The Governors
Here are profiles of the governors we are tracking through Thomas and several we are featuring.
Credit: Governor Andy Beshear
Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear (D)
Andy Beshear, the son of a former governor, is the state’s 63rd, having been first elected in 2019 with a little more than 5,000 votes. A somewhat moderate politician who is the only statewide elected Democrat in the Blue Grass State, Beshear has been active in managing natural disasters that have plagued his constituents and has sought to attract more advanced manufacturing to help replace jobs lost to the reduction in coal-related work. Married and father of two, Beshear has proven a popular governor in a heavily red state by working across the aisle and seeking political collaboration as often as possible. Before serving as governor, he was the state’s attorney general. Beshear was re-elected governor in 2023 by a much wider margin of five percent of the statewide vote. When Mitch McConnell announced his intention to retire from the Senate in the 2026 election, Beshear told supporters he had no interest in succeeding McConnell. A graduate of Vanderbilt University with a law degree from the University of Virginia, the Governor is often mentioned as a possible candidate for president in 2028.
Thomas Rank: A
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2025
Credit: Governor Ron DeSantis
Florida’s Governor Ron Desantis (r)
Ron DeSantis is Florida’s 46th Governor as of January 2019. A conservative Republican of Italian descent, DeSantis, was previously a three-term U.S. Representative from the state’s East Coast who narrowly defeated the Democrat Mayor of Tallahassee for the office with his first term with a heavy assist from President Donald Trump in both the primary against popular Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, and then general election against Andrew Gillum. DeSantis won his second term handily besting Democrat Charlie Crist in 2022. Before he was elected Governor, DeSantis was also a candidate for the United States Senate in 2016, before withdrawing from the race when the incumbent, Marco Rubio, who had abandoned his race for the White House, chose re-election instead. DeSantis is a former candidate for the Republican nomination for President. The Governor graduated from Harvard University before earning his law degree from Yale University. He is Roman Catholic, married with three children, and was a United States Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps who was awarded the Bronze Star for his Seal Team One service in Iraq.
Thomas Rank: C
Thomas Take: Open seat - Term limited - Not Running for re-election in 2026
Credit: Governor Kathy Hochul
New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul (D)
New York’s 57th governor is the first female Governor in state history, having assumed the office in 2021 as Lieutenant Governor succeeding Andrew Cuomo who left office under an ethics cloud. Governor Hochul, who is married and the mother of two, graduated from Syracuse University and earned a law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Her focus is on better healthcare, small businesses, and working families. Governor Hochul has also spoken forcefully on abortion rights and what she calls commonsense gun laws. Her 2022 re-election was a close outcome, more than was expected by most pundits and pollsters.
Thomas Rank: B
Thomas Take: Running for re-election in 2026
Credit: Governor Phil Scott
Vermont’s Governor Phil Scott (R)
Today, one of the most popular governors in the United States, Phil Scott, is serving his fifth term in office. Vermont’s governors serve two-year terms. A moderate by nature, Scott served ten years, or five terms, in the state senate before serving three more terms over six years as Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor. Scott focuses on growing the state’s economy, making Vermont more affordable, protecting the most vulnerable, and restoring faith and trust in government. A businessman and champion stock car racer, Scott graduated from the University of Vermont, is married, and is the father of two grown daughters.
Thomas Rank: A
Thomas Take: Up for re-election in 2026 - No decision on running again
Credit: Governor Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro (D)
Josh Shapiro came within a whisker of being Kamala Harris’ vice presidential running mate in the 2024 election but was passed over in favor of Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz. That was most likely an invaluable political blessing, given that the 48th Pennsylvania governor’s stock has soared since that fateful introduction to national politics. Governor Shapiro has been focused on investing in quality schools and building a working economy for his citizens. A former state Attorney General, state representative, and congressional staff member, Shapiro earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and his law degree from Georgetown University. The married father of four is frequently mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2028.
Thomas Rank: A
Thomas Take: Running for re-election in 2026
Governors whose terms expire with the 2025 & 2026 elections
The current makeup of our nation’s governors is 27 Republicans and 23 Democrats. Two U.S. territories have Democrat governors, two territories have Republican governors, while one - Puerto Rico - has an Independent governor who belongs to the New Progressive Party.
