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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Click on a name for the candidate's entry in Wikipedia.
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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 is back, even though some Republicans call her a RINO. She's definitely running again. She is very Trumpy and very rich. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee (R) also ran for governor and lost the primary to Lake, but she could try again. But Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) was the first one to actually formally file to run. If Kari Lake were to be a man, the man she would be is Andy Biggs. Republicans have to hope he doesn't get the nomination, but if Donald Trump endorses him, he probably will.

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. The biggest name already in is Katie Porter. Also in are Toni Atkins, former speaker of the Assembly, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Antonio Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, Betty Yee, the state treasurer, and a bunch of people no one else has ever heard of. But looming over the field is former California AG and former California senator Kamala Harris. If she jumped in, most of the other Democrats would jump out. On the Republican side, there are half a dozen people who have said they would like to be governor, but none who have a shot at making the top two for the general election. The thing here is that it takes a lot of money to run for governor of California. Not all the wannabes can raise tens of millions of dollars. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso could self fund a race if he decides to throw away $100 million.

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. Two potential Republicans are Rep. Greg Lopez and Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen. Longshots include state Sens. Barb Kirkmeyer and Mark Baisley.

Connecticut

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Ned Lamont (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Connecticut does not have term limits, so Gov. Ned Lamont could run again, but he hasn't yet said if he will. One state senator, Heather Somers, has expressed interest so far. Perennial candidate Bob Stefanowski is the backup plan so far.

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.

Illinois

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
J.B. Pritzker (D)	Candidate unknown (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?

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. Probably her #2, 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.

Maine   

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Janet Mills (D) is term-limited and is likely to run for the Senate against Susan Collins. Among Democrats, SoS Shenna Bellow might run and so might Rep. Jared Golden. Democrats absolutely do not want Golden to run because he is the only Democrat who can hold his House seat. Worst case for the Democrats is that Golden runs as independent, allowing Republicans to win both the House seat and the governorship (which does not use ranked-choice voting). Former president of the state Senate, Troy Jackson, and former speaker of the state House, Hannah Pingree, might also go after the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, 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.

Maryland

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Wes Moore (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Conceivably, former governor Larry Hogan could try to get his old job back, but he just got his ears pinned back in a Senate race, so maybe he got the message. Absent Hogan, Moore is safe.

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.

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 but state Senate WHip Mallory McMorrow has not. AG Dana Nessel (D) hasn't decide if she will run for reelection, for the Senate or for governor. State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) is already in. Tudor Dixon (R) ran in 2022 and could run again. Other possibilities are Pete Hoekstra, John James, Peter Meijer, and Mike Rogers, among many others. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent, which could hurt the Democrat.

Minnesota

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Tim Walz (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Tim Walz will probably run for another term, but he hasn't made it official yet. If he runs, he will be the strong 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. So far no other Republican has shown interest but the state is purple enough for someone to give it a shot.

New Jersey   

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is term-limited. There will be a gubernatorial election in Nov. 2025 and it will be wild and woolly. The Democratic candidates will include Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, along with Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and many more. On the Republican side, Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and conservative radio host Bill Spadea are in.

New Mexico

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Gov. Michelle Grisham (D) is term-limited. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has already filed to run. If she wins, she would be the first Native American governor. However, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales (D-NM) might have other ideas. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller (D) might also run. On the Republican side, former Lt. Gov John Sanchez is considering a run.

New York

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Kathy Hochul (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Kathy Hochul is not especially popular, but it is doubtful that she will draw a serious primary challenger. But you never know. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) strongly dislikes her and might just try. AG Letitia James could probably beat Hochul, but she seems more interested in going after Trump than filling potholes in the Bronx. Possible Republicans are former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Rep, Mike Lawler, Rensselaer County Executive Steven McLaughlin, and former Rep. Marc Molinaro.

Oregon

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Tina Kotek (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Tina Kotek will probably run again, which might mean no serious Republican bothers in this very blue state.

Pennsylvania

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Josh Shapiro (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Josh Shapiro definitely wants to be president, so he is certain to run for governor again to have a platform. He is a strong candidate. On the Republican side, there is state Treasurer Stacy Garrity and possibly Rep, Dan Meuser. 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." Smart guy. Don't say the quiet part out loud. His time will come, but it will probably be in 2028.

Rhode Island

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Dan McKee (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Assuming Dan McKee runs, he probably won't draw a primary opponent. There is no obvious Republican in state government to challenge McKee.

Wisconsin

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Tony Evers (D)	Candidate unknown (R)	Tony Evans can run for a third term if he wants to, but hasn't said if he will. He is 75. If he does, he will probably not draw a primary opponent. If he bows out, AG Josh Kaul will probably get the nomination. On the Republican side, state Sen, Patrick Testin and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany are possibles. Former Lt. governor and 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Rebecca Kleefisch might try again, among others. There will be a state Supreme Court election in April, and that may give an indication of which way the wind is blowing.

