Elections & Campaigns
What Democratic Special Election Wins Mean for State Legislative Elections in 2026
April 13, 2026 | Bill Kramer
Key Takeaways:
- Democrats hold 24 governorships heading into 2026, compared to 26 for Republicans, which is the closest partisan split in recent years.
- Of the 36 gubernatorial elections in 2026, 18 seats are currently held by Democrats, meaning nearly every Democratic governorship is on the ballot this cycle.
- Six Democratic governors are term-limited and cannot run again in 2026: California, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, and New Mexico.
- Two Democratic-held governorships are rated as toss-ups by Cook Political Report as of March 2026: Michigan and Wisconsin, both highly competitive battleground states where trifecta control is also on the line. Arizona, initially rated a toss-up, has moved to Lean Democrat.
- Trifecta control is on the line in multiple states; going into 2026 there are 16 Democratic trifectas and 23 Republican trifectas nationally.
Democrats currently hold 24 governorships heading into 2026, a nearly even split with Republicans, who hold 26. With 36 gubernatorial elections on the ballot this November and trifecta control on the line in multiple states, the partisan makeup of governor's offices is set to shift.
How Many States Have Democratic Governors in 2026?
Twenty-four states have Democratic governors. That's up by one from 2025, following the 2025 elections in New Jersey and Virginia. New Jersey Democrats retained control with the victory of then-U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D), and the Virginia governor's office flipped from Republican to Democrat after a win by former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D).
For a full state-by-state breakdown and downloadable map, see our 2026 Governors resource.
Which Democratic Governors Are Up for Election in 2026?
Incumbents and Term-Limits
Of the 36 gubernatorial elections in 2026, 18 seats are currently held by Democrats. That means nearly every Democratic governorship is on the ballot this cycle. Six of those 18 Democratic governors are term-limited and cannot run again, creating open seat races that are historically more competitive.
The six states where Democratic governors are term-limited in 2026 are California, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, and New Mexico. Of these, Kansas and Michigan are the most closely watched. Kansas has been a perennial competitive race, and Michigan is a top-tier battleground where trifecta control is at stake.
Which Democratic Governor Races Are Most Competitive?
According to Cook Political Report ratings as of March 2026, two Democratic-held governorships are rated toss-ups: Michigan and Wisconsin. Arizona, initially rated a toss-up, has since moved to Lean Democrat as the race has developed. Each of these states remains a closely watched battleground heading into November.
What makes these races particularly significant is that trifecta control is on the line in each of them. A trifecta, when one party controls the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature, dramatically expands a party's ability to move legislation without compromise. Going into 2026, there are 16 Democratic trifectas and 23 Republican trifectas nationally.
Track every governor's race and the trifecta implications in 2026. MultiState's resources give you the full picture of partisan control across all 50 states, updated as the cycle evolves. 2026 Governors: Partisan Breakdown & Map → | 2026 State Government Trifectas → | 2026 Governors and Legislatures →
When a state flips from one party to the other, the policy environment can shift quickly. States where a trifecta is newly established often see accelerated legislative activity in the first year of the new administration.
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