2018 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: 2018 General Election

2018 Governor's Chairs
by State

36 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2018

36 Elected

14 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2018

19 Open Governor's Chairs (voluntary retirement, seeking other political office, term limits)

19 Incumbents renominated by same party

1 Incumbent lost primary - no longer a candidate for this office

1 Republican

260 Candidates seeking a Governor's Chair (Candidates may run under the banner of multiple parties. Hence, the number of parties may be greater than the number of candidates.)

This is a list of the current Governors' chairs, the incumbents occupying them, and the candidacy status of said incumbents. Chairs up for election in the year 2018 are marked as such.

There have been 0 deaths, 0 resignations, and 0 changes of party affiliation in 2018.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Gubernatorial Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	694,495	40.39%	Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox

	Write-in; (Democratic)			Christopher A. Countryman • Lost 5 June 2018 Democratic Party. Now running as a write-in.
Total		1,719,589	100.00%

Alaska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Independent



	Democratic	125,739	44.41%	former U.S. Senator Mark Begich • for Lieutenant Governor: Debra L. Call
Total		283,134	100.00%

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: The Governor can not serve for more than 8 years
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	994,341	41.84%	David R. Garcia
Total		2,376,441	100.00%

Arkansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican



	Democratic	283,218	31.77%	Jared K. Henderson
Total		891,509	100.00%

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	7,721,410	61.95%	Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom • On General Election ballot 11 February 2015: Announced his candidacy for Governor in 2018.
Total		12,464,235	100.00%

Colorado 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	1,348,888	53.42%	Congressman Jared Polis • for Lieutenant Governor: former state Representative Dianne Primavera • Congressional District 2. 11 June 2017: Candidate for Governor in 2018.
Total		2,525,062	100.00%

Connecticut 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic; Working Families	694,510	49.37%	former Greenwich Selectman Edward "Ned" Lamont • for Lieutenant Governor: former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz
Total		1,406,803	100.00%

Florida 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	4,043,723	49.19%	Tallahassee Mayor Andrew D. Gillum • for Lieutenant Governor: Chris King
Total		8,220,561	100.00%

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	1,923,685	48.83%	former state Representative Stacey Abrams
Total		3,939,409	100.00%

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


	Democratic	244,934	61.44%	Governor David Yutaka Ige • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Joshua B. "Josh" Green
Total		398,657	100.00%

Idaho 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	231,081	38.19%	former state Representative Paulette E. Jordan
Total		605,131	100.00%

Illinois 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	2,479,746	54.53%	J.B. Pritzker • for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Juliana Stratton
Total		4,547,657	100.00%

Iowa 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	630,986	47.53%	Fred Hubbell • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Rita R. Hart
Total		1,327,638	100.00%

Kansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	506,727	48.01%	state Senator Laura Kelly • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Lynn Rogers
Total		1,055,566	100.00%

Kentucky 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic			state Representative Rocky Adkins • for Lieutenant Governor: Jefferson County School Board of Education Steph Horne
	Democratic			Attorney General Andy Beshear • for Lieutenant Governor: Jacqueline Coleman

Maine 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	320,962	49.68%	state Attorney General Janet T. Mills
Total		646,013	100.00%

Maryland 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	1,002,639	43.51%	Ben Jealous • for Lieutenant Governor: Susan Turnbull
Total		2,304,512	100.00%

Massachusetts 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	885,770	32.18%	former Secretary of Finance Jay M. Gonzalez • for Lieutenant Governor: Quentin Palfrey
Total		2,752,665	100.00%

Michigan 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	2,266,193	53.31%	forner state Senator Gretchen Whitmer • for Lieutenant Governor: Garlin D. Gilchrist, II
Total		4,250,585	100.00%

Mississippi 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2015, 2019. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic			Attorney General Jim Hood • 1 October 2018: Will run for Governor in 2019.
	Democratic			Velesha Williams

Missouri 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic			James L. "Jim" Shea

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	286,169	41.00%	state Senator Bob Krist • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Lynne M. Walz • 12 September 2017: Bob Krist announced he would change his registration from Republican to Independent. 13 September 2017: Bob Krist announced he want to form a "Unity Ticket". 17 July 2017: Bob Krist is planning to run as a 3rd Party candidate but has not stated which party. The "Unity", "Unification", and "Centrist" parties have been mentioned. [Running as an independent candidate requires more petition signatures to be placed on the ballot than a third party candidate. -Ed] 27 December 2017: Bob Krist will attempt to create the United Nebraska Party. 13 February 2018: Bob Krist announced he will run as a Democrat.
Total		697,981	100.00%

