2026 United States gubernatorial elections

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 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.[6] 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.[7]

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, FFA Secretary Jesse Perez, and former Controller Betty Yee all announced their candidacies.[1][4]

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.

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. However, Lamont has suggested, though not outright confirmed, that he will be retiring.[8]

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 Florida's 19th congressional district Byron Donalds has expressed interest in running for the Republican nomination[9][10] 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.[11][12][13]

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.[14][15]

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.[16][17][18]

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.[19][20]

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.

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.

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.

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 term, but has not yet stated whether she will do so.

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.

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.

Governor Wes Moore was elected in 2022 with 64.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Andy Ellis, former Maryland and Baltimore City Green Party Co-Chair, has established a campaign finance committee and is exploring a run as a Green Party candidate.[21]

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.

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,[22] 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.[23]

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.

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.

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.

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

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.[24]

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 but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Former U.S. Representative from New York's 1st congressional district and nominee for Governor of New York in 2022 Lee Zeldin has expressed interest in running again.[25][26]

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.[27] Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost have expressed interest in running.[28][29]

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.[30][31][32][33][34]

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.

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.[35]

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.

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 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.[36][37]

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,[38] with one poll showing a tie with Johnson in a potential Republican primary.[39]

Governor Bill Lee was re-elected in 2022 with 64.9% of the vote. He is 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, also known as "Kane", and state house speaker Cameron Sexton have been named as potential Republican candidates.[40]

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, but has not yet stated whether he will do so.

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.[41][42]

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

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.[43]

U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher is seen as a potential Republican candidate.[44]

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.[45]