Forecast - 2026 US midterm elections: governors

OverviewHouseSenateGovernorsSimulatorPolling errors
FrançaisEnglishEspañolDeutsch
Republicans would keep most governorships
Le Millénaire · 36 governorships up · updated October 24, 2026 · election on November 3, 2026
Expected governorships out of 48 counted
Democrats incl. 6 not up
22.0
expected governorships
90% interval: 19 to 25
Republicans incl. 8 not up
26.0
expected governorships
90% interval: 23 to 29
AK·ME
Alaska and Maine
2
not probabilized
ranked-choice in Alaska, three candidates in Maine

36 governorships up, 14 not up (6 Democratic, 8 Republican). Structural mean: the state’s 2024 presidential result, the national environment and an incumbent governor on the ballot. Each race's polls are blended into this mean, with a weight that grows as the vote nears. Updated October 24, 2026.

Expected Democratic governors since August 1
20.7 → 22.2
MAP

Map of the 36 races

National view · 50 states · 36 races

R more likely≈ 50/50D more likelyNot probabilizedNo election in 2026
Alaska · Not probabilizedAKAlabama · D 0.2% · R 99.8%ALArkansas · D 0.0% · R 100.0%ARArizona · D 86.2% · R 13.8%AZCalifornia · D 100.0% · R 0.0%CAColorado · D 63.5% · R 36.5%COConnecticut · D 99.8% · R 0.2%CTDelaware · Not up · party in office DDEFlorida · D 6.9% · R 93.1%FLGeorgia · D 25.5% · R 74.5%GAHawaii · D 95.8% · R 4.2%HIIowa · D 63.7% · R 36.3%IAIdaho · D 0.1% · R 99.9%IDIllinois · D 99.8% · R 0.2%ILIndiana · Not up · party in office RINKansas · D 13.6% · R 86.4%KSKentucky · Not up · party in office DKYLouisiana · Not up · party in office RLAMassachusetts · D 100.0% · R 0.0%MAMaryland · D 100.0% · R 0.0%MDMaine · Not probabilizedMEMichigan · D 75.5% · R 24.5%MIMinnesota · D 79.6% · R 20.4%MNMissouri · Not up · party in office RMOMississippi · Not up · party in office RMSMontana · Not up · party in office RMTNorth Carolina · Not up · party in office DNCNorth Dakota · Not up · party in office RNDNebraska · D 3.9% · R 96.1%NENew Hampshire · D 1.7% · R 98.3%NHNew Jersey · Not up · party in office DNJNew Mexico · D 87.1% · R 12.9%NMNevada · D 14.3% · R 85.7%NVNew York · D 97.7% · R 2.3%NYOhio · D 32.2% · R 67.8%OHOklahoma · D 0.3% · R 99.7%OKOregon · D 62.4% · R 37.6%ORPennsylvania · D 100.0% · R 0.0%PARhode Island · D 100.0% · R 0.0%RISouth Carolina · D 1.9% · R 98.1%SCSouth Dakota · D 0.0% · R 100.0%SDTennessee · D 0.1% · R 99.9%TNTexas · D 13.4% · R 86.6%TXUtah · Not up · party in office RUTVirginia · Not up · party in office DVAVermont · D 20.3% · R 79.7%VTWashington · Not up · party in office DWAWisconsin · D 50.8% · R 49.2%WIWest Virginia · Not up · party in office RWVWyoming · D 0.3% · R 99.7%WYALASKA & HAWAÏ · ENCADRÉS REDIMENSIONNÉS
National simulation

How many governorships for each side

Each bar gives the probability of a number of Democratic governors across the 48 governorships counted: the 34 races that get a probability and the 14 seats not up this year.

Latest update, October 24 | Expected Democratic governors: 22.2 → 22.2. Biggest moves: Nevada, Aaron Ford (D 19% → 14%, on the national environment alone) ; Arizona, Katie Hobbs (Lt: John Giles) (D 89% → 86%, on the national environment alone) ; Kansas, Cindy Holscher / KC Ohaebosim (D 11% → 14%, on the national environment alone).
5%10%15%20%12 Democrats: 0.0%13 Democrats: 0.0%14 Democrats: 0.0%15 Democrats: 0.0%16 Democrats: 0.0%17 Democrats: 0.2%18 Democrats: 1.3%19 Democrats: 4.7%20 Democrats: 11.9%21 Democrats: 20.5%22 Democrats: 24.4%23 Democrats: 19.9%24 Democrats: 11.2%25 Democrats: 4.4%26 Democrats: 1.2%27 Democrats: 0.2%28 Democrats: 0.0%29 Democrats: 0.0%30 Democrats: 0.0%31 Democrats: 0.0%32 Democrats: 0.0%33 Democrats: 0.0%34 Democrats: 0.0%mean 22.0121416182022242628303234Democratic governors out of 48 counted
22.0expected Democratic governors out of 48 · 9 in 10 chance between 19 and 2526.0expected Republican governors out of 48 · 9 in 10 chance between 23 and 29Alaska and Maine get no probability: ranked-choice voting in Alaska, three serious candidates in Maine. Depending on their outcome, Democrats would end with 22.0 to 24.0 expected governorships out of 50.