States with Republican governors

Alaska   

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) is term-limited. Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R) might run. State Sen. Click Bishop (R) might also run. AG Treg Taylor is also a possibility. Former Rep. Mary Peltola is the strongest Democrat in the state. Will she run for governor, senator, or the House? She hasn't said yet.

Alabama

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Kay Ivey (R) is term-limited. On the Democratic side, former Sen. Doug Jones would be the strongest candidate. The Republican primary is more interesting, of course, it being Alabama. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is the obvious candidate. Lynda Blanchard was ambassador to Solvenia in Trump v1.0. She ran for governor in 2022 and lost, so she might try again. However, there is an outside chance that Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) would prefer to be Gov. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). If he sees that as a promotion, it is probably his for the taking.

Arkansas

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Sarah Sanders (R)	Candidate unknown (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.

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. On the Republican side, former Rep. Matt Gaetz is probably in and also Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL). Probably Miami Mayor Francis Suarez 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? It could, but there are a lot of ambitious politicians who may try anyway. 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.

Georgia

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited. Democrat Stacey Abrams might try again, but more likely are Rep. Lucy McBath and/or Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason Carter. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is also a likely candidate. Some Democrats are afraid that if Abrams jumps in, she will clear the field, win the Democratic nomination, and then lose the general election for the third time. On the other side, Georgia AG Chris Carr has already declared to beat the crowd. However, Trump dislikes him and will try to torpedo him. Also interested are Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, SoS Brad Raffensperger, and former senator Kelly Loeffler. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a wildcard, in many senses.

Iowa

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Kim Reynolds (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Kim Reynolds is almost a sure thing, so Democrats will not be motivated, although bus driver Paul Dahl has already filed. Iowa House minority leader Jennifer Konfrst [sic] is considering a run, but it would be a longshot.

Idaho

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Brad Little (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	If Brad Little wants a third term, he will get it without much opposition. Maybe some Democrat will file, maybe not. It doesn't matter one way or the other.

Nebraska

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Jim Pillen (R)	Candidate unknown (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.

New Hampshire   

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Kelly Ayotte (R)	Candidate unknown (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. There are plenty of Democrats who could challenge her, including Joyce Craig, who she defeated in 2024.

Nevada   

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Joe Lombardo (R)	Candidate unknown (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 plans to jump in. He will probably clear the field. Lombardo vs. Ford would be a toss-up.

Ohio

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Mike DeWine (R) is term-limited. For the blue team, House Minority Leader Allison Russo is interested. Tim Ryan, the Democratic Senate nominee in 2022 might try for the job. But the first one actually in the race is Amy Acton, the doctor who led the state's COVID response. Democrats do not want former senator Sherrod Brown to run. They want him to challenge appointed Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in the 2026 special election. For the red team, AG Dave Yost is already in, but he is not going to be alone. Former DOGEy Vivek Ramaswamy is expected to announce his run very soon. He will be praying that Donald Trump endorses him, which is conceivable, but Trump tends wait until he knows who is going to win before issuing endorsements. SoS Frank LaRose might also jump in.

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.

South Carolina

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Henry McMaster (R) is term-limited. State Rep. Jermaine Johnson (D) has expressed interest, even though her chances are roughly zero. On the Republican side there is a vast list of potential candidates, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Reps. Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, AG Alan Wilson, and miscellaneous state legislators.

South Dakota

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Larry Rhoden (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	If Kristi Noem gets the job of secretary of DHS, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden will become governor. Since he wouldn't be elected, he can expect plenty of competition in 2026. AG Marty Jackley ran in 2018 and could run again. Rep. Dusty Johnson might give it a whirl. If Mike Rounds doesn't like getting pushed around in the Senate, he could move back home and run for governor. Democrats have no chance at all, so why run?

Tennessee

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Bill Lee (R) is term-limited. 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. For the Republicans, Rep John Rose (R-TN) is 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.

Texas

Incumbent	Challenger	Notes
Greg Abbott (R)	Candidate unknown (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. Maybe first for some lower statewide office in an open election.

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.

Virginia   

Challenger	Challenger	Notes
Candidate unknown (R)	Candidate unknown (D)	Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is term-limited. There will be a gubernatorial election in Nov. 2025. The candidates will be former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R). It will be a real barn burner. History says that the party occupying the White House usually loses the Virginia gubernatorial election, though.

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. Since the Republican primary is tantamount to winning the general election, there will be more. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman has hinted she might run. So could SoS Chuck Gray.