NEW YORK, USA — Five candidates in Tuesday’s United States midterm elections with Jamaican connections made it into the winners’ circle on a night when four black candidates created history by being elected to be governor of their states.

In Florida Byron Donalds —whose mother Meredith Brown is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants — created history, becoming the first black elected Governor of that state. A former Republican congressman, Donalds defeated his Democrat rival David Jolly.

Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat of Maryland — whose mother Joy Moore is from Trelawny — easily won re-election for a second term. Preliminary results showed he polled 1,157.663 to defeat Dan Cox who garnered 465,758 votes.

Here in New York perennial winner Yvette D Clarke, whose parents are Jamaicans, racked up 146,503 votes to defeat Republican Joel Azumah, who mustered 30,378 votes, a mere 17 per cent of the ballots cast.

St Elizabeth-born Tamara Hamilton won her race for a seat on the Broward County Circuit Court in Florida. Results showed she captured 54 per cent of the votes cast to David Frey’s 46 per cent. A practising attorney, Hamilton will take her seat on the bench in January as a judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit, replacing Michael Kaplan, a long-time Broward Circuit judge.

In Lauderhill, Florida, Jamaican-born Denise Grant was re-elected as mayor for a second term. She secured 17,449 of the votes to 3,127 for her nearest rival Pauline Ricketts. Tuesday’s election also turned up a number of historic results in the African-American community.

Although having no connection with Jamaica, Keisha Lance Bottoms not only created history by becoming the first black candidate to be elected governor of Georgia, but also the first woman to be elected to the position in the US.

The state of Wisconsin also elected its first black governor in David Crowley. He defeated Republican rival Tom Tiffany.

In Nevada black Democratic candidate Aaron Ford became that state’s first black governor. He defeated his Republican opponent Joe Lombardo polling 506,653 to Lombardo’s 432,732. Two other candidates in the race accumulated a combined total of just over 40,600.

Another African American Hakeem Jeffries is poised to make history when he becomes the first black speaker of the US House of Representatives in January.

Two members of the Jamaican Diaspora on Wednesday expressed hope that the key issues of affordability and accessible affordable health care will be addressed by the Democrats when they take control of Congress.

“I am elated with the result of the 2026 midterm elections as it represents a significant shift in America’s political landscape. However, the real test for Jamaicans and Caribbean Americans will be whether that change translates into meaningful improvements in our daily lives,” Irwine Clare Sr, who heads the charity organisation Team Jamaica Bickle, told the
Jamaica Observer.

“Our expectations are clear: Greater affordability, accessible health care, economic opportunity and immigration policies that recognise the contributions of our communities. Equally important, we expect renewed attention to US-Caribbean relations, grounded in mutual respect, economic cooperation, regional security and recognition of the Caribbean’s strategic importance,” added Clare.

He argued that ultimately elections are not simply about who wins or loses, but about how the lives of ordinary people are improved.

“Our community must remain engaged, informed and prepared to hold elected officials accountable for delivering meaningful results,” Clare Sr said.

Meanwhile Raymond Rhoden, a retired adjunct professor, echoed Clare’s sentiments, but said he worries that President Donald Trump will use his veto power to slow down efforts to deal with the issues voters are concerned about.

Rhoden told the Observer that he expects to see quick action taken by the Democrats to lower the cost of groceries, gasoline, diesel, provide affordable health care, and bring the Iran war to a close.

He said the new Congress may have to use “the power of the purse which it controls as a way to ensure it gets things done”.

Jamaican-born Denise Grant was re-elected as mayor of the city of Lauderhill in Florida.

Georgia Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms hugs her daughter Lincoln during an election night watch party at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on Tuesday Atlanta, Georgia. Bottoms defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson to become the nation’s first black woman governor. (Photo: AFP)

Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat of Maryland — whose mother is from Trelawny — easily won re-election for a second term.