The Green Papers: 2026 General Election
 
Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm 2026 Governor's Chairs
by State

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 2024 are marked as such.

There have been 0 deaths, 0 resignation, and 0 changes of party affiliation in 2023.

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Gubernatorial Links

           

Alabama  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     former Greenville Illinois City Council Member Will Boyd
  Candidate Democratic     Jamel Jermaine "Ja'Mel" Brown
aka Ja'Mel Brown
  Candidate Democratic     Yolanda Rochelle Flowers
  Candidate Democratic     former U.S. Senator  Gordon Douglas "Doug" Jones
First elected to the US Senate in a special election: 12 December 2017; unsuccessful candidate for re-election: 2020.
  Candidate Democratic     Chad "Chig" Martin
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Nathan "Nate" Mathis

Alaska  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Tom Begich
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Matt Claman
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Jonathan "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins

Arizona  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
    Democratic     Patrick Dampare - apparently not a candidate
    Democratic     Peter Hessing - apparently not a candidate
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Katie Hobbs
    Democratic     SaintOmer Kakou - apparently not a candidate
    Independent; (Democratic)     Tolleson Union School Board Member  Leezah Sun - apparently not a candidate

Arkansas  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Fredrick J. "Fred" Love
    Democratic     Supha Xayprasith-Mays - lost primary

California  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Akinyemi Agbede
  Candidate Democratic     Mohammad Arif
  Candidate Democratic     Larry Azevedo
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  Xavier Becerra
California Attorney General: 1987-1990; California state Assembly member: 1990-1992; First elected to Congress 1992, re-elected: 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, resigned 24 January 2017; California Attorney General: 2017-2021; Health and Human Services Secretary for President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.: 2021-2025.
  Candidate Democratic     Carolina Buhler
  Candidate Democratic     Louis A. De Barraicua
  Candidate Democratic     Sophia Edum-a-Sam
  Candidate Democratic     Mount Pleasant School Board Trustee  Derek Grasty
  Candidate Democratic     Joel E. Jacob
  Candidate Democratic     Gary Howard Kidgell
  Candidate Democratic     Matthew Chase Levy
  Candidate Democratic     Mayor of San Jose  Matt Mahan
  Candidate Democratic     Barack D. Obama Shaw
  Candidate Democratic     Thunder Parley
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  Katie Porter
First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2020, 2022; Unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate Class 1 seat nomination: 2024.
  Candidate Democratic     Raji Rab
  Candidate Democratic     Satish Rao
  Candidate Democratic     Scott P. Shields
  Candidate Democratic     Tom Steyer
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  Eric Michael Swalwell
21 November 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026. "I'm running for Governor."
12 April 2026: "I am suspending my campaign for Governor...." Remains on the ballot.
13 April 2026: Regarding allegations of sexual misconduct: "I am deeply sorry ... for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past ... I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes ... I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me ... Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress ...."
14 April 2026: Resigned effective 2pm.
  Candidate Democratic     Public Instruction Superintendent  Tony K. Thurmond
23 September 2023: "I didn't come from money, power, or influence. I'm running for Governor to be a voice for those who need one ...."
  Candidate Democratic     former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
  Candidate Democratic     former state Controller Betty T. Yee
20 April 2026: Dropped out. Remains on the ballot.
First elected as Controller: 2014, re-elected: 2018.
  Candidate Democratic     Erin "Zez" Zezulak

Colorado  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Senator  Michael Farrand Bennet
11 April 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
    Democratic     Carmen Alicia Broesder - apparently not a candidate
    Democratic     David Hughes - apparently not a candidate
    Democratic     Antonio Martinez - apparently not a candidate
17 March 2026: Petition Withdrawn
    Democratic     William D. Moses - apparently not a candidate
  Candidate Democratic     Attorney General  Philip "Phil" Weiser
2 January 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
  Candidate Approval Voting; (Democratic)     Erik Underwood
for Lieutenant Governor: Frank Atwood
  Candidate Unaffiliated; (Democratic)     Fatima Fernandez

Connecticut  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Josh Elliott
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Edward "Ned" Lamont

Florida  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Faith E. Antonio
  Candidate Democratic     Evelyn Castillo-Bach
  Candidate Democratic     Kevin Cichowski
  Candidate Democratic     Richard Paul Dembinsky
  Candidate Democratic     Orange County Mayor  Jerry L. Demings
  Candidate Democratic     Thomas E. Fernandez
  Candidate Democratic     Dayna Marie Foster
  Candidate Democratic     Indony Pierre "Dony" Jean Baptiste
9 October 2025: Withdrew.
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  David W. Jolly
First elected as a Republican in a special election: 11 March 2014 [re: passing of Congressman Charles William "C.W." "Bill" Young (Republican)], reelected: 2014, unsuccessful candidate for reelection: 2016.
4 June 2025: Filed with the Florida Department of State to run for Governor as a Democrat.
    Democratic     former Member of Congress Alfred "Al" Lawson, Jr. - apparently not a candidate
Unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the US House: 2010; unsuccessful candidate for election to the US House: 2012; first elected: 2016, re-elected: 2018, 2020; unsuccessful candidate for re-election: 2022.
  Candidate Democratic     Charles A. Lewis
  Candidate Democratic     Kenneth Stephann Norman
  Candidate Democratic     Donald J. Peterson
    Democratic     Jessica Vernekar - apparently not a candidate
5 May 2026: Withdrew.
  Candidate Democratic     Randy Zapata
  Candidate Write-in; (Democratic)     Christopher Tavarus Powell
  Candidate Write-in; (Democratic)     Bill Slater