Nevada 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	480,007	49.39%	Clark County Commissioner Stephen F. "Steve" Sisolak
Total		971,799	100.00%

New Hampshire 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2018. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	262,359	45.74%	former state Senator Molly Kelly
Total		573,602	100.00%

New Mexico 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	398,368	57.20%	Congressman Michelle Lujan Grisham • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Howie C. Morales • 13 December 2016: Announced run for Governor in 2016. Congressman CD 1.
Total		696,459	100.00%

New York 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


	Democratic; Independence; Women's Equality; Working Families	3,353,495	57.90%	Governor Andrew M. Cuomo • for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Courtney "Kathy" Hochul

	Serve America Movement; (Democratic)	51,367	0.89%	former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner • for Lieutenant Governor: Pelham Mayor Michael J. Volpe
Total		5,792,005	100.00%

Ohio 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)

	Democratic	2,067,847	46.68%	former First Director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Richard "Rich" Cordray • for Lieutenant Governor: former Congresssman Betty Sutton
Total		4,429,582	100.00%

Oklahoma 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	500,973	42.23%	former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson
Total		1,186,385	100.00%

Oregon 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


	Democratic; Working Families	934,498	50.05%	Governor Kate Brown
Total		1,866,997	100.00%

Pennsylvania 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


	Democratic	2,895,662	57.77%	Governor Thomas W. "Tom" Wolf • for Lieutenant Governor: Braddock Mayor John K. Fetterman
Total		5,012,582	100.00%

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic


	Democratic	198,122	52.64%	Governor Gina Marie Raimondo
Total		376,401	100.00%

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	784,182	45.92%	state Representative James E. Smith, Jr. • for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Mandy Powers Norrell
Total		1,707,569	100.00%

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	161,454	47.60%	state Senator Billie H. Sutton • for Lieutenant Governor: Michelle Lavallee
Total		339,214	100.00%

Tennessee 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	864,863	38.55%	former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
Total		2,243,294	100.00%

Texas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	3,546,615	42.51%	former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez • Proceeds to and won the 22 May 2018 Runoff
Total		8,343,443	100.00%

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


	Democratic	110,335	39.66%	Christine Hallquist

	Write-in; (Democratic)			state Senator John Rodgers
Total		278,230	100.00%

West Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican



	Democratic			Stephen Noble Smith

Wisconsin 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican



	Democratic	1,324,307	49.54%	Public Instruction Superintendent Anthony Steven "Tony" Evers • for Lieutenant Governor: former state Assemblyman Mandela Barnes

	Write-in; (Democratic)	3	0.00%	(No Candidate) • for Lieutenant Governor: William Henry Davis. III
	Write-in; (Democratic)	1	0.00%	Paul Boucher
	Write-in; (Democratic)	1	0.00%	(No Candidate) • for Lieutenant Governor: Corban Gehler
	Write-in; (Democratic)	0	0.00%	Jared William Landry
Total		2,673,308	100.00%

Wyoming 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period. The Wyoming Supreme Court determined on 4 May 2004 that term limits require an amendment to the state constitution rather than, as they were, imposed by a 1992 ballot initiative. At the time, the ruling was not applied to statewide offices. Reference: CATHCART v. MEYER, 2004 WY 49, 88 P.3d 1050, Case Number: 04-32, 04-33, 04-34, Decided: 05/04/2004
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican


		Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Democratic	55,965	27.26%	former state Representative Mary A. Throne
Total		205,275	100.00%

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor
	• Republican
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution
	• Green
	• Libertarian
	• Reform
	• Wisconsin Green
Other Third Parties
	• Clear Water Party of Iowa
	• Compassion
	• Conservative
	• Earth Rights
	• Grassroots - Legalize Cannabis
	• Griebel Frank for CT
	• Humanitarian
	• Independence
	• Independent American
	• Independent Party of Connecticut
	• Independent Party of Oregon
	• Liberty Union
	• Marijuana
	• Moderate
	• Natural Law
	• Progressive
	• Republican Takeover
	• Serve America Movement
	• Socialist Workers Party
	• U.S. Taxpayers
	• Unity
	• Women's Equality
	• Working Families
Independents
	• Independent
	• No Affiliation
	• No Party Affiliation
	• No Political Party
	• None
	• Nonpartisan
	• Petition
	• The Wisconsin Party
	• Unenrolled
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• None of these candidates
	• Not readily classifiable
	• Scattering
	• Write-in

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.