10 races for governor to watch in 2026

Across the country, 36 gubernatorial elections are on the ballot this year, including in six presidential battleground states.

A whopping three dozen gubernatorial elections are on the ballot this year, contests that will help reveal the mood of the broader electorate in the middle of President Donald Trump's second term and the direction both parties are going in.

Democrats will look to pick up where they left off in 2025, when they scored victories in the New Jersey and Virginia governor's races by leaning heavily on affordability and the economy. But they will need to navigate crowded primaries in some key states where thorny issues could arise.

Meanwhile, Trump will loom large on the Republican side — both in primaries, where he's already been active with endorsements, and in general elections, as he and his party are in control in Washington.

“Most of these races across the map are going to be a referendum on Trump and his economy,” said Mike Noble, CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, a nonpartisan polling and research firm that focuses on Nevada, Arizona and other Southwestern states. “I just can’t see how they won’t be.”

“The setting is good for Democrats. The big question for them is, can they really dial in their messaging and figure out who they are?”