Thirty-six US states hold governor races with 19 incumbents departing
The gist
Thirty-six states have governor races this year, with 19 incumbents leaving office.
Democrats need a net gain of two seats to take a majority.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2, 2026California's primary: Xavier Becerra (D) won with 28.1% and Steve Hilton (R) advanced with 24.6%, while Tom Steyer (D) lost with 22.9%.
- Jun 23, 2026Maryland's primary: AP projected Democratic incumbent Gov. Wes Moore as winner over challenger Eric Felber, and Dan Cox emerged from a 9-candidate GOP race, setting up a 2022 rematch.
- Nov 3, 2026Thirty-six states held gubernatorial contests, with more than half open races and 19 incumbents leaving office.