Seats by level of certainty

Safe799%+
Very likely485-99%
Likely265-85%
Uncertain4under 65%
Likely365-85%
Very likely785-99%
Safe799%+

9 competitive races (under 85%)

Close races

The races that will make the difference

The 6 races where each side keeps at least a one-in-four chance, from closest to least close.

WisconsinINCUMBENT D · RETIRING
David CrowleyTom Tiffany
51%49%
Expected margin: D +0.1
Poll average: D +0.7 (3 pollsters)
Last election (2022): D +3.4
OregonINCUMBENT D · RUNNING
Tina KotekChristine Drazan
62%38%
Expected margin: D +1.8
Poll average: R +0.0 (2 pollsters)
Last election (2022): D +3.4
ColoradoINCUMBENT D · TERM-LIMITED
Phil WeiserVictor Marx
64%36%
Expected margin: D +4.6
No recent poll
Last election (2022): D +19.3
IowaINCUMBENT R · RETIRING
Rob SandZach Lahn
64%36%
Expected margin: D +2.0
Poll average: D +4.1 (11 pollsters)
Last election (2022): R +18.5
OhioINCUMBENT R · TERM-LIMITED
Amy ActonVivek Ramaswamy
32%68%
Expected margin: R +2.7
Poll average: R +1.2 (12 pollsters)
Last election (2022): R +25.0
GeorgiaINCUMBENT R · TERM-LIMITED
Keisha Lance BottomsRick Jackson
26%74%
Expected margin: R +3.8
Poll average: R +2.9 (7 pollsters)
Last election (2022): R +7.5
The 36 races

Every race, from most Democratic to most Republican

The chance shown is the favourite’s. The expected margin is the centre of the forecast, with the range that holds the result 9 times out of 10. “Flip” marks a governorship whose favourite is not the party in office. Alaska and Maine are at the end, without probability.

