Why governors’ races are important in the 2026 US midterms

Thirty-six US states are electing governors in the November 3, 2026 midterms, and 19 races have no incumbent running because of term limits or voluntary departures. The turnover could bring significant changes in leadership across several states. Governors lead state administrations, propose budgets, appoint senior officials, issue executive orders, and can sign or veto legislation. They also have major influence over reproductive-rights policies following the Supreme Court’s 2022 abortion ruling.