Currently there are 27 Republican governors and 23 Democratic governors. In the 2025-2026 cycle, there are elections for governor in 38 states, 2 in 2025 and 36 in 2026. Here is the breakdown.

7 Democrats are term limited and are not up for reelection.
10 Republicans are term limited and are not up for reelection.
11 Democrats are eligible to run for another term and are expected to do so.
10 Republicans are eligible to run for another term and are expected to do so.

For the time being, we are assuming all incumbents will run for reelection unless they specifically state that they won't.

The Democratic-held seats are listed first below, in alphabetical order by state, with the Republicans following.

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States with Democratic governors

Arizona

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Katie Hobbs (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Arizona is a purple state so Republicans will definitely contest it. Karrin Taylor Robson (R) ran for governor in 2022 and lost the Republican primary to Kari Lake. Now that Lake found a new job telling the world about King Donald I, Robson tried again, even though some Republicans call her a RINO. She is very Trumpy and very rich. Trump endorsed her. Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is also filed and Trump endorsed him as well. TWO ENDORSEMENTS IS BETTER THAN ONE! Then Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) also jumped in. At that point Robson got out. Since Biggs has Trump's endorsement and Schweikert does not, Biggs is the favorite to get the GOP nomination but is the underdog against the incumbent, Hobbs. The primary is July 21.

California

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is term-limited. California is just bursting with politicians who would love to be governor. Over half a dozen have already declared and are running. Democrats already in include former Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, former U.S. representative Katie Porter, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. and Betty Yee, the state treasurer, and a bunch of people no one else has ever heard of. But looming over the field is Kamala Harris, but she decided a 5% chance of becoming president beats a 50% chance of becoming governor of the most populous state. Many of the candidates stumbled, so Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) jumped in a bit late. He got caught Behaving Badly and left the race. Polling has Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra neck and neck. On the Republican side, there are half a dozen people who have said they would like to be governor. Steve Hilton has Trump's endorsement. The primary is June 2.

Colorado

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Gov. Jared Polis (D) is term-limited. There is a long list of potential candidates. AG Phil Weiser is already in. SoS Jena Griswwold is as well known as Weiser and could challenge him. Reps. Jason Crow and Joe Neguse are also possibilities, among many others. None of that matters much though since Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) is tired of being a senator and wants to get out of the swamp and move to the governor's mansion in beautiful Colorado. It is not even "going home" for him since he grew up in D.C. where has father was an aide to Hubert Humphrey. Bennet is the odds-on favorite to be the next governor. Two potential Republicans are Rep. Greg Lopez and Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen. Longshots include state Sens. Barb Kirkmeyer and Mark Baisley. The primary is June 30.

Connecticut

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Ned Lamont (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Connecticut does not have term limits, so Gov. Ned Lamont could run again, and is in fact doing so. He will get the nomination and win the general election. The primary is Aug. 11.

Hawaii

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Josh Green (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Josh Green got 63.5% of the vote last time. It is possible that no serious Republican will even bother challenging him. The primary is Aug. 8.

Illinois

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
J.B. Pritzker (D)	Darren Bailey (R)	J.B. Pritzker is well known and also a billionaire. Maybe some serious Republican will try a kamikaze mission, but maybe not. What's the point of it? Darren Bailey decided to waste his time running but win lose in landslide.

Kansas

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Gov. Laura Kelly (D) is term-limited. Despite being a red state, Laura Kelly won an open-seat election in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. State Sen. Cindy Holscher is in already. Probably Lt. Gov. David Toland, will try to get the Democratic nomination and succeed. However, if Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) jumps in, she would be the favorite for the nomination. Kansas SoS Scott Schwab has already announced his run for the GOP nomination. Former Gov. Jeff Colyer, state Senate President Ty Masterson, and some others are interested. The primary is Aug. 4.

