Governor races: 18 to 18 split, 19 open seats, and nine battlegrounds

Voters across the nation are heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to decide the outcome of 36 governor races. According to Ballotpedia, the current balance of power in statehouses is perfectly even, with Republicans holding 18 of the contested offices and Democrats holding the other 18. This symmetry creates a high-stakes environment where every single vote could determine which party controls the majority of governorships nationwide. The Associated Press notes that Democrats would need a net gain of just two governorships to seize control, a position Republicans have held since 2010.

The landscape of these races is defined by a significant number of open seats. Nineteen of the 36 governorships do not have an incumbent on the ballot, according to Ballotpedia. Fifteen of these vacancies are the result of term limits, forcing parties to introduce new faces to voters. In three other cases, sitting governors chose not to seek re-election, including Iowa's Kim Reynolds, Minnesota's Tim Walz, and Wisconsin's Tony Evers. The final open seat is in Rhode Island, where Governor Daniel McKee lost his primary challenge. These open races often swing more easily than contests with entrenched incumbents, adding volatility to the national picture.

Nine specific states are identified by Ballotpedia as battlegrounds for the governorship: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Associated Press highlights that these races will determine the overall balance of power. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson is facing off against Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed Brian Kemp. The AP describes this as a pivotal contest in a state where the governor's office has historically leaned one way, but current dynamics suggest a competitive field.

In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is running against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. This race is part of a broader trend in the state where voters are weighing economic concerns against party loyalty. In Ohio, the contest features Republican Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton. The Associated Press notes that Ramaswamy's campaign faced recent backlash over an advertisement featuring Acton's estranged mother, a detail that has drawn national attention to the campaign's messaging strategy and voter perception.

Democrats are defending five governorships in states that Donald Trump won in the 2024 presidential election. These include Arizona, where Katie Hobbs is running; Kansas, where the race is open; Michigan, which is also an open seat; Pennsylvania, where Josh Shapiro is seeking re-election; and Wisconsin, which is another open seat. The challenge for Democrats is to hold these offices in areas that voted for the president, a task that requires navigating a political environment where the president's popularity influences local races. The AP notes that these races are crucial for maintaining a Democratic footprint in the Midwest and Southwest.

Republicans, conversely, are defending two governorships in states that Kamala Harris won in 2024. These are New Hampshire, where Kelly Ayotte is running, and Vermont, where Phil Scott is seeking another term. The Associated Press points out that these races are competitive because they are in states that leaned Democratic in the presidential race. The outcome in these two states could be the deciding factor in whether Republicans maintain their 18 to 18 hold or cede control to the Democrats, who are aiming for a majority for the first time in two decades.

The Associated Press reports that the election is being viewed as a referendum on President Trump's second term, with voters expressing frustration over high prices and an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while 25% approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in ten Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction, and most blame the president for rising costs. This national mood is likely to spill over into the governor races, where local issues often mirror national economic concerns.

More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states, according to the Associated Press. This high level of early participation suggests that the final results may be known quickly in some states, but the close margins in the nine battlegrounds mean that turnout in the final hours will be critical. Republicans are bracing for the possibility of losing the House and are fighting to hold the Senate, with the governor races serving as a key indicator of the party's overall performance in the midterms.

The Associated Press notes that Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees in the general election, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. This divergence in funding strategies has led to different campaign approaches, with Republicans focusing on national messaging and Democrats emphasizing local issues. The AP analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1% of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts that Trump won in 2024, indicating a focus on consolidating support in areas where the president has a strong base.

As polls open, voters in states like Florida, Texas, and Iowa are heading to the polls in races that the Associated Press calls competitive. In Florida, the governor's race is closely watched because of the state's large population and its role in the national political landscape. In Texas, the race is similarly intense, with both parties investing heavily in advertising and ground game. The outcome in these large states will have a significant impact on the overall balance of power, as they account for a large portion of the 36 governorships up for election.