A Democratic Blue Wave Could Hit Governors’ Races, Too

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Intelligencer Unsubscribe	Wed, Sep 9, 2:31 AM (1 day ago)
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September 8, 2026 EARLY AND OFTEN A Democratic Blue Wave Could Hit Governors’ Races, Too Democrats hope anti-Trump sentiment will extend downballot, giving them the edge in November’s nine competitive gubernatorial races. By Ed Kilgore Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton on April 28. Photo: Jon Cherry/Getty Images Democrats have reason to hope that a “blue wave” in the midterm elections, fed by Donald Trump’s unpopularity, will help them flip the House and maybe even the Senate this year. National dynamics are typically less decisive in state elections, including the 36 gubernatorial elections on tap. But nationwide trends do shape the electorate that will vote up and down the ballot, so Democrats expect gubernatorial gains, too. Republicans have controlled a majority of governorships for 28 of the past 32 years, dating back to the GOP landslide election of 1994. They currently hold a 26 to 24 advantage in governorships. It’s not higher because Democrats have done marginally better at winning the top job in presidential battleground states, as Sabato’s Crystal Ball explained. Both parties are defending 18 governorships this year. The results probably won’t massively change the national partisan balance. Cook Political Report rates 13 races as safely Democratic and another ten as safely Republican. But the gubernatorial races could add some key national battleground states to either party’s arsenal while also affecting future gerrymandering opportunities.  So these races are a big deal. And quite a few are competitive. Cook and Sabato rate eight contests as either toss-ups or leaning in one direction or another. Sabato has just added a ninth — Alaska — which Cook will likely soon recognize as well. Here’s where the two parties stand in each of the competitive gubernatorial contests.