Midterm elections: One third of gubernatorial, AG seats up for reelection

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(The Center Square) – This November, roughly one third of gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial seats are up for reelection. A quarter of U.S. states’ secretary of state seats are up for grabs. And 296 state executive offices in 43 states are on the ballot, according to data published by the nonprofit Ballotpedia.

Voters in 36 states are voting for a new governor on Nov. 3. These races are in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Fifteen incumbent governors are term-limited; six are Democrats; nine are Republicans.

Nationwide, Republicans hold the majority of incumbent governors, 26, compared to 24 Democrats.

There are also 31 lieutenant governor seats on the ballot Nov. 3. These elections are in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

In these states, incumbents are evenly split among 15 Democrats and 15 Republicans. 

In November, Arizona is holding its first election for lieutenant governor after voters created the office when they approved Arizona Proposition 131 in 2022. 

Nationwide, Republicans hold the majority lieutenant governor seats, 24, compared to 20 Democrats and one vacancy.

There are also 30 attorney general seats on the ballot. These elections are in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Republicans also hold the majority of incumbent AG seats nationwide, 27, compared to 22 Democrats.

There are also 26 secretary of state seats on the ballot. These elections are in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Republicans also hold the majority of incumbent secretaries of state seats, 25, compared to 22 Democrats.

Another 296 state executive offices in 43 states are on the ballot. These include school superintendents, state agency commissioners, including for comptroller, agriculture, insurance, among others, according to Ballotpedia.

There are more statewide executive offices on the ballot this year compared to 2024. 

In 2024, there were 11 gubernatorial seats, nine lieutenant gubernatorial seats, 10 attorney general seats and seven secretary of state seats on the ballot, according to election data. Down-ballot races included 167 state executive seats in 30 states in 2024, according to Ballotpedia.