GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS 2018
In 2018, 36 states will hold elections for governor.
Heading into the election, the majority of governorships are held by Republicans, with 33 governorships to Democrats' 16. Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is an independent. Of the 33 Republican-held seats, 26 are up for election, of which 13 are open. Of the 16 Democratic-held seats, nine are up for election, of which four are open.
This page includes the following resources to help voters better understand 2018's gubernatorial elections:
- A list of all states electing governors in 2018 and the major-party candidates
- Analysis of battleground elections
- Compiled race ratings from election forecasters
- Overall fundraising figures for the major party organizations
- Media coverage of the gubernatorial elections landscape
- Information about the office of governor
- Topline figures on historical control of gubernatorial offices
Ballotpedia has identified 25 gubernatorial elections as battleground races. Of the 26 Republican-held seats up for election, 16 are battlegrounds, including 10 of the 13 open seats. Of the nine Democratic-held seats up for election, eight—all except Hawaii—are battlegrounds. Alaska's independent-held seat is also a battleground.
Among the battleground races this year is the Illinois gubernatorial election between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrat J.B. Pritzker. Both candidates contributed over $50 million to their own campaigns. Between Election Day 2014 and October 25, 2018, Pritzker contributed $161.5 million to his own campaign while Rauner contributed $67.8 million to his run.[1][2] The overall fundraising in the election—$272.7 million—is higher than any other gubernatorial election in U.S. history, surpassing the 2010 California gubernatorial election's $251.9 million fundraising total.[3]
In the Georgia race, former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D) is vying to become the first black woman to win a governor's race in U.S. history. She faces Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R), who defeated four Republican rivals in the primaries and secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump.[4]
The nation's only independent governor, Bill Walker of Alaska, suspended his re-election bid on October 19, 2018, after the resignation of his lieutenant governor and running mate Byron Mallott (D). Walker's withdrawal set the stage for a contest between former Sen. Mark Begich (D) and former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy (R).[5]
Ballotpedia is providing in-depth coverage of gubernatorial primary elections. Click the links below for more information:
List of gubernatorial elections
The table below lists the states with gubernatorial elections in 2018, whether or not those states have a state government trifecta or triplex prior to the 2018 election, the incumbent and the incumbent's party prior to the election, and whether or not the incumbent is running for re-election.
A state government trifecta is a term to describe single party government, when one political party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government. State government triplexes describe when one political party holds the following three positions in a state's government: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
Most states impose some form of term limits on governors; of those that do, all but Virginia limit a governor to two four-year terms or to eight years in office. Although most states' term limit laws allow a governor who has served two terms to be elected once again after time has elapsed, some states impose a lifetime term limit like that on the presidency.
Battleground elections
The following map displays which gubernatorial seats are up for election in 2018 and identifies those races that are considered battleground elections. Mouse over a state for more detailed information.
SEE INTERACTIVE MAP
https://ballotpedia.org/Gubernatorial_elections,_2018
| 2018 Gubernatorial Battleground Races | ||
|---|---|---|
| State | Current Incumbent | Open Seat (Y/N) |
| Alaska |
 Bill Walker |
Yes |
| Arizona |
 Doug Ducey |
No |
| California |
 Jerry Brown |
Yes |
| Colorado |
John Hickenlooper |
Yes |
| Connecticut |
Dan Malloy |
Yes |
| Florida |
Rick Scott |
Yes |
| Georgia |
Nathan Deal |
Yes |
| Illinois |
Bruce Rauner |
No |
| Iowa |
Kim Reynolds |
No |
| Kansas |
Jeff Colyer |
Yes |
| Maine |
Paul LePage |
Yes |
| Michigan |
Rick Snyder |
Yes |
| Minnesota |
Mark Dayton |
Yes |
| Nebraska |
Pete Ricketts |
No |
| Nevada |
Brian Sandoval |
Yes |
| New Hampshire |
Chris Sununu |
No |
| New Mexico |
Susana Martinez |
Yes |
| New York |
Andrew Cuomo |
No |
| Ohio |
John Kasich |
Yes |
| Oklahoma |
Mary Fallin |
Yes |
| Oregon |
Kate Brown |
No |
| Pennsylvania |
Tom Wolf |
No |
| Rhode Island |
Gina Raimondo |
No |
| South Dakota |
Dennis Daugaard |
Yes |
| Wisconsin |
Scott Walker |
No |