessee Republican Brent Taylor defeated Justin Pearson by only one point despite a district map designed to give Taylor a substantial advantage. Georgia Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governorship with 54 percent.

Organizing helped bring voters to the polls: more than 560,000 Black women voted early in Georgia, 31 percent more than in 2022. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom held a narrow Senate lead as counting continued. Florida’s Angie Nixon came within three points of Republican Ashley Moody, with 94 percent of Black women voters supporting Nixon.

Democrats now face a choice about what to do with that support. Celebrating Black women’s turnout is not a substitute for deciding who sets the party’s agenda or how it will build durable support. The results show the strength of a mobilized base; they do not, by themselves, settle whether the party can keep it engaged.