StateCandidatesChance of winningExpected marginPollsLast election
MarylandIncumbent DWes Moore / Dan CoxWes MooreDan Cox>99%D chanceD +25.7D +16 to D +35D +25.81 pollsterD +32.42022
Rhode IslandIncumbent DHelena Buonanno Foulkes / Aaron C. GuckianHelena Buonanno FoulkesAaron C. Guckian>99%D chanceD +22.8D +13 to D +32D +25.54 pollstersD +19.12022
MassachusettsIncumbent DMaura Healey / Michael Roger MinogueMaura HealeyMichael Roger Minogue>99%D chanceD +22.1D +13 to D +32D +22.04 pollstersD +29.22022
CaliforniaIncumbent DXavier Becerra / Steve HiltonXavier BecerraSteve Hilton>99%D chanceD +21.2D +12 to D +31D +23.48 pollstersD +18.42022
PennsylvaniaIncumbent DJosh Shapiro / Stacy GarrityJosh ShapiroStacy Garrity>99%D chanceD +19.6D +10 to D +29D +21.47 pollstersD +14.82022
ConnecticutIncumbent DNed Lamont / Ryan FazioNed LamontRyan Fazio>99%D chanceD +16.7D +7 to D +26D +16.56 pollstersD +12.92022
IllinoisIncumbent DJB Pritzker / Darren BaileyJB PritzkerDarren Bailey>99%D chanceD +16.6D +7 to D +26D +17.42 pollstersD +12.52022
New YorkIncumbent DKathy Hochul / Bruce BlakemanKathy HochulBruce Blakeman98%D chanceD +11.7D +2 to D +21D +11.88 pollstersD +6.42022
HawaiiIncumbent DJosh Green / Gary CorderyJosh GreenGary Cordery96%D chanceD +22.9D +1 to D +45—no pollsD +26.42022
New MexicoIncumbent DDeb Haaland / Greggory D. HullDeb HaalandGreggory D. Hull87%D chanceD +6.6R +3 to D +16D +7.42 pollstersD +6.42022
ArizonaIncumbent DKatie Hobbs / Andy BiggsKatie HobbsAndy Biggs86%D chanceD +6.4R +3 to D +16D +7.36 pollstersD +0.72022
MinnesotaIncumbent DAmy Klobuchar / Lisa DemuthAmy KlobucharLisa Demuth80%D chanceD +4.8R +5 to D +14D +5.74 pollstersD +7.72022
MichiganIncumbent DJocelyn Benson / John JamesJocelyn BensonJohn James75%D chanceD +4.0R +6 to D +14D +5.014 pollstersD +10.52022
Iowa flipIncumbent RRob Sand / Zach LahnRob SandZach Lahn64%D chanceD +2.0R +8 to D +12D +4.111 pollstersR +18.52022
ColoradoIncumbent DPhil Weiser / Victor MarxPhil WeiserVictor Marx64%D chanceD +4.6R +17 to D +26—no pollsD +19.32022
OregonIncumbent DTina Kotek / Christine DrazanTina KotekChristine Drazan62%D chanceD +1.8R +8 to D +11R +0.02 pollstersD +3.42022
WisconsinIncumbent DDavid Crowley / Tom TiffanyDavid CrowleyTom Tiffany51%D chanceD +0.1R +9 to D +10D +0.73 pollstersD +3.42022
OhioIncumbent RAmy Acton / Vivek RamaswamyAmy ActonVivek Ramaswamy68%R chanceR +2.7R +12 to D +7R +1.212 pollstersR +25.02022
GeorgiaIncumbent RKeisha Lance Bottoms / Rick JacksonKeisha Lance BottomsRick Jackson74%R chanceR +3.8R +13 to D +6R +2.97 pollstersR +7.52022
VermontIncumbent RAmanda Janoo / Phil ScottAmanda JanooPhil Scott80%R chanceR +4.9R +14 to D +5R +5.43 pollstersR +51.62024
NevadaIncumbent RAaron Ford / Joe LombardoAaron FordJoe Lombardo86%R chanceR +6.2R +16 to D +3R +4.82 pollstersR +1.52022
Kansas flipIncumbent DCindy Holscher / Ty MastersonCindy HolscherTy Masterson86%R chanceR +6.4R +16 to D +3R +5.95 pollstersD +2.22022
TexasIncumbent RGina Hinojosa / Greg AbbottGina HinojosaGreg Abbott87%R chanceR +6.5R +16 to D +3R +4.221 pollstersR +10.92022
FloridaIncumbent RDavid Jolly / Byron DonaldsDavid JollyByron Donalds93%R chanceR +8.7R +18 to D +1R +8.312 pollstersR +19.42022
NebraskaIncumbent RLynne Walz / Jim PillenLynne WalzJim Pillen96%R chanceR +10.3R +20 to R +1R +7.87 pollstersR +23.52022
South CarolinaIncumbent RJermaine Johnson / Alan WilsonJermaine JohnsonAlan Wilson98%R chanceR +12.2R +22 to R +3R +11.43 pollstersR +17.42022
New HampshireIncumbent RCinde Warmington / Kelly AyotteCinde WarmingtonKelly Ayotte98%R chanceR +12.4R +22 to R +3R +12.16 pollstersR +9.32024
OklahomaIncumbent RCyndi Munson / Mike MazzeiCyndi MunsonMike Mazzei>99%R chanceR +16.2R +26 to R +7R +14.81 pollsterR +13.72022
WyomingIncumbent RKenneth R. Casner / Eric BarlowKenneth R. CasnerEric Barlow>99%R chanceR +36.7R +58 to R +15—no pollsR +58.22022
AlabamaIncumbent RDoug Jones / Tommy TubervilleDoug JonesTommy Tuberville>99%R chanceR +17.2R +27 to R +8R +15.83 pollstersR +37.72022
IdahoIncumbent RTerri Pickens / Brad LittleTerri PickensBrad Little>99%R chanceR +18.0R +28 to R +8R +14.91 pollsterR +40.22022
TennesseeIncumbent RJerri Green / Marsha BlackburnJerri GreenMarsha Blackburn>99%R chanceR +19.1R +29 to R +9R +18.22 pollstersR +32.02022
ArkansasIncumbent RFred Love / Sarah Huckabee SandersFred LoveSarah Huckabee Sanders>99%R chanceR +25.1R +35 to R +15R +23.81 pollsterR +27.82022
South DakotaIncumbent RDan Ahlers / Larry RhodenDan AhlersLarry Rhoden>99%R chanceR +26.7R +36 to R +17R +25.63 pollstersR +26.82022
AlaskaIncumbent RJonathan S. Kreiss-Tomkins / Treg TaylorJonathan S. Kreiss-TomkinsTreg Taylorno probabilityR +10.9—no pollsR +26.12022
MaineIncumbent DHannah M. Pingree / Robert B. CharlesHannah M. PingreeRobert B. Charlesno probabilityD +0.9—no pollsD +13.22022
Race by race calculation

How each figure is obtained

Two blocks: the state’s structure and the race polls, weighted by their past accuracy. Then the uncertainty, which gives the probability.

