Thirty-six states elect governors in 2026, and while most are safe for one party, a cluster of them are genuine battlegrounds, several of them open seats with no incumbent. Here's a nonpartisan guide to the competitive 2026 governor's races, drawn from nonpartisan handicappers, and why they turn on turnout.
How to read this
Nonpartisan raters like the Cook Political Report class about five governor's races as toss-ups, with a wider tier rated competitive. Ratings shift as fields settle, so treat this as a snapshot. A distinctive feature of the 2026 map: five states with Democratic governors, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, were carried by Trump in 2024, and two states with Republican governors, New Hampshire and Vermont, were carried by Harris, so both parties are defending turf against the presidential lean.
The toss-ups and top races
Arizona. Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs seeks reelection in a hotly-contested race, one of the clearest toss-ups. See the Arizona guide.
Georgia. Open, with Republican Brian Kemp term-limited, drawing crowded fields in both parties as Democrats look to build on Senate gains. See the Georgia guide.
Michigan. Open, with Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer term-limited, a marquee open race in a tipping-point state. See the Michigan guide.
Kansas. Open, with Democratic incumbent Laura Kelly term-limited, a Democratic-held governorship in a reliably Republican state. See the Kansas guide.
Pennsylvania. Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro seeks reelection in a premier swing state Trump carried in 2024. See the Pennsylvania guide.
Wisconsin. Open, with Democratic incumbent Tony Evers not seeking a third term, an open race in one of the nation's closest states. See the Wisconsin guide.
Nevada. Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo seeks reelection in a competitive Western state. See the Nevada guide.
Open races and others to watch
Several more open governorships are worth watching, Ohio (Mike DeWine term-limited), Maine (Janet Mills term-limited), New Mexico (Michelle Lujan Grisham term-limited), and Florida (Ron DeSantis term-limited), any of which can become competitive. And the two off-lean races, New Hampshire and Vermont, test Republican governors in Harris-won states.
Why turnout decides the governorships
In the battleground states, a governor's race is decided by margins a midterm's lower turnout can swing, and the many open seats remove incumbency, so the outcome comes down to which coalition turns out. Governors' races also sit atop the ballot and drive turnout for the down-ballot contests beneath them, so mobilization compounds across the whole state ticket.
Frequently asked questions
How many governor's races are competitive in 2026?
Of the 36 up, nonpartisan raters class about five as toss-ups, including Arizona and Georgia, with a wider tier, Michigan, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, and several open seats, rated competitive.
What makes the 2026 governor map distinctive?
Five states with Democratic governors (Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin) were carried by Trump in 2024, and two with Republican governors (New Hampshire, Vermont) by Harris, so both parties defend turf against the presidential lean, and many seats are open.
Why does turnout decide governor's races?
Because battleground governorships are decided by margins a midterm's lower turnout can swing, and the many open seats remove incumbency. Governor's races also drive turnout for the down-ballot contests beneath them.
This is a snapshot as of the date above; ratings shift. Facts drawn from nonpartisan handicappers including the Cook Political Report and Ballotpedia. Confirm voting details at Vote.org.
Keep reading: The 2026 Senate battlegrounds and the 2026 governors races, where turnout decides it.