2026 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: 2026 General Election

2026 Governor's Chairs
by State

36 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2026

18 Democratic
18 Republican

14 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2026

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

19 Incumbent Governors - election status not yet determined (primaries and/or nominating conventions yet to be held)

445 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 2024 are marked as such.

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

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

Open		Republican	Governor Kay Ivey • Ascended to the chair 10 April 2017 following the resignation of Governor Robert J. Bentley (Republican). First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit

		Democratic		former Greenville Illinois City Council Member Will Boyd
		Democratic		JaMel Jermaine Brown
		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.
		Democratic		Chad "Chig" Martin

		Republican		Ken McFeeters
		Republican		Senator Thomas H. "Tommy" Tuberville • 24 April 2025: Media reports state Senator Thomas H. "Tommy" Tuberville will run for Governor in 2026. 27 May 2025: Senator Thomas H. "Tommy" Tuberville announces his candidacy for Governor in 2026.

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

Open		Republican	Governor Mike J. Dunleavy • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair
		Democratic		former state Senator Tom Begich
		Republican		former state Senator Click Bishop
		Republican		former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson
		Democratic		state Senator Matt Claman
		Republican		former state Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum
		Republican		Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom
		Republican		Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries
		Republican		Matt Andrew Heilala
		Republican		former state Senator Shelley Hughes • 14 November 2025: Resigned from the state Senate.
		Republican		Henry F. "Hank" Kroll • for Lieutenant Governor: Tommy R. Nicholson, III (Undeclared)
		Republican		former Angoon City Council Member James Willia"JP4" Parkin, IV
		Republican		former Attorney General Treg Taylor
		Republican		Bernadette Wilson

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

		Republican	Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders • First elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

		~~Democratic~~		~~Gary Royce Huskey - apparently not a candidate~~
		Democratic		state Senator Fredrick J. "Fred" Love
		Democratic		Supha Xayprasith-Mays

		*Republican*		*Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders*

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

Open		Republican	Governor Ronald D. "Ron" DeSantis • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

		Democratic		Faith E. Antonio
		Democratic		Evelyn Castillo-Bach
		Democratic		Richard Paul Dembinsky
		Democratic		Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings
		Democratic		Thomas E. Fernandez
		Democratic		Dayna Marie Foster
		Democratic		Indony Pierre "Dony" Jean Baptiste • 9 October 2025: Withdrew.
		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. • 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.
		Democratic		Charles A. Lewis
		Democratic		Donald J. Peterson
		Democratic		Bill Slater

		Republican		William Todd Andros
		Republican		Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins
		Republican		Shea Cruel
		~~Republican~~		~~Jill Casey "Casey" DeSantis - apparently not a candidate~~ • Wife of Governor Ronald D. "Ron" DeSantis
		Republican		Member of Congress Byron Donalds • 26 February 2025: Member of Congress Donalds, CD 19, is a candidate for Governor in 2026.
		Republican		James Fishback
		Republican		Jim Holcomb
		Republican		Daniel J. Imperato
		Republican		John Joseph Mercadante
		~~Republican~~		~~Bill Reicherter - apparently not a candidate~~ • 28 July 2025: Candidate for state Representative.
		Republican		former state Representative Paul Renner
		Republican		Rachel Rodriguez
		Republican		Caneste Succe
		Republican		Alix Christopher Toulme, Jr. • Candidate for Governor and US Senate Class 3 Special
		Republican		Angela Marie "Angie" Walls-Windhauser • aka Angie Windhauser Candidate for Governor and US House CD 10.
		Republican		Robert Edward "Bobby" William, Jr.

		Constitution		Brandon L. McIntyre

		Libertarian		Scott Jewett

		Independent Party of Florida		James Michael Brown
		Independent Party of Florida		Andrea Lynn Klink
		Independent Party of Florida		Reginald Byron Strachan

		No Party Affiliation		Surindar Singh Bedi
		No Party Affiliation		Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto
		No Party Affiliation		Moliere "Moe" Dimanche
		No Party Affiliation		Insley Darris Corri Evans, Sr.
		No Party Affiliation		Neil J. Gillespie
		No Party Affiliation		Mourice "Mo" Hylton
		~~No Party Affiliation~~		~~Holly Klask - apparently not a candidate~~ • 14 August 2025: Withdrew.
		No Party Affiliation		state Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo
		No Party Affiliation		Frank J. Russo
		~~No Party Affiliation~~		~~David Wayne "Gizmo" Wexler - apparently not a candidate~~ • 7 October 2025: Withdrew

		Write-in		Rodney C. Glover
		Write-in; (Democratic)		Christopher Tavarus Powell

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

Open		Republican	Governor Brian Porter Kemp • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

		Democratic		former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
		Democratic		Olu Brown
		Democratic		former Lieutenant Governor Geoffrey L. "Geoff" Duncan • 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.
		Democratic		former state Senator Jason Esteves
		Democratic		state Representative Derrick Jackson
		~~Democratic~~		~~Member of Congress Lucia Kay "Lucy" McBath - apparently not a candidate~~ • Member of Congress House CD 6. 31 March 2025: Suspends campaign for Governor to focus on her husband's health as he undergoes cancer treatment.
		Democratic		state Representative Ruwa Romman
		Democratic		former DeKalb County Chief Executive Michael "Mike" Thurmond • Formerly affiliated with the Republican Party.

