2026 United States gubernatorial elections

United States gubernatorial elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, in 36 states and three territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2022, except in New Hampshire and Vermont, where governors serve two-year terms and will elect their governors in 2024. Most, but not all of the elections have an incumbent who is officially term-limited.

Alabama
Governor Kay Ivey was re-elected in 2022 with 67.4% of the vote. She will be term-limited by the Constitution of Alabama in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive full term.

Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, Huntsville mayor Tommy Battle, businessman, candidate for governor in 2002, 2010, and 2022, and son of former governor Fob James, Tim James; and Attorney General Steve Marshall are considered potential Republican candidates. Although Ainsworth has not announced a candidacy, he has been endorsed for the 2026 gubernatorial election by Nathaniel Ledbetter, the speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Alaska
Governor Mike Dunleavy was re-elected in 2022 with 50.3% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Constitution of Alaska in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Republican State Senator Click Bishop has expressed interest in running.

Arizona
Governor Katie Hobbs was elected in 2022 with 50.3% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so. Starting with this next election cycle, gubernatorial candidates will be required to nominate a running mate for the newly established office of Lieutentant Governor of Arizona.

Arkansas
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was elected in 2022 with 63.1% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

California
Governor Gavin Newsom was re-elected in 2022 with 59.2% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the California Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

President pro tempore of the California State Senate Toni Atkins, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, FFA Secretary Jesse Perez, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former Controller Betty Yee have all announced their candidacies.

Colorado
Governor Jared Polis was re-elected in 2022 with 58.5% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Colorado Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Potential Democratic candidates include Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, U.S. Representative from CO's 2nd congressional district Joe Neguse, and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.

Connecticut
Governor Ned Lamont was re-elected in 2022 with 56% of the vote. Because Connecticut does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, he is eligible to run for re-election to a third term. Lamont has not confirmed whether he will seek reelection.

Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis was re-elected in 2022 with 59.4% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Florida Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

U.S. Representative from FL's 19th congressional district Byron Donalds has expressed interest in running for the Republican nomination while Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, and Mayor of Miami and Republican candidate for President in 2024 Francis Suarez are seen as potential Republican candidates.

On the Democratic side, Minority Leader of the Florida House of Representatives and Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 67th District Fentrice Driskell and former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, and candidate for governor in 2022 Nikki Fried are seen as potential candidates.

Georgia
Governor Brian Kemp was re-elected in 2022 with 53.4% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Georgia Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Attorney General Christopher M. Carr and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones have expressed interest in running for the Republican nomination while Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger are seen as potential Republican candidates.

On the Democratic side, founder of Fair Fight Action, former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, and nominee for governor in 2018 and 2022 Stacey Abrams has expressed interest in running for the nomination while former Mayor of Atlanta and former director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms, former state senator, nominee for governor in 2014, and grandson of former governor and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Jason Carter, and Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens are seen as potential candidates.

Hawaii
Governor Josh Green was elected in 2022 with 63.2% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Idaho
Governor Brad Little was re-elected in 2022 with 60.5% of the vote. Because Idaho does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, he is eligible to run for re-election to a third term, but has not yet stated whether he will do so.

Illinois
Governor J. B. Pritzker was re-elected in 2022 with 54.9% of the vote. Because Illinois does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, he is eligible to run for re-election to a third term, but has not yet stated whether he will do so.

Potential Republican candidates include former state senator and 2022 gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey, former Cook County Republican Party chair Aaron Del Mar and Republican national committeeman Richard Porter.

Iowa
Governor Kim Reynolds was re-elected in 2022 with 58.1% of the vote. Because Iowa does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, she is eligible to run for re-election to a third full term, but has not yet stated whether she will do so.

Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly was re-elected in 2022 with 49.5% of the vote. She will be term limited by the Kansas Constitution and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Republican politician Mike Brown is considered a potential candidate.

Maine
Governor Janet Mills was re-elected in 2022 with 55.4% of the vote. She will be term limited by the Maine Constitution and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Maryland
Governor Wes Moore was elected in 2022 with 64.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election and intends to run for a second term.

Potential Republican candidates include House minority leader Jason C. Buckel, Senate minority leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr., and former Harford County Executive Barry Glassman.

Massachusetts
Governor Maura Healey was elected in 2022 with 63.7% of the vote. Healey is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected in 2022 with 54.5% of the vote. She will be term-limited by the Michigan Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

Potential Democratic candidates include Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, and Michigan Senate Majority Whip, Member of the Michigan Senate from the 8th district, and former Member of the Michigan Senate from the 13th district Mallory McMorrow.

Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz was re-elected in 2022 with 52.3% of the vote. Because Minnesota does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, he is eligible to run for re-election to a third term but has not yet stated whether he will do so. Historically, Minnesotan governors have not gone on to a third consecutive term, either opting not to run or being defeated.

