2026 Gubernatorial Overview (Feb. 6, 2025): Beyond the Beltway

By Jacob Rubashkin & Nathan L. Gonzales

The biggest potential for turnover in the 2026 midterms isn’t in Congress. It’s not even in Washington, DC, but in the states hosting 38 gubernatorial races over the next two years, including at least 14 open seats. 

The 36 races taking place in 2026 are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, though Democrats begin the cycle with eight vulnerable seats to Republicans’ three. Overall, Republicans currently control 27 governorships to Democrats’ 23.

Governors don’t typically dominate the national news, but this cycle features several players worth watching ahead of the 2028 presidential election: Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, Maryland’s Wes Moore, and Illinois’ JB Pritzker are all looking to springboard themselves into contention, while Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, Colorado’s Jared Polis, Georgia’s Brian Kemp, and Florida’s Ron DeSantis will look to solidify their legacies. Even former Vice President Kamala Harris may look to her state’s wide-open gubernatorial race as a landing spot.

The gravity of gubernatorial races also affects Senate contests in states hosting both, such as Michigan, Georgia, Maine, Ohio, and Alaska, luring potential Senate recruits such as Michigan’s John James, Maine’s Jared Golden, and Alaska’s Mary Peltola away from those races and reshaping the battlefield. 

And with Congress so often caught in partisan gridlock, much of the legislation that affects Americans will be produced at the state…

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