		Republican		Attorney General Christopher M. "Chris" Carr
		Republican		Clark Dean
		Republican		Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones • 8 July 2025: "... I'm proud to be running to be the next Governor of our great state."
		Republican		Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
		Republican		Ken Yasger

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

		Republican	Governor Brad Little • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

		Democratic		Terri Pickens

		Constitution		Marvin "Pro Life" Richardson

		Independent		Maxine Durand

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

Open		Republican	Governor Kimberly K. "Kim" Reynolds • Ascended to the Governor's Chair: 24 May 2017 [re: Governor Terry E. Branstad (Republican) resignation to become Ambassador to China]; first elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Open Chair - 11 April 2025: "After a lot of thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in 2026...."

		Democratic		Paul Dahl
		Democratic		Auditor Rob Sand • 12 May 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
		Democratic		Julie Stauch
		Democratic		Sondra Wilson

		Republican		state Representative Eddie Andrews
		~~Republican~~		~~state Senator Mike Bousselot - apparently not a candidate~~ • 20 November 2025: Announced he will run for re-election in the state Senate.
		Republican		Member of Congress Randall "Randy" Feenstra • 13 May 2025: Formed an exploratory committee to run for Governor in 2026. Member of Congress CD 4.
		Republican		Zach Lahn
		Republican		former state Representative Brad Sherman
		Republican		Adam Steen

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

		Republican	Governor Jim Pillen • First elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

		Democratic		former state Senator Lynne Walz • exploratory committee

		Republican		Sheila J. Korth-Focken
		Republican		Jacy Todd

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

		Republican	Governor Joseph "Joe" Lombardo • First elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

		Democratic		Attorney General Aaron D. Ford
		Democratic		Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill

		Republican		Irina Hansen
		Republican		M. Kameron Hawkins
		*Republican*		*Governor Joseph "Joe" Lombardo*

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

		Republican	Governor Kelly Ayotte • First elected: 2024. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

		Democratic		Jonathan "Jon" Kiper

		*Republican*		*Governor Kelly Ayotte*

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

Open		Republican	Governor Michael "Mike" DeWine • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

		Democratic		Amy Acton • for Lieutenant Governor: former Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper
		Democratic		Jacob Chiara

		Republican		former Morgan County School Board Member Heather Brazell-Hill • for Lieutenant Governor: Stuart "Stu" Moats • aka Heather Hill
		Republican		Philip Funderburg
		Republican		Casey Putsch • for Lieutenant Governor: Kim Georgeton
		Republican		Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Rob McColley
		Republican		Jeremiah Workman
		~~Republican~~		~~Attorney General David A. "Dave" Yost - apparently not a candidate~~ • 16 May 2025: Dropped out of the contest for Governor. "I do not wish to divide my political party or my state with a quixotic battle over the small differences between my vision and that of my opponent. I am simply not that important."

		Libertarian		Don Kissick
		Libertarian		former Harrison City Council Member Mike Mains
		Libertarian		Travis Jon Vought

		Independent; (Forward Party)		Timothy "Tim" Grady • for Lieutenant Governor: Andrea Neutzling

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

Open		Republican	Governor J. Kevin Stitt • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

		Democratic		state Representative Cyndi Munson

		Republican		Attorney General Gentner F. Drummond
		Republican		former Rio New Mexico City Manager Leisa Mitchell Haynes
		Republican		Chip Keating
		Republican		former state Senator Mike Mazzei
		Republican		former state Representative Charles McCall
		Republican		former state Senator Jake Merrick
		Republican		Kenneth Sturgell

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

Open		Republican	Governor Henry Dargan McMaster • 24 January 2017: Ascended to the Governor's Chair following the resignation of Governor Nikki Randhawa Haley (Republican) who became United Nations Ambassador; first elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

		Democratic		state Representative Jermaine L. Johnson, Sr.
		Democratic		William "Mullins" McLeod, Jr.

