Big-Name Politicians Are Running for Governor in 2026—Here’s the List

In the 2026 electoral cycle, 39 jurisdictions will elect governors, with several elections in competitive states for the presidential election.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz (L) and Gov. Tony Evers (D-Wis.) (R) listen to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) (C) speak at a rally in the KI Convention Center to kick off their “Driving Forward” Blue Wall Bus Tour in Green Bay, Wis., on Oct. 14, 2024. Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—The United States will have many elections held on Nov. 3, 2026—for all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, one-third of seats in the U.S. Senate, and elections to dozens of state legislatures and local offices. Some of the biggest races will be for various states’ governor’s offices, which have attracted the candidacies of famous politicians in politically significant states.

In every state of the union, the governor is the chief executive and vested with executive authority, although his or her exact powers vary and depend upon state constitutions. Usually, the governor directs state agencies, vetoes bills, and is the state’s leading political figure. Historically, many governors have used their public esteem to get elected to other high offices, such as the U.S. Senate or the presidency.