Gubernatorial elections, 2024
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There are 11 gubernatorial offices on the ballot in 2024. These elections are in Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.
Heading into the 2024 elections, 27 governors are Republicans and 23 are Democrats. In the states with gubernatorial elections in 2024, eight have Republican governors and three have a Democratic governor.
Two states electing their governor in 2024—New Hampshire and North Carolina—are rated as Lean or Toss-up by at least two of the following three outside political ratings publications: The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections. Both New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) are not running for re-election in 2024. The other nine states holding gubernatorial elections are rated as solid or safe for either one party or the other by at least two of those three outside political ratings publications.
In 2020, when the most recent gubernatorial elections were held for most of these offices, incumbents won nine of the eleven races. Spencer Cox (R) won in Utah, where Republican incumbent Gary Herbert (R) did not run for re-election. Greg Gianforte (R) won in Montana, where incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock (D) was term-limited, making Montana's governorship the only one to change party control in 2020. Click here for more about these elections.
Thirty-six states held elections for governor in 2022. Democrats and Republicans each won 18 races. Before the 2022 elections, Republicans held 20 of these governorships, and Democrats held 16. Four offices changed parties. To read more about those elections, click here.
Partisan balance
The following chart displays the number of governors' offices held by each party before and after the 2024 elections.
| U.S. governors partisan breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of July 2024 | After the 2024 elections | |
| Democratic Party | 23 | TBD | |
| Republican Party | 27 | TBD | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
List of gubernatorial elections
There are eight Republican-held governor's offices and three Democratic-held governor's offices on the ballot in 2024. The table and map below shows which states are holding gubernatorial elections in 2024.
| Gubernatorial elections, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent running? | Election winner | Last time office changed parties | 2020 presidential result | 2020 gubernatorial result[1] | 2024 election result |
| Delaware |  John Carney |
No | TBD | 1993 | D+18.9 | D+20.9 | TBD |
| Indiana |  Eric Holcomb |
No | TBD | 2005 | R+16.0 | R+24.4 | TBD |
| Missouri | Mike Parson |
No | TBD | 2017 | R+15.4 | R+16.4 | TBD |
| Montana | Greg Gianforte |
Yes | TBD | 2021 | R+16.4 | R+12.8 | TBD |
| New Hampshire | Chris Sununu |
No[2] | TBD | 2017 | D+7.3 | R+15.0 | TBD |
| North Carolina | Roy Cooper |
No | TBD | 2017 | R+1.3 | D+4.5 | TBD |
| North Dakota | Doug Burgum |
No[3] | TBD | 1992 | R+33.3 | R+40.4 | TBD |
| Utah | Spencer Cox |
Yes | TBD | 1985 | R+20.5 | R+32.7 | TBD |
| Vermont | Phil Scott |
Yes | TBD | 2017 | D+35.1 | R+47.2 | TBD |
| Washington | Jay Inslee |
No[4] | TBD | 1985 | D+19.2 | D+13.5 | TBD |
| West Virginia | Jim Justice |
No | TBD | 2017[5] | R+38.9 | R+33.3 | TBD |
List of candidates
The table below contains a list of all candidates for governor in 2024. The table is fully searchable by candidate, party and candidacy status. Depending on the size of your screen, you'll either see a menu to the left of the table or an arrow at the top right corner, which you can use to select a state.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot General | |
 | Democratic | On the Ballot General | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
Republican | Lost Primary | ||
Libertarian | Lost Convention | ||
Independent | Candidacy Declared General | ||
Libertarian | Candidacy Declared General | ||
Democratic | Disqualified Primary | ||
 | Democratic | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Libertarian | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Independent | Candidacy Declared General | |
 | Democratic | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot General | |
Democratic | On the Ballot General | ||
Libertarian | On the Ballot General | ||
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
Democratic | Lost Primary | ||
Democratic | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Constitution Party | Candidacy Declared General | ||
Libertarian | Candidacy Declared General |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot General | |
Democratic | On the Ballot General | ||
Green | On the Ballot General | ||
 | Libertarian | On the Ballot General | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
 | Democratic | Lost Primary | |
 | Democratic | Lost Primary | |
 | Democratic | Lost Primary | |
 | Democratic | Lost Primary | |
 | Libertarian | Lost Primary | |
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary | |
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary | |
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot General | |
 | Democratic | On the Ballot General | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
 | Independent | Candidacy Declared General | |
Democratic | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Citizen's Victory Movement | On the Ballot General | |
Independent | On the Ballot General | ||
 | Independent | On the Ballot General | |
Independent | On the Ballot General | ||
 | New Progressive Party | On the Ballot General | |
 | Popular Democratic Party | On the Ballot General | |
 | Project Dignity | On the Ballot General | |
 | Puerto Rican Independence Party | On the Ballot General | |
 | New Progressive Party | Lost Primary | |
Popular Democratic Party | Lost Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot General | |
 | Democratic | On the Ballot General | |
Independent American Party | On the Ballot General | ||
Libertarian | On the Ballot General | ||
