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.

  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 Chair (no incumbent) **
  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.
Alaska  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic; Nonpartisan     former state Representative Jonathan S. "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins
• for Lieutenant Governor: Zac Johnson
• Jonathan "JKT" Kreiss-Tomkins (Democratic)
Zac Johnson (Nonpartisan)
on General Election ballot
  Candidate Write-in; (Democratic; Republican)     former Angoon City Council Member James Willia"JP4" Parkin, IV
• for Lieutenant Governor: Ramadhani "Ram" Greer
• 18 August 2026: Lost the primary. Now running as a write-in.
Parkin is a registered Republican. Greer is a registered Democrat.
Arizona  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Katie Hobbs
• for Lieutenant Governor: former Mesa Mayor John Giles (Republican and Independent)
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
California  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  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.
Colorado  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     Attorney General  Philip "Phil" Weiser
• for Lieutenant Governor: Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper
• 2 January 2025: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
  Candidate Approval Voting; (Democratic)     Erik Underwood
• for Lieutenant Governor: Frank Atwood
Connecticut  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
    Democratic     state Representative  Josh Elliott - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic; Working Families     Governor  Edward "Ned" Lamont
• for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz
Florida  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
    Democratic     Evelyn Castillo-Bach - lost primary
    Democratic     Thomas Eloy Fernandez - lost primary
    Democratic     Dayna Marie Foster - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  David W. Jolly
• for Lieutenant Governor: former Member of Congress Gwen Graham
• First elected as a Republican in a special Congressional 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     state Representative  Dotie Joseph - lost primary
    Democratic     Kenneth Stephann "Stephann" Norman - lost primary
    Write-in; (Democratic)     Richard Paul Dembinsky - apparently not a candidate
• 27 August 2026: Removed.
Georgia  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     former Atlanta Mayor Keisha R. Lance Bottoms
Hawaii  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
    Democratic     David L. "Duke" Bourgoin - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Joshua B. "Josh" Green
• for Lieutenant Governor: Derek S.K. Kawakami
    Democratic     George Tuki Tamatoa "Teva" Lucas-Tadeo - lost primary
    Democratic     Lauren Kapoliahi'iaka Shim - lost primary
Idaho  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
  Candidate Democratic     Terri Pickens
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
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     Auditor  Rob Sand
• for Lieutenant Governor: Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer
• 12 May 2025: Auditor Rob Sand is a candidate for Governor in 2026.
Kansas  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Cindy Holscher
• for Lieutenant Governor: state Representative K.C. Ohaebosim
Kentucky  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2023, 2027. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Rocky Adkins
  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
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Hannah M. Pingree
• Daughter of Member of Congress Chellie M. Pingree.
Ranked choice.
Maryland  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
  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
   
  Candidate Democratic     Governor  Maura Healey
• for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Kimberley "Kim" Driscoll
Michigan  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     Secretary of State  Jocelyn Benson
• for Lieutenant Governor: state Senator Winnie Brinks
Nebraska  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
  Candidate Democratic     former state Senator Lynne Walz
• for Lieutenant Governor: Richardson County Rural Water District Board Member Ben Steffen
Nevada  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
    Democratic     Sunshine Arterburn - lost primary
    Democratic     Miqehl Bayfield - lost primary
    Democratic     Emile Bouari - lost primary
    Democratic     James Cooper - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     Attorney General  Aaron Darnell Ford
    Democratic     Washoe County Commissioner  Alexis Hill - lost primary
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
    Independent; (Democratic)     Jonathan "Jon" Kiper - apparently not a candidate
• Community First Party
New Mexico  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     former Member of Congress  Debra A. "Deb" Haaland
• for Lieutenant Governor: Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
• 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.

18 June 2026: Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver suspended her campaign for Lieutenant Governor citing health concerns. The party selected Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard as the replacement nominee.
New York  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
  Candidate Democratic; Working Families     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
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  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
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
    Democratic     Arya Azma - lost primary
    Democratic     former state Senator Connie Johnson - lost primary
  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; Working Families     Governor  Tina Kotek
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
• for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis
Rhode Island  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     Helena Buonanno Foulkes
    Democratic     Governor  Daniel J. "Dan" McKee - lost primary
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.
• for Lieutenant Governor: Samuel "Sam" Skardon
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
• for Lieutenant Governor: Steven McCleerey
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 Chair (no incumbent) **
    Democratic     Carnita Atwater - lost primary
    Democratic     Tim Cyr - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     Memphis City Council Member  Jerri Green
    Democratic     Adam "Ditch" Kurtz - lost primary
    Democratic     Kevin Lee McCants - lost primary
Texas  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
  Candidate Democratic     state Representative  Gina Hinojosa
Vermont  2 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2024. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican
   
  Candidate Democratic; Progressive     Amanda Janoo
    Democratic     Aly Richards - lost primary
    Write-in; (Democratic)     Brett Hulsey - lost primary
    Write-in; (Democratic)     Tim Reppen - lost primary
Wisconsin  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
    Democratic     former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes - lost primary
• First elected as Lieutenant Governor: 2018; unsuccessful candidate for the US Senate: 2022.
30 July 2026: Dropped out. Remains on the ballot.
    Democratic     Joel Brennan - lost primary
  Candidate Democratic     Milwaukee County Executive  David Carl Crowley
• for Lieutenant Governor: Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski
• 11 August 2026: Won the Democratic Primary.
18 July 2026: Re-entered primary.
8 July 2026: Dropped out. "It has become clear that I will not be the Democratic nominee for Governor." Remains on the ballot.
    Democratic     state Representative  Francesca Hong - lost primary
    Democratic     Missy Hughes - lost primary
• 22 June 2026: Dropped out endorsing Lieutenant Governor Sara Russell Rodriguez. Remains on the ballot.
    Democratic     Lieutenant Governor  Sara Russell Rodriguez - lost primary
• 17 July 2026: "Today I'm suspending my campaign." Remains on the ballot.
25 July 2025: Announced her candidacy for Governor in 2026.
    Democratic     state Senator  Kelda Roys - lost primary
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
   
 ** Open Chair (no incumbent) **
  Candidate Democratic     Kenneth R. "Ken" Casner
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
 • Peace And Justice
 • U.S. Taxpayers
Other Third Parties
 • America First
 • American Solidarity
 • Approval Voting
 • Coalition Party
 • Conservative
 • Forward Party
 • Freedom and Unity Party
 • Independent Party of Connecticut
 • Legal Marijuana Now
 • No Labels
 • Progressive
 • Prohibition Party
 • Socialist Workers Party
 • United Citizens
 • Unity
 • Vote Affordable
 • Working Class
 • Working Families
Independents
 • Independent
 • No Party Affiliation
 • No Political Party
 • Nonpartisan
 • Unaffiliated
 • Unenrolled
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.

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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