Governors' Race Results: Democrats Take 22, Republicans 12 in 2026 Midterms
The Associated Press and Ballotpedia report that Democrats captured a majority of the 36 contested governorships, with five flips to the party and two races still uncalled as of early Wednesday.
By James Brooks ·
The 2026 midterm election cycle has concluded with a decisive shift in state executive power, as Democrats won 22 of the 36 gubernatorial races on the ballot compiled as of 4:17 p.m. ET on November 4. Republicans secured 12 victories, while two races remain uncalled, one previously held by Democrats and one by Republicans. This outcome marks a net gain of five governorships for the Democratic Party, reversing a trend that had favored Republican control of statehouses for most of the decade.
Before the election, the national balance of governorships was split 26 to 24 in favor of Republicans, a majority the party had maintained since 2010. To retain their national lead, Republicans needed to hold every seat they controlled or gain new offices, a high bar given the competitive nature of the cycle. Democrats, meanwhile, needed a net gain of two governorships to achieve a majority. The final tallies show that Democrats not only met but exceeded that threshold, taking control of a plurality of the nation's statehouses.
Five governorships changed party control, all shifting from Republican to Democratic hands. The states where this shift occurred were Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, as noted by the Associated Press, along with a fifth state implied by the net change figures in the Ballotpedia data. These flips are significant because they represent a break in long-standing Republican dominance in states that have often voted for Republican presidential candidates. The Associated Press highlighted that these wins put pressure on the party to address voter concerns regarding the cost of living and economic policy.
Among the 36 races, Ballotpedia identified nine as battlegrounds, including Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In these competitive states, the margin of victory was often thin, reflecting a closely contested electorate. The results in these battlegrounds were crucial for the overall partisan balance, as they determined whether Democrats could achieve the net gain necessary for a national majority. The Associated Press reported that Democrats won or retained full control of both legislative chambers in several of these states, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, creating trifectas that enhance their legislative power.
Nineteen of the 36 gubernatorial races were open seats, meaning no incumbent was on the general election ballot. This high number of open seats was due to term limits and voluntary retirements. Fifteen incumbent governors were term-limited, including six Democrats and nine Republicans. Additionally, three governors who were eligible to run for re-election chose not to: Iowa's Kim Reynolds, a Republican, and Minnesota's Tim Walz and Wisconsin's Tony Evers, both Democrats. Rhode Island's Daniel McKee, a Democrat, ran for re-election but lost in the primary, leaving his seat open for the general election.
In the Mid-Atlantic region, the results aligned with the broader national trend of Democratic gains. In Pennsylvania, Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro won reelection. His victory secures a trifecta in the state, as Democrats also won or retained control of both chambers of the state legislature. Shapiro told supporters that the mandate includes raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and investing in infrastructure. In Maryland, Democratic incumbent Wes Moore won reelection, further solidifying Democratic control in the region. Delaware, which did not have a gubernatorial race, saw Democratic incumbent Chris Coons win reelection to the U.S. Senate, maintaining the party's presence in the state's federal representation.
Virginia, which also did not have a gubernatorial race in 2026, saw Democratic incumbent Mark Warner win reelection to the U.S. Senate. The Associated Press noted that Warner was easily reelected, a result that reflects the state's recent shift toward Democratic control following the 2025 gubernatorial election. The absence of gubernatorial races in Delaware and Virginia means that the partisan balance in those states remains unchanged for the executive branch, with Democrats holding the governorships in both states as of the 2026 election cycle.
The two uncalled gubernatorial races add a layer of uncertainty to the final count, though the overall partisan balance is already clear. One uncalled race is in a state previously held by Democrats, and the other is in a state previously held by Republicans. The Associated Press has not yet called the governor's race in Kansas, which was one of the battlegrounds identified by Ballotpedia. The outcome in Kansas could potentially affect the final count of Democratic or Republican governorships, but it is unlikely to change the fact that Democrats have secured a national majority of the 36 contested seats.
Politicians and analysts have already begun to frame the results as a mandate for policy changes. Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, stated that the party won historic levels of power in statehouses, a level not seen since the 1980s. She emphasized that the focus will be on kitchen-table issues such as economic opportunities, education, and healthcare. In contrast, Republicans are looking to regroup, with some officials noting the need to address voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent administration and the economy. The Associated Press reported that the wins come after Democrats lost nearly 1,000 state legislative seats during the previous decade, making this cycle a significant reversal of that trend.
The impact of these results will be felt in the 2027 legislative sessions, where new Democratic governors will work with legislatures in states where their party holds a trifecta. This alignment allows for more streamlined passage of bills related to tax rates, education funding, and infrastructure projects. The Associated Press noted that state governments shape a wide array of policies affecting everyday lives, including the use of artificial intelligence and law enforcement surveillance cameras. As the new governors take office, they will face the immediate challenge of delivering on campaign promises while navigating a divided federal government.
