In 2006 Deval Patrick was elected this state's first African-American governor
In 2006, Patrick 
was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Massachusetts governorship, 
becoming the first African American to hold ... After receiving a Rockefeller 
Scholarship, Patrick traveled to Africa before returning to the states to attend... [DOC] [TLE] Deval Patrick - Ballotpedia [PAR] He first won election to the statewide office in November 2006 and took office on 
January 4, 2007.