Georgia  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     former Atlanta Mayor Keisha R. Lance Bottoms
  Candidate Democratic     Olu Brown
  Candidate Democratic     Amanda Duffy
  Candidate Democratic     former Lieutenant Governor Geoffrey Lynn "Geoff" Duncan, Jr.
First elected as a Republican Lieutenant Governor in 2018; Did not run for re-election in 2022. Running for Governor as a Democrat in 2026.
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator  Jason Fernando Esteves
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Derrick L. Jackson
  Candidate Democratic     former DeKalb County Chief Executive Michael "Mike" Thurmond
Formerly affiliated with the Republican Party.
First elected state Labor Commissioner: 1998; re-elected: 2002, 2006; Unsuccessful candidate for the US Senate: 2010.

Hawaii  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Duke Bourgoin
  Candidate Democratic; Republican; Libertarian     Shawn K. "Bu Laia" Hill
Filed with the Hawaii Office of Election for the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian parties.
  Candidate Democratic     Dickey L. "Frank" Ling
  Candidate Democratic     George Tuki Tamatoa "Teva" Lucas-Tadeo
Filed for Governor and US House CD 2
  Candidate Democratic     Hans J. "Keoni" Wilhelm

Idaho  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Maxine Durand
  Candidate Democratic     Jill C. Kirkham
  Candidate Democratic     Terri Pickens
  Candidate Democratic     Chanelle Torrez

Illinois  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  J.B. Pritzker
for Lieutenant Governor: former state Representative Christian Mitchell

Iowa  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Auditor  Rob Sand
12 May 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026.

Kansas  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Ethan Corson
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Cindy Holscher
  Candidate Democratic     Sharilyn Ray
  Candidate Democratic     Marty Tuley

Kentucky  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2023, 2027. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Lieutenant Governor  Jacqueline Coleman

Maine  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     state Secretary of State  Shenna Bellows
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Troy Dale Jackson
  Candidate Democratic     Angus King, III
Son of Senator Angus Stanley King, Jr. (Independent)
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Hannah M. Pingree
Daughter of Member of Congress Chellie M. Pingree
  Candidate Democratic     Nirav D. Shah
  Candidate Independent; (Democratic)     state Representative  W. Edward "Ed" Crockett
Previously affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Maryland  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Eric S. Felber
for Lieutenant Governor: LaTrece Hawkins Lytes
    Democratic     Ralph William Jaffe - apparently not a candidate
for Lieutenant Governor: Donald Palmore Ray

26 February 2026: Withdrawn.
6 February 2026: Ralph Jaffe passed away.
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Wes Moore
for Lieutenant Governor: Aruna Miller

Massachusetts  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
    Democratic     Seartch Delva - apparently not a candidate
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Maura Healey

Michigan  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Secretary of State  Jocelyn Benson
    Democratic     Kevin Hogan - apparently not a candidate
    Democratic     former Cape Coral Florida Mayor Marni Sawicki - apparently not a candidate
  Candidate Democratic     Genesee County Sheriff  Christopher R. "Chris" Swanson
  Candidate Democratic     Kimberly "Kim" Thomas
  Candidate Independent; (Democratic)     Detroit Mayor  Mike Duggan

Nebraska  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
    Democratic     Larry Marvin - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Lynne Walz

Nevada  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Sunshine Arterburn
  Candidate Democratic     Miqehl Bayfield
  Candidate Democratic     Emile Bouari
  Candidate Democratic     James Cooper
  Candidate Democratic     Attorney General  Aaron Darnell Ford
  Candidate Democratic     Washoe County Commissioner  Alexis Hill

New Hampshire  2 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2024. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington
  Candidate Independent; (Democratic)     Jonathan "Jon" Kiper
Community First Party

New Mexico  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Bernalillo County District Attorney  Sam Bregman
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  Debra A. "Deb" Haaland
Former Member of Congress Debra A. "Deb" Haaland (Democratic) was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2020. She was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as Secretary of the Interior on 17 December 2020 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, 51-40, on 15 March 2021. She resigned from Congress on 16 March 2021.

