Amid Democratic election wins in the midterm elections, there were two firsts with “historic” wins for Black candidates in both the GOP and Democratic Party, with Republican Byron Donalds becoming Florida’s first Black governor, and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms becoming the first Black governor in the country’s history, leading to a celebratory MS NOW reaction. But the channel had a bit of a different tone for Donalds, as Symone Sanders Townsend noted noting the history but remarked “all kinfolk ain’t skinfolk.”
Election night host and premier liberal opinion host Rachel Maddow reported the news of Donalds' win just after 9 PM Eastern:
We have a call to make, actually, and this is an important one in the Florida governor's race. The Associated Press has projected a winner. The Associated Press has called this race. Florida governor's race will be won by Republican Congressman Byron Donalds. He has defeated former Congressman David Jolly in the Florida Governor's race.
MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow did not note the historical nature of Byron Donalds being elected as Florida’s first black governor in her announcement of his victory... https://t.co/Nf66JhBuvz pic.twitter.com/LgICM0wFkA
— Nick (@nspin310) November 4, 2026
She later remarked that “David Jolly kept it close,” but gave no initial mention to Donalds, who became Florida’s first black governor.
Around five minutes later, Sanders Townsend joined in to first note the history:
Can I also just note, I know this happened earlier and you said this, but we talk about the history that's being made tonight. And to be clear, Byron Donalds is now the governor of Florida. It is a historic win. It is the first time Florida has elected a black governor.
But then, turned to berate and insult Donalds’ “historic win” because of his policies were alike to current Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis:
However, minutes after Maddow’s Donalds announcement, Symone Sanders noted the “historic win,” but then minimized him and said, “all kinfolk ain’t skinfolk.” https://t.co/jFX1oB6G2y pic.twitter.com/NKgRqwcoKQ
— Nick (@nspin310) November 4, 2026
Will say, though, you know, as you say in my community, all kinfolk ain't skinfolk. And whatI mean by that is Byron Donalds is making history, but he is going to continue the political direction that Ron DeSantis is going to continue in Florida.
After Symone Sanders then praised Julianna Stratton, a Black Democrat, and said “History is being made all over this country tonight in crazy ways,” Maddow eventually noted the historic nature of Donalds’ win: “Yeah. And it's being made both on the Republican side and the democratic side, which is an important thing.”
Just 10 minutes later, Maddow gleefully joined in to project a Lance Bottoms win in Georgia:
MS NOW celebrates Keisha Lance Bottoms win in the Georgia governor’s race, noting she will be the first black female governor ever.
Symone Sanders said her victory was about “Black people being under attack in this country politically,” and said Bottoms will be "the governor of… pic.twitter.com/ji9EDHIBgi— Nick (@nspin310) November 4, 2026
We have a big call. In the state of Georgia. We have a call in the governor's race. This has just happened in the last three seconds. Associated Press has called this. Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democrat, will be the next governor of the state of Georgia. This is a flip in the Georgia governor's race.
She has defeated Republican Rick Jackson. The only person who said that this would happen, who I believe is someone Sanders Townsend, and I only half believed her, if we're being honest. But Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta, an incredible political talent in Georgia, among so many incredibly talented Black women and Democratic politicians in Georgia.
Keisha Lance Bottoms is now - has been called the winner in this Georgia governor's race.
In a completely different tone compared to her Donalds talk, Sanders Townsend invoked Stacey Abrams and emotionally celebrated Lance Bottoms’ victory, while claiming it happened amid “Black people being under attack in this country politically”:
“And today, America has elected its first Black woman as governor in this country. Keisha Lance Bottoms made history tonight, but she didn't run on making history, she ran on the issues. And I think that resonated with folks in the state. As I was texting and talking with people, they all kept saying Black voters all across this country right now, but specifically across the South, they understand the assignment.
And earlier this year, we have been talking about, Rachel did a whole segment about it. I said, “This is what an ally look like,” about Black political power and Black people being under attack in this country politically.”
In more celebration, she said, “It is no small thing that Keisha Lance Bottoms will be the governor of Georgia during the next presidential election. That is right. It is Keisha Lance Bottoms who will make sure that the election is certified for whoever the winner is. It is Keisha Lance Bottoms. It will be on the other side of the phone. If Donald Trump picks up the phone and calls. It is remarkable. Remarkable!”