		Republican		Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette
		Republican		state Senator Josh Kimbrell
		Republican		Member of Congress Nancy Ruth Mace • 4 August 2025: "I'm running for governor...."
		Republican		Member of Congress Ralph W. Norman, Jr. • 25 July 2025: Member of Congress Norman is a candidate for Governor in 2026. "I'm running for governor to shake things up...."
		~~Republican~~		~~former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel - apparently not a candidate~~ • 11 February 2025: "...this is not the time for me to be running...."
		Republican		Attorney General Michael Alan "Alan" Wilson • for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Mike Reichenbach

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

		Republican	Governor Larry Rhoden • Ascended to the Chair: 26 January 2025 [re: resignation of Governor Kristi Lynn Noem (Republican)] • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.
		Republican		Toby Doeden
		Republican		state Representative Jon Hansen • for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative Karla Lems
		Republican		Member of Congress Dustin "Dusty" Johnson • Member of Congress At-Large
		*Republican*		*Governor Larry Rhoden*

		Independent		Terry Gleason • for Lieutenant Governor: Kirra Noltensmeier
		Independent		Scott Morris • for Lieutenant Governor: Ericka Flanigan
		Independent		Allison Renville
	12 November 2024: President-elect Donald Trump nominates Governor Kristi Lynn Noem to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. 25 January 2025: Governor Kristi Lynn Noem (Republican), who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, resigned after being confirmed by the US Senate 59-34 as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. She previously served in the U.S. House 2011-2019. 25 January 2024: Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden (Republican) who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, ascended to the Governor's Chair upon the resignation of Governor Kristi Lynn Noem (Republican). Governor Noem was earlier confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

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

Open		Republican	Governor William "Bill" Lee • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit.

		Democratic		Carnita Atwater
		Democratic		Tim Cyr
		Democratic		Memphis City Council Member Jerri Green
		Democratic		Kevin Lee McCants • Filed for both the Senate Class 2 seat and the Governor's chair.

		Republican		Senator Marsha Blackburn • 6 August 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026. "It's official! I'm running for Governor ...." Previously served in the U.S. House: 2003-2019; first elected to the U.S. Senate: 2018; re-elected: 2024.
		Republican		state Representative Monty Fritts
		Republican		Member of Congress John W. Rose • Member of Congress CD 6

		Independent		Misam Abidi
		Independent		Santiago Asconape
		Independent		Edgar Ray "Ray" Brown
		Independent		Dustin Michael Gatlin
		Independent		Gregory Stanton Greene
		Independent		Wendell Jackson
		Independent		Eddie Lee Murphy
		Independent		Victor Lloyd Scoggin
		Independent		Robert C. Vick

		Write-in		Stephen C. Maxwell

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

		Republican	Governor Greg Abbott • Previously served as Attorney General: first elected 2002; re-elected: 2006, 2010; First elected as Governor: 2014; re-elected: 2018, 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

		Democratic		Patricia Abrego
		Democratic		former Member of Congress Chris Bell • 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~~		~~James Bills - apparently not a candidate~~
		Democratic		Bobby Cole
		Democratic		Carlton W. Hart
		Democratic		state Representative Gina Hinojosa
		~~Democratic~~		~~Robert Hostetler - apparently not a candidate~~
		Democratic		Jose Navarro Balbuena
		Democratic		Faizan Syed • ?
		~~Democratic~~		~~Meagan Tehseldar - apparently not a candidate~~
		Democratic		Zach Vance
		Democratic		Angela "Tía Angie" Villescaz
		~~Democratic~~		~~John Washington - apparently not a candidate~~
		~~Democratic~~		~~Andrew White - apparently not a candidate~~ • 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?
		~~Democratic~~		~~Glenna "Grumpy" Williams - apparently not a candidate~~

		*Republican*		*Governor Greg Abbott*
		Republican		R.F. "Bob" Achgill
		Republican		state Board of Education Member Evelyn Brooks
		Republican		Pete "Doc" Chambers
		Republican		Charles Andrew Crouch
		Republican		Arturo Espinosa
		Republican		Mark V. Goloby
		Republican		Kenneth Hyde
		Republican		Stephen Samuelson
		Republican		Ronnie Tullos
		Republican		Nathaniel Welch

		Libertarian		former Lago Vista City Council Member Pat Dixon

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

		Republican	Governor Phil Scott • First elected: 2016; re-elected: 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

		Independent		Dean Roy • Freedom and Unity Party
	If no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the November General Election, the state Legislature chooses the next Governor. [Vermont Constitution Section 47, Chapter II]

Wyoming 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. 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

		Republican	Governor Mark Gordon • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

		Republican		state Senator Eric Barlow
		Republican		Brent Brien
		Republican		Public Instruction Superintendent Megan Degenfelder
		Republican		Joseph Kibler
		Republican		Wyoming Community College Trustee Ozzie Knezovich

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
	• Libertarian
Other Third Parties
	• Forward Party
	• Independent Party of Florida
	• No Labels
	• Peace And Freedom
	• Progressive Party of Oregon
	• United Party
	• Unity
Independents
	• Independent
	• No Party Affiliation
	• No Party Preference
	• Unaffiliated
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise 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.

"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.