Maine

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Janet Mills (D) is term limited and entered the Senate race grudgingly. Then she exited it gleefully. Former Speaker of the state House (and daughter of a congresswoman), Hannah Pingree, has jumped into the governor's race. So has the son of Sen. Angus King Jr., Angus King III and Nirav Shah. Ditto Maine SoS Shenna Bellows. Former president of the state Senate, Troy Jackson is in there as well. On the Republican side, state Sen. James Libby, a moderate, is in along with fire-breathing Trumper David Jones. Former Senate majority leader, Garrett Mason, and former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin might run. Jonathan Bush, the nephew and cousin of two former presidents is interested, but the Republican Party is a lot less Bushy than it used to be. The primary is June 9.

Maryland

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Wes Moore (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Conceivably, former governor Larry Hogan could have tried to get his old job back, but he didn't. Absent Hogan, Moore is safe. The primary is June 23.

Massachusetts

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Maura Healey (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Massachusetts is a very blue state, so it takes a very special Republican to beat a sitting Democratic governor. The primary os Sept. 1.

Michigan

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is term-limited. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) wasted no time and announced her campaign for governor on Jan. 22. Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (D) has ruled out a run for governor and so has state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow, who is running for the Senate. State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) was the first Republican in but he is not widely known. Rep. John James (R-MI) is in and is better known—from his two previous disastrous runs for the Senate. Rep. John James (R-MI) is also in. The primary is Aug. 4.

Minnesota

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Tim Walz decided not to run for another term, so it is an open seat. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has filed to run. She is the overwhelming favorite. Royce White (R), who ran for the Senate in 2024 and was drubbed decided to be drubbed again so he is running for the Senate again, not for governor. In Mid-December, Mike "My Pillow" Lindell jumped in the race for the GOP nomination. Trump has endorsed him. He is going to embarrass Trump byu being crushed. The primary is Aug. 11.

New Mexico

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Deb Haaland (D)	Greg Hull (R)	Gov. Michelle Grisham (D) is term-limited. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland easily won the Democratic nomnation. If she wins the general election, she will be the first Native American governor. On the Republican side, Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull, former director of NM Human Sedvices Duke Rodriguez, and businessman Doug Turner filed to run and Hull won the primary. Haaland is the dtrong favorite in November.

New York

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Kathy Hochul (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Kathy Hochul is not especially popular, in fact, she she drew a Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, a former congressman. But when AOC and Zohrqan Mandami endorsed Hochul, he dropped out. Rep. Elise Stefanik announced a run but Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman thought she was too toxic, so he got in. Then she unexpectedly dropped out. Trump has endorsed Blakeman. The primary is June 23.

Oregon

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Tina Kotek (D)	Christine Drazan (R)	Christine Drazan ran for governor in 2022 and lost to Tina Kotek. In that race there was an indpendent who got 8% of the vote. Still Oregon is fairly blue so Kotek is the favorite.

Pennsylvania

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Josh Shapiro (D)	Stacey Garrity (R)	Josh Shapiro definitely wants to be president, but first he has to get reelected as governor to have a platform for running. He is a strong candidate. Shapiro has been very good about not saying: "If only Harris had picked me for veep, we would have won all three blue wall states." Not so smart. You don't say the quiet part out loud. The Republicans nominated state treasurer Stacey Garrity. She has no chance.

Rhode Island

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	McKee has drawn a primary opponent Helena Foulkes who is doing well in the polls. A couple of unknown Republicans have jumped in, but Rhode Island is too blue for an unknown Republican to win. The primary is Sept. 9.

Wisconsin

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Tony Evers can run for a third term if he wants to, but he doesn't want to. He is 73 and has been in elective office for 20 years. He's just had enough. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodrigueze (D-WI) launched her campaign immediately after Evers' announcement. Former Lt. governor Mandela Barnes waited a few months, then got in. State Rep. Francesca Hong is also in. On the Republican side, Rep. Tom Tiffany is in. He has Trump's endorsement. Wisconsin is a swing state and has elected Republican governors in recent years, so anything is possible. The primary is Aug. 11.