Unaffiliated | On the Ballot General | ||
 | Republican | Lost Round 2 | |
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
Independent | Candidacy Declared (Write-in) General | ||
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary | |
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Vermont Progressive Party | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Independent | Candidacy Declared General | ||
Liberty Union Party | Candidacy Declared General |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Republican | On the Ballot Primary | |
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Republican | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | |
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Democratic | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Green | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Independence Party | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Independent | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Independent | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Independent | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Libertarian | On the Ballot Primary | ||
No party preference | On the Ballot Primary | ||
No party preference | On the Ballot Primary | ||
No party preference | On the Ballot Primary | ||
Nonsense Busters Party | On the Ballot Primary | ||
 | Standup-America Party | On the Ballot Primary | |
Trump Republican Party | On the Ballot Primary | ||
No party preference | Candidacy Declared (Write-in) Primary | ||
Republican | Withdrew Primary | ||
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary | |
Republican | Withdrew Primary | ||
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary | |
Republican | Withdrew Primary | ||
Republican | Withdrew Primary | ||
Constitution Party | Withdrew Primary | ||
Constitution Party | Withdrew Primary | ||
Democratic | Withdrew Primary | ||
Democratic | Withdrew Primary | ||
 | Democratic | Withdrew Primary | |
Democratic | Withdrew Primary | ||
No party preference | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
| candidate | party | office | status |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Republican | On the Ballot General | |
Democratic | On the Ballot General | ||
Mountain Party | On the Ballot General | ||
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
Republican | Lost Primary | ||
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
Republican | Lost Primary | ||
 | Republican | Lost Primary | |
Libertarian | Candidacy Declared General | ||
 | Republican | Withdrew Primary | |
Republican | Withdrew Primary |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
What's on your ballot?
- See also: Sample Ballot Lookup
Trifectas
- See also: State government trifectas
State government trifecta is a term to describe single-party government, when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
As of July 20, 2024, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 17 Democratic trifectas, and 10 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control.
Triplexes
- See also: State government triplexes
A state government triplex is a term used to describe when a state's governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are all members of the same party.
As of July 20, 2024, there are 25 Republican triplexes, 20 Democratic triplexes, and 5 divided governments where neither party holds triplex control.
Important dates and deadlines
The following table details 2024 gubernatorial filing deadlines and primary dates in each state. The signature filing deadline is the date by which candidates must file nominating signatures with election officials in order to have their name placed on the ballot.
| 2024 Election Dates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Filing deadline | Primary election | ||||
| Delaware | July 9 | September 10 | ||||
| Indiana | February 9 | May 7 | ||||
| Missouri | March 26 | August 6 | ||||
| Montana | March 11 | June 4 | ||||
| New Hampshire | June 14 | September 10 | ||||
| North Carolina | December 15 | March 5 | ||||
| North Dakota | April 8 | June 11 | ||||
| Utah | January 8 | June 25 | ||||
| Vermont | May 30 | August 13 | ||||
| Washington | May 17 | August 6 | ||||
| West Virginia | January 27 | May 14 | ||||
Historical control
Republicans led in governorships from 1994 until 2006, after which there were 28 Democratic governors to the Republicans' 22. Republicans regained their national majority in the 2010 midterm elections. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of Republican governors continued to increase, reaching a high point of 33 following West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's switch to the Republican Party in August 2017.[6] From 2017 to 2019, Democrats won Republican-held governorships in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. Republicans, meanwhile, gained a governorship in Alaska previously held by independent Bill Walker. In 2020 and 2021, Republicans won Democratic-held governorships in Montana and Virginia. Four gubernatorial offices changed partisan control in 2022, with Democrats winning three previously Republican-held seats in Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts, and Republicans defeating the Democratic incumbent in Nevada. In 2023, Republicans won the election in Louisiana to replace a retiring Democratic incumbent. These changes brought Republicans to 27 governorships and Democrats to 23.
Outside race ratings
The following table compares gubernatorial race ratings from The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections.
Gubernatorial offices that changed party control in 2020
One gubernatorial office changed party control in 2020. In Montana, Greg Gianforte (R) won the seat previously held by term-limited Gov. Steve Bullock (D).
2020 gubernatorial elections
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2020
Eleven states held elections for governor in 2020. Of those eleven states, only Montana featured a term-limited incumbent.
