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

262 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

		Republican	Governor Kay Ivey • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Ascended to the chair 10 April 2017 following the resignation of Governor Robert J. Bentley (Republican). • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated
	10 April 2017: Governor Robert J. Bentley (Republican), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, resigned amid a sex scandal. Following his resignation, Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey (Republican) was sworn in as Governor. 10 April 2017: Governor Robert J. Bentley was booked at the Montgomery County jail on misdemeanor charges involving campaign finance violations.

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

		Republican	Governor Doug Ducey • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated

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

		Republican	Governor Asa Hutchinson • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2014. Previously served in the U.S. Congress: 3 January 1997 - 6 August 2001 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated

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

Open		Republican	Governor Richard L. "Rick" Scott • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - Running for the U.S. Senate Class 1 office in 2018.
			Open Chair (no incumbent)
	The current Governor Richard L. "Rick" Scott (Republican) will remain Governor until 8 January 2019 only then be sworn as a U.S. Senator (missing the first days of the U.S. Senate which convenes on 3 January). Newly elected Governor Ronald D. "Ron" DeSantis (Republican) will be sworn as Governor on 8 January.

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

Open		Republican	Governor John Nathan "Nathan" Deal • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

Open		Republican	Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter • First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010, 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Open Chair - 14 October 2014: "Won't run for a fourth term" in 2018.
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

		Republican	Governor Bruce Rauner • First elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated

Indiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Eric Joseph Holcomb • First elected: 2016 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

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

		Republican	Governor Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Ascended to the Governor's Chair: 24 May 2017 [re: Governor Terry E. Branstad (Republican) resignation to become Ambassador to China]. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated
	Governor Terry E. Branstad (Republican) resigned on 24 May 2017. The Governor was nominated on 7 December 2016 by President-elect Trump to be Ambassador to China, accepted the nomination on 13 December 2016, and on 23 May 2017 was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, 82-13. Governor Branstad served as Governor from 1983 to 1999 and 2011 to 2017, 22 years in all and was last elected in 2014.

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

Lost		Republican	Governor Jeff Colyer • Ascended to the Governor's Chair 31 January 2018 [re: Governor Samuel D. "Sam" Brownback's (Republican) confirmation on 24 January 2018 as Ambassador for Religious Freedom in the Trump Administration]. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Lost Primary / No Longer Running
			Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Governor Samuel D. "Sam" Brownback (Republican), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, resigned on 31 January 2018 to become Ambassador for Religious Freedom in the Trump Administration. 27 July 2017: Nominated for Ambassador for Religious Freedom in the Trump Administration. 24 January 2018: Confirmed as Ambassador for Religious Freedom in the Trump Administration by the U.S. Senate 50-49. 31 January 2018: Governor Samuel D. "Sam" Brownback (Republican) resigns and Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer (Republican) ascends to the Governor's Chair.

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

		Republican	Governor Matthew Griswold "Matt" Bevin • First elected: 2015 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

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		Republican	Governor Paul R. LePage • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

		Republican	Governor Lawrence J. "Larry" Hogan, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated
	22 June 2015: Governor Hogan announced that he has advanced and aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

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

		Republican	Governor Charles D. "Charlie" Baker, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated

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

Open		Republican	Governor Richard D. "Rick" Snyder • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

		Republican	Governor Phil Bryant • First elected: 2011; re-elected: 2015. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2019 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

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

		Republican	Governor Michael L. "Mike" Parson • Ascended to the Governor's chair: 1 June 2018 [re: resignation of Governor Eric Greitens (Republican)] • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.
	29 May 2018: While the state legislature was considering impeachment proceedings, Governor Eric Greitens (Republican), who was first elected in 2016, announced his resignation effective Friday 1 June 2018 at 5pm local time. 1 June 2018: Lieutenant Governor Michael L. "Mike" Parson (Republican) ascends to the Governor's chair. He will serve the remainding 2 1/2 years of Governor Eric Greitens' term.

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

		Republican	Governor J. Peter "Pete" Ricketts • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated

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

Open		Republican	Governor Brian E. Sandoval • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

		Republican	Governor Chris Sununu • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2016 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated

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

Open		Republican	Governor Susana Martinez • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

North Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: North Dakota passed an initiative in November 2022 to amend the state's Constitution to add Gubernatorial term limits of 2 4 year terms. Applies to individuals elected after 1 January 2023
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Doug Burgum • First elected: 2016 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

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

Open		Republican	Governor John Richard Kasich • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

Open		Republican	Governor Mary C. Fallin • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

		Republican	Governor Henry D. McMaster • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • 24 January 2017: Ascended to the Governor's Chair following the resignation of Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) who became United Nations Ambassador. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated
	23 November 2016: President-elect Trump nominates Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) for the position of United Nations Ambassador. 24 January 2017: Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014, was confirmed as United Nations Ambassador by the U.S. Senate, 96-4. She resigned as Governor shortly after and Lieutenant Governor Henry D. McMaster (Republican) ascended to the Governor's chair.

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

Open		Republican	Governor Dennis M. Daugaard • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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		Republican	Governor William "Bill" Haslam • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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

		Republican	Governor Greg Abbott • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Previously served as Attorney General: first elected 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010; First elected as Governor: 2014. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated

Utah 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

		Republican	Governor Gary R. Herbert • As Lieutenant Governor, succeeded to the Governorship upon the resignation of Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. (Republican), effective 11 August 2009. First elected in a special election: 2010; re-elected: 2012, 2016. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Open Chair

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

		Republican	Governor Phil Scott • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2018 • First elected: 2016 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated
	If no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the November General Election, the state Legislature chooses the next Governor.

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

		Republican	Governor Jim Justice • First elected: 2016 (as a Democrat) • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • 3 August 2017: Announced he was changing his affiliation from Democratic to Republican: "... tomorrow I will be changing my registration to Republican."

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

		Republican	Governor Scott Walker • First elected: 2010; retained in a recall election: 5 June 2012; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • Renominated

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		Republican	Governor Matt Mead • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 6 November 2018 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Open Chair - 7 February 2017: Will not run for re-election in 2018.
			Open Chair (no incumbent)

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.