36 US states hold governor elections on Tuesday

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 22:45 · Archive

Voters in 36 US states are choosing governors, with several races offering historic firsts and chances for party control to shift.

Voters in 36 US states are electing governors on Tuesday, with an unusually high number of open seats creating potential for significant shifts in state leadership. Republicans currently control 26 governorships compared with Democrats' 24, and each party is defending 18 seats in this election.

Governors hold considerable power as state executives, overseeing budgets, appointing senior officials, directing agencies and issuing executive orders. One of their most significant areas of influence is reproductive rights, as states now determine their own abortion laws following the 2022 US Supreme Court ruling that removed federal constitutional protections for abortion access.

Key battleground states include Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin. In Georgia, a victory for Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, would make her the nation's first Black woman elected governor. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton could become the first woman elected governor of that state. In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland, the former US interior secretary, could become the first Native American woman to govern a US state. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking re-election for a third term against Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who could become Texas's first Latina governor.

How it is being reported

• Midterms 2026 elections results map: Live updates on House, Senate and Governor races across USVoters in all 50 states will choose a new House of Representatives, 35 senators and 36 governors in the 2026 midterm elections, and The Post is keeping you up to date on every race that matters. Follow the battle for control of Congress and state governments through our interactive map that allows you to track...New York Post · 3 Nov, 23:18
• Governor race winners 2026: All the results across 36 electionsThe 2026 midterm elections will feature 36 gubernatorial races, with voters determining which party will shape the political direction of most states across the country. Follow along with The Post’s live election tracker for real-time results, including winners and losers in the gubernatorial races: Bold denotes winner: Alaska Republicans Dave Bronson, Treg Taylor, and Bernadette...New York Post · 3 Nov, 23:06
• Voters in 36 states choose governors in midterm electionsVoters in 36 states are casting ballots to elect governors in contested races offering Democrats a chance to win statehouses held by Republicans.UPI · 3 Nov, 22:33
• Why governors’ races are important in the 2026 US midtermsHistoric turnover in this election will allow dozens of states to vote on significant changes in leadership.Al Jazeera · 1 Nov, 23:24

In this story: Donald Trump · Keisha Lance Bottoms · Gina Hinojosa · Greg Abbott · Amy Acton · Deb Haaland · United States

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log