Democrats flip governor's offices in Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Iowa; Becerra wins in California

In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Gov. Greg Abbott and will be the state's first Latina governor, NPR reported. In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history, and in New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor, Reuters reported.

In California, Becerra, a former state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, defeated Republican Steve Hilton and will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, AP reported. NPR said he will be California's first elected Latino governor.

Why it matters: Governors run state budgets and election administration, and the results put several large states under new leadership in January.