Nebraska
Governor Jim Pillen was elected in 2022 with 59.7% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Nevada
Governor Joe Lombardo was elected in 2022 with 48.8% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated if he will do so.

New Hampshire
The incumbent governor will be determined in 2024, as New Hampshire elects their governors on a two-year cycle.

New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was re-elected in 2022 with 52% of the vote. She will be term-limited by the New Mexico Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Potential Democratic candidates include U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Mayor of Albuquerque and former New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller, and Lieutenant Governor and former state senator from the 28th district Howie Morales.

Minority Leader of the New Mexico Senate from the 29th district Gregory A. Baca is a potential Republican candidate.

New York
Governor Kathy Hochul took office in 2021 upon the resignation of Andrew Cuomo and was elected to a full term in 2022 with 53.2% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election to a second full term. On July 2, 2024, Hochul announced her intention to seek re-election.

Former U.S. Representative from NY's 1st congressional district and nominee for Governor of New York in 2022 Lee Zeldin has expressed interest in running again.

Ohio
Governor Mike DeWine was re-elected in 2022 with 62.4% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Ohio Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

U.S Marine veteran Jeremiah Workman, the running mate of Joe Blystone during the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary, has announced his candidacy. Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost have expressed interest in running.

Oklahoma
Governor Kevin Stitt was re-elected in 2022 with 55.4% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Oklahoma Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

State Auditor Cindy Byrd, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Charles McCall, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate Greg Treat, and Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters are all potential Republican candidates.

Oregon
Governor Tina Kotek was elected in 2022 with 47% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Pennsylvania
Governor Josh Shapiro was elected in 2022 with 56.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee against Shapiro in 2022, has been named as a potential candidate.

Rhode Island
Governor Dan McKee took office in 2021 upon the resignation of Gina Raimondo and was elected to a full term in 2022 with 58.1% of the vote. Because McKee served less than two years of Raimondo's term, he is eligible to run for re-election to a second consecutive full term. However, he has not yet stated if he will do so.

South Carolina
Governor Henry McMaster was re-elected in 2022 with 58.1% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the South Carolina Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive full term.

Possible Republican candidates include lieutenant governor Pamela Evette, state senate majority leader A. Shane Massey, U.S. Senator and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott, businessman and 2018 gubernatorial candidate John Warren, and attorney general Alan Wilson.

South Dakota
Governor Kristi Noem was re-elected in 2022 with 62% of the vote. She will be term-limited by the South Dakota Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson has been named as a potential Republican candidate while U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, who served as governor from 2003 to 2011, is also reportedly considering a candidacy, with one poll showing a tie with Johnson in a potential Republican primary.

Tennessee
Governor Bill Lee was re-elected in 2022 with 64.9% of the vote. He will be term-limited by the Tennessee Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

U.S. Representative Mark Green, Knox County Mayor and professional wrestler Glenn Jacobs, and state house speaker Cameron Sexton have been named as potential Republican candidates.

Texas
Governor Greg Abbott was re-elected in 2022 with 54.8% of the vote. Because Texas does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, he is eligible to run for re-election to a fourth term. On March 1, 2024, Abbott announced his intention to seek re-election.

Dave Clark, a former Amazon executive and former CEO of Flexport and James Talarico, state representative from the 50th district, are seen as a potential Democratic candidates.

Vermont
The incumbent governor of Vermont will be determined in 2024, as Vermont elects governors on a two-year cycle.

Wisconsin
Governor Tony Evers was re-elected in 2022 with 51.2% of the vote. Because Wisconsin does not have gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, he is eligible to run for re-election to a third term, and has not ruled out doing so.

David Crowley, the incumbent Milwaukee County executive, and Josh Kaul, the incumbent Wisconsin Attorney General, both Democrats, have been subject to speculation regarding a 2026 gubernatorial run.

Wyoming
Governor Mark Gordon was re-elected in 2022 with 74.1% of the vote. He will be term limited by the Wyoming Constitution in 2026 and cannot seek re-election for a third consecutive term.

Former President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican state senator Bo Biteman to run for the position in 2026.

District of Columbia
Mayor Muriel Bowser was re-elected in 2022 with 74.6% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election to a fourth term, but has not yet stated whether she will do so.

Guam
Governor Lou Leon Guerrero was re-elected in 2022 with 55.5% of the vote. She will be term limited in 2026 and cannot seek re-election for a third consecutive term. Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio, a Democrat elected alongside Leon Guerrero, announced in 2023 that he would pursue the governorship in 2026.

Northern Mariana Islands
Governor Arnold Palacios was elected in 2022 with 54.1% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election to a second term, but has not yet stated whether he will do so.

U.S. Virgin Islands
Governor Albert Bryan was re-elected in 2022 with 56.1% of the vote. He will be term limited in 2026 and cannot seek re-election for a third consecutive term.