States with Republican governors

Alaska

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) is term-limited. Former state Sen. Click Bishop (R) is in. He is a moderate in the style of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R) entered the race and then left it. Fire-breathing Trumper Bernadette Wilson is also running. She owns a trash-collection business and has never held elective office. AG Treg Taylor is also a possibility. Former Rep. Mary Peltola would be the strongest Democrat in the but she is running for the Senate. However, former House minority leader Tom Begich (D) is in and is doing well in the polls. The primary is Aug. 18

Alabama

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Tommy Tuberville (R)	Doug Jones (D)	Gov. Kay Ivey (R) is term-limited. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) wants the job and will well get it. The Democrats found a plausible candidate in former senator Doug Jones. He is going to run on a platform that Tuberville is a carpetbagger who actually lives in Florida and has lost touch with Alabama. Jones was elected statewide once, so it is not impossible he could pullit off again, but the odss are against him. It is noteworthy that Democrats have been elected governor in other red states recently, namely Kansas and Kentucky.

Arkansas

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Sarah Sanders (R)	Frederick Love (D)	Nothing to see here. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will get a second term. The Democrats might not even be able to find a sacrificial lamb. Well, a young Black state Rep., Fred Love jumped in. He got the nomination but he won't become governor.

Florida

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is term-limited. This one could be lots of fun with many candidates in both primaries. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is running. He is extremely Trumpy. But so is James Fishback, who is also already in. Ditto House speaker Paul Renner. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) might run. He is the Trumpiest of all, if that is possible. Maybe Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) will jump in. Pretty much all the statewide office holders are potential candidates, including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, CFO Jimmy Patronis, and Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Might be lots of fireworks. On he other hand, maybe not. Donald Trump has endorsed Donalds. Will that clear the field? Apparently not. One "Democrat," David Jolly, is already in. He was formerly a Republican representative. Voters generally dislike turncoats. Nikki Fried was the Democratic nominee in 2022 and might try again. Rep. Jared Moskowitz has expressed interest in running. Multiple Democratic state legislators and a few mayors are potentially interested. The primary is Aug. 18.

Georgia

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Keisha Bottoms (D)	Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) jumped in but then paused her campaign her help her husband who has cancer. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms jumped into the void and won the primary easily. Three noteworthy Republicans filed on the GOP side. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R-GA) has Donald Trump's endorsement. One guy Trump most definitely does not like is Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who famously told Donald Trump in 2020, that, no, he cannot find another 11,780 votes for him. Billionaire Rick Jackson is trying to buy the position. The primary was wild and wooley and Jones and Jacksons are headed to a runoff. The runoff is June 16.

Idaho

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Brad Little (R)	Terri Pickens (D)	Brad Little wants a third term, and he will get it without much opposition. Attorney Terri Pickens got the Democratic nomination, but it is pointless.

Iowa

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Zach Lahn (R)	Rob Sand (D)	Kim Reynolds would be a sure thing if she ran for reelection, but she has decided against it. On the Republican side, Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) is in and so is state Rep. Eddie Andrews. Unknown farmer Zach Lahn is also in there. Trump backed Feenstra but Zahn won the primary, a clear sign that farmers are unhappy with Trump. State Auditor Rob Sand is the Democratic nominee. This one could be close.

Nebraska

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Jim Pillen (R)	Lynne Walz (D)	Jim Pillen got 60% of the vote in 2022. He will be very tough to unseat. Maybe the Democrats can dig up William Jennings Bryan and prop him up. That is probably better than all the other options, including the actual nominee, Lynnne Walz.

