2026 Elections · Governors
2026 Governor Elections
36 races. 26 states for a majority.
Republicans hold 26 governorships and Democrats hold 24. Map the 36 states voting this year, then compare the live market prices for races where party contracts can be identified.
Starting point: Current governor’s party in each state holding a 2026 race; the other 14 states remain counted. Your edits are scenarios, not forecasts.
Build a Governor scenario
Starts with each 2026 race assigned to the current governor’s party. States without a 2026 race remain in the chamber total. Change any state to explore a scenario; this is an incumbent baseline, not a forecast.
Every race the market prices
Closest first. Polymarket, read 8 Nov 2026, 10:22 UTC.
| State | Market | Democratic | Republican |
|---|
“Competitive” means the two prices are within 20 points of each other — 0 of the 1 priced races. Candidate names appear only where the market names them; the rest trade as a straight party pair.
What the board looks like
Of the 1 races carrying a market, the Democrats are the favourite in 1 and the Republicans in 0. Only 0 are inside 20 points, so most of the board is priced as already decided and the majority turns on a short list of states.
Key Facts
- 50 governorships, 26 for a majority
- Now: 26 R – 24 D
- 36 on the ballot in 2026
- Election Day: November 3, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many governorships are needed for a majority?
26 of the 50 states. As of September 26, 2026, Republicans hold 26 governorships and Democrats hold 24. Republicans have a majority; Democrats need a net gain of two seats to take one.
How many governor races are up in 2026?
36 states. The other 14 governorships are holdovers not on the ballot this year, and they are already counted on the map.
Where do the percentages come from?
They are live Polymarket prices for each state's 2026 governor market, not a forecast produced by this site. A contract pays out if that party wins the state, so its price reads as the market's implied probability. The two sides are separate contracts, which is why a state's pair does not always total exactly 100.
Why is California missing from the table?
Because its market cannot be read by party. Most states trade as a simple Democratic-versus-Republican pair, but California runs a list of 23 individual candidates with no party marker attached, so sorting them into parties would mean guessing at the data. It is left out rather than filled in.
Can I build my own governor map?
Yes. Open the full interactive map, assign each state, and use the Share button for a link or embed code.
Sources and methodology
The map covers 36 state gubernatorial elections; it excludes territorial contests. The market board includes only races where the Democratic and Republican contracts can be identified. “Competitive” means those prices are within 20 percentage points. Prices are separate contracts, not a forecast produced by this site.
Source references reviewed . Live market panels show their own read time; check state election offices for certified candidate lists and results.