New York  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
    Democratic     Lieutenant Governor  Antonio Delgado - apparently not a candidate
for Lieutenant Governor: India Walton

2 June 2025: Announced candidacy for Governor in 2026.
5 February 2026: Did not receive his party's nomination. Requires 15,000 petition signatures by 6 April for ballot access.
10 February 2026: "I've decided to end my campaign for Governor of New York. After much consideration, I've concluded that there simply is no viable path forward."
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Kathleen Courtney "Kathy" Hochul
for Lieutenant Governor: former New York City Council Member Adrienne Adams

Ohio  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Amy Acton
for Lieutenant Governor: former Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper

Oklahoma  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Arya Azma
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Connie Johnson
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Cyndi Munson

Oregon  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Forest "Fora" Alexander
  Candidate Democratic     James Atkinson, IV
  Candidate Democratic     Donald M. Beckwith
  Candidate Democratic     David W. Beem
  Candidate Democratic     Brittany Jones
  Candidate Democratic     Khaled K. "Cal" Kishawi
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Tina Kotek
  Candidate Democratic     Steve William Laible
  Candidate Democratic     Tristan Sheppard
  Candidate Democratic     Miranda R. Weigler

Pennsylvania  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Joshua D. "Josh" Shapiro

Rhode Island  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Helena Buonanno Foulkes
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Daniel J. "Dan" McKee
  Candidate Democratic     Gregory "Greg" Stevens

South Carolina  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Jermaine L. Johnson, Sr.
  Candidate Democratic     William M. "Mullins" McLeod, Jr.
  Candidate Democratic     William M. "Billy" Webster

South Dakota  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Dan Ahlers

Tennessee  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Carnita Atwater
  Candidate Democratic     Tim Cyr
  Candidate Democratic     Memphis City Council Member  Jerri Green
    Democratic     Martin DePorres Kennedy - apparently not a candidate
  Candidate Democratic     Adam "Ditch" Kurtz
    Democratic     David R. Martin - apparently not a candidate
    Democratic     Matthew Martin - apparently not a candidate
  Candidate Democratic     Kevin Lee McCants
Filed for both the Senate Class 2 seat and the Governor's chair.

Texas  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
    Democratic     Patricia Abrego - lost primary
    Democratic     former Member of Congress  Chris Bell - lost primary
First elected to the US House: 2002; unsuccessful candidate for renomination: 2004; unsuccessful candidate for Texas Governor: 2006; unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the US Senate: 2020.
    Democratic     Bobby Cole - lost primary
    Democratic     Carlton W. Hart - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Gina Hinojosa
    Democratic     Jose Navarro Balbuena - lost primary
    Democratic     Zach Vance - lost primary
    Democratic     Angela "Tía Angie" Villescaz - lost primary
    Democratic     Andrew White - lost primary
5 January 2026: Withdrew. "With the primary just weeks away, the responsible choice is ... to defeat Greg Abbott ... I'm proud to endorse Gina Hinojosa .... "
Remains on the ballot

Vermont  2 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2024. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

   
  Candidate Democratic     Amanda Janoo
  Candidate Democratic     Aly Richards

Wisconsin  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

   
  Candidate Democratic     Kirk Bangstad
  Candidate Democratic     former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes
First elected as Lieutenant Governor: 2018; unsuccessful candidate for the US Senate: 2022.
  Candidate Democratic     Joel Brennan
  Candidate Democratic     Milwaukee County Executive  David Crowley
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Francesca Hong
  Candidate Democratic     Missy Hughes
  Candidate Democratic     former state Assembly Member Brett Hulsey
  Candidate Democratic     Lieutenant Governor  Sara Russell Rodriguez
25 July 2025: Announced her candidacy for Governor in 2026.
  Candidate Democratic     Zach Roper
  Candidate Democratic     Zachary Roper
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Kelda Roys
    Democratic     Ryan Strnad - apparently not a candidate
circa 27 November 2025: "I'm out of the race! Vote for David Crowley."

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
  American Constitution
  Constitution
  Green
  Green-Rainbow
  Libertarian
  Pacific Green
Other Third Parties
  American Solidarity
  Approval Voting
  Conservative
  Forward Party
  Independence
  Independent Party of Florida
  Independent Party of Oregon
  Legal Marijuana Now
  No Labels
  Peace And Freedom
  Progressive Party of Oregon
  Socialist Workers Party
  United Citizens
  Unity
  Workers Party
  Working Families
Independents
  Independent
  No Party Affiliation
  No Party Preference
  No Political Party
  Nonpartisan
  Unaffiliated
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Not readily classifiable
  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.

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.

"Apparently not a candidate" indicates that someone we once listed as a candidate for an elective office will not, in fact, be running for that office (primarily because said candidate is not listed on an official ballot provided by a jurisdiction's election authorities, where that candidate has not previously withdrawn his/her candidacy or otherwise indicated no longer [or even ever] being a candidate for that office).

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


 


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