New Hampshire

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Kelly Ayotte (R)	Cinde Warmington (D)	Kelly Ayotte was previously a senator until she was defeated for re-election by Maggie Hassan. Then she ran for governor in 2024 and won. However, the term for the governor in New Hampshire is just 2 years, so she has to run again in 2026 (and 2028 and 2030 ... to keep her job). There are no term limits in New Hampshire, but eventually all the governors get tired of spending all their time campaigning and call it quits. Ayotte is 56, so she is probably good for a few more tries. However, New Hampshire is a swing state, so she could easily lose. Cinde Warmington is the Democrat. However, independent Jon Kiper is also running. The primary is Sept. 8.

Nevada

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Joe Lombardo (R)	Aaron Ford (D)	Could be a real contest. Joe Lombardo is up for reelection in a purple state, so Democrats will definitely look for a strong candidate. AG Aaron Ford jumped in and won the primary. Lombardo vs. Ford is probably a toss-up Lombardo will try to take credit for the "no tax on tips" bit of the BBB. However, if it turns out that in practice it doesn't help much due to all the restrictions, it could backfire.

Ohio

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Vivek Ramaswamy (R)	Amy Acton (D)	Gov. Mike DeWine (R) is term-limited. For the blue team, Amy Acton, the doctor who led the state's COVID response is the candidate. For the red team, Former DOGEy Vivek Ramaswamy is the nominee. Thus we have a matchup between a white Jewish woman and a brown Hindu man. What's a bigot to do? Ohio is fairly red, so even though the prejudice against brown people and Hindus is probably more than against women and Jews, Ramaswamy is probably the favorite, but you never know.

Oklahoma

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited. All the action will be on the Republican side. AG Gentner Drummond announced his run in January and was the first one in. He has frequently been at odds with Stitt. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, House Speaker Charles McCall, and others might all jump in. The primary is June 16.

South Carolina

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Jermaine Johnson (D)	Gov. Henry McMaster (R) is term-limited. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) is running and so is Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). She said she had to, lest the state go woke. AG Alan Wilson is in and so is Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R-SC). The Trump-endorsed Evette and Wilson will duke it out in the runoff. State Rep. Jermaine Johnson (D) got the Democratic nomination, even though his chances of winning are roughly zero.

South Dakota

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Dan Ahlers (D)	When Kristi Noem got her get-out-of-South-Dakota card, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden became governor. Rhoden was challenged by Toby Doeden and they have a runoff on July 28. Whichever one wins wwill be the next governor.

Tennessee

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Bill Lee (R) is term-limited. For the Republicans, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is running. She is the odds-on favorite to get the nomination and win the general election. Rep John Rose (R-TN) is also in and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) might get in. Freedom Caucus leader Andy Ogles might also get in, depending on how things are working out for the Caucus. SoS Tre Hargett could try for a job upgrade. Still, Blackburn could clear the field quickly. It is not clear why she wants the job. She has never actually run anything, having spend her whole life in various legislatures. Being governor requires you to, well, govern. A few Democratic state senators and representatives might give it a shot, including the minority leader of the state Senate, Raumesh Akbari. It is always possible that in Oct. 2026, the Republican nominee is caught in bed with multiple dead boys, dead girls, and dead goats. The primary is Aug, 6.

Texas

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Greg Abbott (R)	Gina Hinojosa (D)	Gov Greg Abbott is already running for an unprecedented fourth term. He is almost sure to get it. Democrats keep thinking that some day Texas will turn purple, but probably not in 2026 and certainly not against Abbott. Gina Hinojosa is the Democratic nominee. Her only hope is that vast numbers of Republicans are so disgusted by Ken Paxton that they stay home and don't vote.

Vermont

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Phil Scott (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	If Gov. Phil Scott wants a sixth 2-year term, he will probably get it. It's odd that a Republican governor can win over and over in such a blue state, but he is a moderate and Vermonters think he is a nice guy. If he decides he has had enough, this will be the Democrats #1 pickup opportunity. The primary is Aug. 11.

Wyoming

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Mark Gordon (R) is term-limited. The 2022 Republican candidate, Brent Bien, is already in. State Sen. Eric Barlow is also in along with Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. The primary is Aug. 18.