Wisconsin

David Crowley / Sarah Godlewski (D) vs Tom Tiffany / David Varnam (R)
Chance of winning
David Crowley / Sarah GodlewskiDavid Crowley / Sarah Godlewski (D)50.8%
Tom Tiffany / David VarnamTom Tiffany / David Varnam (R)49.2%
What drives the forecast

Effect of each element on the expected margin, in points. The total is the forecast margin.

← more Dmore R →National environmentD +4.0State voting historyR +6.9Incumbency0State pollingD +5.2Other data usedD +0.1Poll bias correctionR +2.3Overall effect D +0.1← more Dmore R →NationalenvironmentD +4.0State votinghistoryR +6.9Incumbency0State pollingD +5.2Other datausedD +0.1Poll biascorrectionR +2.3Overall effect D +0.1
How the forecast has moved
255075ElectionD 51%R 49%Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.255075ElectionD 51%R 49%Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.

Each candidate's chance of winning, out of 100 (the two add up to 100%). Curve since August 1, recomputed day by day with only the data published at each date.

Polls used
PollsterField endD–R
YouGovOct. 946–42
Z to A ResearchOct. 149–44
Marquette UniversitySept. 2349–46
From expected margin to probability
90% range
R +9.5 to D +9.7
Democratic chance
50.8%
Republican chance
49.2%

Error measured out of sample on the 2010 to 2022 elections, with or without polls depending on the race.

Figures are in points of margin between the two candidates. Polls come from Wikipedia and 270toWin; the link goes to the pollster’s document when it is cited.
Method

How the forecast is built

01 · Structure

Each race starts from the state’s 2024 presidential vote, the national climate and whether an incumbent governor is on the ballot. The weight of each element is estimated on the 2010 to 2022 elections.

02 · National climate

Likely-voter generic ballot, the same average as for the House, recalculated daily: D +6.9 points today.

03 · Polls

Race polls count at every date, and more as the vote nears: 68% of the centre two months out, 76% one month out, 88% on election day. These weights are learned on 2010 to 2022. Without a poll in the last 45 days, structure only.

04 · Uncertainty

Each race’s uncertainty is measured on past elections; it is smaller when the race has polls. Races are simulated independently: the four-election test did not retain a shared national shock.

Poll bias correction. In the 2006 to 2022 midterms, polls overstated Democrats every time. The average gap depends on the distance to election day: 2.95 points a month out, 2.26 on the eve. The model takes off every poll (generic ballot, race and district polls) the gap matching today's date: 2.49 points today.

What the method gave on past elections

Out-of-sample test on the 144 governor races of 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, at several dates before the vote: for each year, the model learns only from the others. Rule used: structure and polls blended, weight learned by horizon.

Test dateMean errorRoot mean square errorWinner called
45 days before the vote6.669.8586.8%
30 days before the vote5.778.0491.0%
21 days before the vote5.317.3489.6%
7 days before the vote3.945.4291.7%
Election day (latest polls)3.715.2393.8%
Limits
  • Alaska and Maine get no probability.
  • Races are independent of one another and of the Senate and House; no joint probability is measured.
  • Polls come from secondary sources; checking against the pollster’s document is manual.
Sources

Where the data come from

Polls

Wikipedia and 270toWin, collected daily, with the link to the pollster’s document when it is cited. Polls taken into account up to October 24, 2026.

Structure and national climate

2024 presidential vote by state: certified results (FEC). Generic ballot: average of national polls (Wikipedia, PollsMax). Governor results 2010 to 2022 for estimation and tests.

Candidates and incumbents

Officially nominated candidates, incumbent governor status and last result for each governorship, checked race by race.

Party symbols. The donkey and the elephant are the symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties (Wikimedia Commons files). Used for identification; no affiliation.

Pollsters used (101 pollsters, number of races polled)

Links to the 167 poll documents

A forecast, not a certainty

Figures are recalculated every day with the published polls. Latest calculation: October 24, 2026.

A race given at 70% is lost by the favourite three times in ten.