Incumbents won nine of the eleven races. Spencer Cox (R) won in Utah, where Republican incumbent Gary Herbert (R) did not run for re-election. Greg Gianforte (R) won in Montana, where incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock (D) was term-limited, making Montana's governorship the only one to change party control in 2020.
The following table details the margin of victory for winning candidates in states that held gubernatorial elections in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020.
| Margin of victory analysis, 2004-2020 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | 2020 margin of victory (%) | Party of winning candidate, 2020 | 2016 margin of victory (%) | Party of winning candidate, 2016 | 2012 margin of victory (%) | Party of winning candidate, 2012 | 2008 margin of victory (%) | Party of winning candidate, 2008 | 2004 margin of victory (%) | Party of winning candidate, 2004 |
| Delaware | 20.9 |  Democratic |
19.2 | Democratic |
40.7 | Democratic |
45.5 | Democratic |
5.1 | Democratic
|
| Indiana | 24.4 |  Republican |
6.0 | Republican |
2.9 | Republican |
17.7 | Republican |
7.8 | Republican
|
| Missouri | 16.4 | Republican |
5.9 | Republican |
12.3 | Democratic |
18.9 | Democratic |
3.0 | Republican
|
| Montana | 12.8 | Republican |
3.9 | Democratic |
1.6 | Democratic |
32.9 | Democratic |
4.4 | Democratic
|
| New Hampshire | 31.7 | Republican |
2.3 | Republican |
12.1 | Democratic |
42.6 | Democratic |
2.2 | Democratic
|
| North Carolina | 4.5 | Democratic |
37.4 | Democratic |
11.4 | Republican |
3.4 | Democratic |
12.7 | Democratic
|
| North Dakota | 40.4 | Republican |
57.1 | Republican |
28.8 | Republican |
50.9 | Republican |
43.9 | Republican
|
| Utah | 32.7 | Republican |
38.1 | Republican |
30.7 | Republican |
57.9 | Republican |
16.4 | Republican
|
| Vermont | 41.1 | Republican |
8.8 | Republican |
20.2 | Democratic |
31.6 | Republican |
20.8 | Republican
|
| Washington | 13.5 | Democratic |
8.8 | Democratic |
3.0 | Democratic |
6.4 | Democratic |
0.1 | Democratic
|
| West Virginia | 34.0 | Republican |
11.0 | Republican |
4.7 | Democratic |
44.1 | Democratic |
29.5 | Democratic
|
About the office
- See also: Governor (state executive office)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state. The governor is not directly subordinate to the federal authorities but is the political and ceremonial head of the state. The governor may also assume additional roles, such as the commander-in-chief of the National Guard when the role is not federalized. The governor may also have the ability to commute or pardon a criminal sentence.
In all states, the governor is directly elected and, in most cases, has considerable practical powers. Notable exceptions with weak governorships include the office of the governor in Texas, though this may be moderated by the state legislature and, in some cases, by other elected executive officials. Governors can veto state bills. The specific duties and powers vary widely between states.
Compensation
According to compensation figures for 2022 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the highest salary for a governor was $250,000 in New York while the lowest is $70,000 in Maine. To view the compensation of a particular governor, hover your mouse over the state.[7]
Staff size
According to figures for 2022 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, gubernatorial offices range in size from 9 staffers in Nebraska to 277 staffers in Texas.[7]
Involvement in budget proposals
Although all governors have some involvement in the process of developing a state budget, the specific level of involvement differs from state to state. According to information published in the 2022 Book of the States, 24 governors share responsibility for developing a budget proposal, while 11 governors have full responsibility for developing an initial budget proposal and the remaining 15 have full responsibility for developing a budget.[8]
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
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. Although Vermont and New Hampshire do not have term limit laws, they are the only states whose governors serve two-year terms rather than four-year terms.
Line-item veto powers
The term line-item veto refers to the ability of a governor or other chief executive to veto specific parts of a bill while signing the rest of the bill into law. Currently, 44 states grant their governors line-item veto powers.[8]
See also
- 2024 election dates and deadlines
- State executive official elections, 2024
- Gubernatorial elections, 2022
- State executive official elections, 2022
Footnotes
- ↑ 2022 election for New Hampshire and Vermont.
- ↑ Sununu announced he would not run for re-election on July 19, 2023.
- ↑ Burgum announced that he was running for president of the United States on June 7, 2023.
- ↑ Inslee announced on May 1, 2023, that he would not run for re-election in 2024.
- ↑ Justice was elected as a Democrat and switched to the Republican Party in 2017.
- ↑ Because Justice switched his registration more than halfway through the year, he was counted as a Democrat in 2017 for the purposes of the chart.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2022 Table 4.3: The Governors: Compensation, Staff, Travel and Residence provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2022 Table 4.4: The Governors: Powers provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
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