Two states held elections in 2025: New Jersey had a Democratic governor, and Virginia had a Republican governor. Neither of the 2025 governors could run for re-election in their states. Thirty-six (36) states hold gubernatorial elections in 2026. Three territories will also hold elections.
Here are our assessments of those races where elections will be held in 2026:
Alabama - Governor Kay Ivey (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: C
Alaska - Governor Mike Dunleavy (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Arizona - Governor Katie Hobbs (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - Running again
Thomas Take: It’s a Race
Thomas Rank: B
Arkansas - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
First elected in 2022
1st term - Running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: F
California - Governor Gavin Newsome (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: D
Colorado - Governor Jared Polis (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Connecticut - Governor Ned Lamont (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Not term-limited - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Florida - Governor Ron DeSantis (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Nudging Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Georgia - Governor Brian Kemp (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Nudging Republican
Thomas Rank: A
Hawaii - Governor Josh Green (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Idaho - Governor Brad Little (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Not term-limited - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Take: B
Illinois - Governor JB Pritzker (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Not term-limited - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Take: B
Iowa - Governor Kim Reynolds (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Not term-limited - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Kansas - Laura Kelly (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Maine - Janet Mills (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Nudging Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Maryland - Wes Moore (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - Running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: A
Massachusetts - Maura Healey (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - Running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Michigan - Gretchen Whitmer (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: It’s a Race
Thomas Rank: B
Minnesota - Tim Walz (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: It’s a Race
Thomas Rank: B
Nebraska - Governor Jim Pillen (R)
First elected in 2022
Is term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Nevada - Joe Lombardo (R)
First elected in 2022
1st term - Running again
Thomas Take: Nudging Republican
Thomas Rank: C
New Hampshire - Kelly Ayotte (R)
First elected in 2024
1st term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: It’s a Race
Thomas Rank: C
New Mexico - Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term Limited
Thomas Take: Nudging Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
New York - Kathy Hochul (D)
Elevated to office in 2021
2nd term - Not term-limited - Running again
Thomas Take: Nudging Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Ohio - Governor Mike DeWine (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Oklahoma - Governor Kevin Stitt (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Oregon - Governor Tina Kotek (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
Pennsylvania - Governor Josh Shapiro (D)
First elected in 2022
1st term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: It’s a Race
Thomas Rank: A
Rhode Island - Governor Dan McKee (D)
First elected in 2021
1st term - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
South Carolina - Governor Henry McMaster (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
South Dakota - Governor Larry Rhoden (R)
Elevated to office in 2025
1st term - No decision on running
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: Too early to tell
Tennessee - Governor Bill Lee (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Texas - Governor Greg Abbott (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - No term limit - Running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: F
Vermont - Governor Phil Scott (R)
First elected in 2016
5th term - 2-year terms - No term limit - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: A
Wisconsin - Governor Tony Evers (D)
First elected in 2014
3rd term - No term limit - No decision on running again
Thomas Take: It’s a Race
Thomas Rank: B
Wyoming - Governor Mark Gordon (R)
First elected in 2018
2nd term - Term limited
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
The 2025 gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia were, as always, early harbingers of how the President is doing after their first year in office. It was, it turned out, a troubling referendum on 47 and MAGA?
It will be worth watching to see what happens in New Hampshire and Vermont, where Vice President Kamala Harris won those states in the 2024 presidential election but are now governed by Republicans.
The states with current Democratic governors that Trump won in the 2024 presidential election are Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
In the end, Thomas projects that 14 Republican governors are ranked a safe bet, three Republicans are in a race that is nudging Republican, and one Republican is in an election that will be a race - Ayotte of New Hampshire.
Ten Democrats are ranked a safe bet, three Democrats are in a race that is nudging Democrat, and five Democrats are in an election that will be a race - Hobbs of Arizona, Whitmer of Michigan, Walz of Minnesota, Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Evers of Wisconsin.
For now, anyway! The election is coming, so we will keep you posted.