The voters in 36 states will elect a governor in November – including 17 states with incumbents running for reelection and 19 states with open seat races due to term limits or retirements. There are currently 26 Republican governors and 24 Democratic governors. The states with open seat races are: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Political forecasters currently rate five key races in pure "Toss-Up" territory. These contests are expected to draw the heaviest national spending and attention in 2026.
1. Georgia (Open Seat – Republican Held) With popular Republican Governor Brian Kemp term-limited, Georgia will be a marquis Southern battleground. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms secured the Democratic nomination in hopes of flipping the executive mansion blue for the first time in over two decades. She faces Republican newcomer Rick Jackson, a healthcare executive who upset Lt. Governor Burt Jones in a hard-fought runoff primary.
2. Iowa (Open Seat – Republican Held) Iowa emerged as a surprisingly competitive battleground after Republican Governor Kim Reynolds announced her retirement. Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand – the sole Democrat holding statewide office in Iowa – jumped into the race with strong early polling, while Republicans nominated businessman Zach Lahn. Sand's statewide crossover appeal makes this open seat a top target for Democrats.
3. Nevada (Incumbent Running – Republican Held) Republican Governor Joe Lombardo faces one of the toughest re-election bids in the country. Standing as the only incumbent governor in a consensus toss-up race, Lombardo must defend his record against Democratic State Attorney General Aaron Ford. In a state known for razor-thin margins, both parties view Nevada as a pivotal bellwether.
4. Ohio (Open Seat – Republican Held) With Republican Governor Mike DeWine reaching his term limit, Ohio features a high-profile showdown between former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and former State Health Director Amy Acton. Ramaswamy won the GOP primary, campaigning on deregulation and conservative reforms. Dr. Acton’s platform focuses on affordability, healthcare access, governance reform, and education.
5. Wisconsin (Open Seat – Democratic Held) Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ decision not to seek a third term opened Wisconsin’s governorship for the first time in 16 years. The Republican side coalesced around conservative U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany. Meanwhile, Democrats face a chaotic primary on August 11th. In the past week alone, Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the race and Milwaukee County Executive Dave Crowley re-entered the race. Other Democratic contenders in the race include former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes and State Representative Francesca Hong, who has leaned into her progressive policy positions to top recent primary polls.
In the states with incumbent governors, all but Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee (D) enjoy (or enjoyed) a smooth path to renomination. Governor McKee however has one of the toughest primary challenges in the country against Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive who nearly defeated him in 2022. With Foulkes holding consistent leads in primary polling and picking up key endorsements from high-profile state Democrats, McKee is in danger of becoming an incumbent ousted in his party’s September 9, 2026, primary.
Other states to watch include Arizona, where Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs faces re-election in a state that elected her by less than one percentage point in 2022; battleground Michigan where incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, and; Kansas, where Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is term-limited in a reliably red state.
Why this is important: Gubernatorial races can have a tangible impact on state residents and cosmetology schools. Governors have executive authority over critical issue such as state income and sales tax rates, public school budgets, infrastructure spending, healthcare access, and occupational licensure reforms.
Governors also wield veto power over state legislatures, serving either as a vital check against one-party dominance or as the final piece needed to enact sweeping legislative agendas. Additionally, incoming governors appoint cabinet secretaries, regulatory administrators, and state board members that shape how state laws are interpreted and enforced. | 