Sanders Townsend closed, “So whatever else happens tonight, this is a reminder that in America, the people have the power. And Georgia has a governor named Keisha. Give me a T-shirt.”
The transcript is below. Click "expand":
MS NOW’s We The People: Election Night
November 3, 2026
9:11:13 PM Eastern
(...)
RACHEL MADDOW: Okay we have a new - We have a call to make, actually, and this is an important one in the Florida governor's race. The Associated Press has projected a winner. The Associated Press has called this race. Florida governor's race will be won by Republican Congressman Byron Donalds. He has defeated former Congressman David Jolly in the Florida Governor's race.
This follows the call that we had earlier this hour, excuse me, from last hour, in the Florida senate race in which the Republican candidate for Florida Senate also defeated the democratic candidate for Florida Senate. But in both cases, in a state that Republicans have supposedly slammed the door on all Democratic chances, we see with 98% of the vote in, David Jolly kept it close. But Byron Donalds is the winner of the governor's race in Florida.
That's fascinating stuff.
(...)9:16:22 PM Eastern
SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND: Can I also just note, I know this happened earlier and you said this, but we talk about the history that's being made tonight. And to be clear, Byron Donalds is now the governor of Florida. It is a historic win. It is the first time Florida has elected a black governor.
I will say, though, you know, as you say in my community, all kinfolk ain't skinfolk. And whatI mean by that is Byron Donalds is making history, but he is going to continue the political direction that Ron DeSantis is going to continue in Florida. And so he was on the Breakfast Club this morning, was being asked about all kinds of policies and whatnot. And he, you know, sounded similar to Ron DeSantis. And so I think it's very interesting what voters decided to do in Florida today, but also in Illinois because of Juliana Stratton, the sixth black woman ever in the history of our country, in the 230-year history of the Senate, is going to the United States Senate.
For the first time ever in our history, three black women will consecutively be serving at the same time. For the first time in our history in America, Illinois has simultaneously elected the first – Two women of color will lead the Senate delegation. History is being made all over this country tonight in crazy ways.
MADDOW: Yeah. And it's being made both on the Republican side and the democratic side, which is an important thing.
(...)
9:24:53 PM Eastern
MADDOW: We have a big call. In the state of Georgia. We have a call in the governor's race. This has just happened in the last three seconds. Associated Press has called this. Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democrat, will be the next governor of the state of Georgia. This is a flip in the Georgia governor's race.
She has defeated Republican Rick Jackson. The only person who said that this would happen, who I believe is someone Sanders Townsend, and I only half believed her, if we're being honest. But Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta, an incredible political talent in Georgia, among so many incredibly talented Black women, Democratic politicians in Georgia. Keisha Lance Bottoms is now - has been called the winner in this Georgia governor's race. Before we understand exactly how that happened, Symone Sanders Townsend, I want you to tell us why you knew that was going to happen before it happened.
SANDERS TOWNSEND: I mean, well, one, because I know Keisha Lance Bottoms, but two, because the people in Georgia have been organizing. And to be very clear, if we just take it all the way back to the new Georgia project, way back when, and Stacey Abrams when they in Georgia, Stacey Abrams set out and said, there are voters in Georgia to be organized. There are people who have yet to be touched. And if you just speak to them, if you just talk to them, if you just talk to voters about their power, they will participate.
And cycle after cycle, we saw some gains and some moves. And today, America has elected its first black woman as governor in this country. Keisha Lance Bottoms made history tonight, but she didn't run on making history, she ran on the issues. And I think that resonated with folks in the state. As I was texting and talking with people, they all kept saying Black voters all across this country right now, but specifically across the South, they understand the assignment. And earlier this year, we have been talking about, Rachel did a whole segment about it. I said, “This is what an ally look like,” about Black political power and Black people being under attack in this country politically.
People, you saw that. We all see it. We talked about it. The voters across this country saw that and they are taking their power back. It is no small thing that Keisha Lance Bottoms will be the governor of Georgia during the next presidential election. That is right. It is Keisha Lance Bottoms who will make sure that the election is certified for whoever the winner is. It is Keisha Lance Bottoms. It will be on the other side of the phone. If Donald Trump picks up the phone and calls. It is remarkable. Remarkable. So whatever else happens tonight, this is a reminder that in America, the people have the power. And Georgia has a governor named Keisha. Give me a T-shirt.
(...)
