2018 United States Gubernatorial Elections

These elections formed part of the 2018 United States elections. Other coinciding elections were the 2018 United States Senate elections and the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections.

2018 United States gubernatorial elections

← 2017 November 6, 2018 2019 →
39 governorships 36 states; 3 territories
Majority party Minority party   Party Republican Democratic Seats before 33 16 Seats after 27 23 Seat change 6 7 Popular vote 43,452,881 46,253,757 Percentage 48.28% 51.39% Seats up 27 9 Seats won 20 16   Third party   Party Independent Seats before 1 Seats after 0 Seat change 1 Popular vote 299,612 Percentage 0.33% Seats up 1 Seats won 0
Map of the results      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Republican gain      No election

Many of the states holding gubernatorial elections have term limits which made some multi-term governors ineligible for re-election. Two Democratic governors were term-limited while six incumbent Democratic governors were eligible for re-election. Among Republican governors, twelve were term-limited while eleven could seek re-election. One independent governor was eligible for re-election.

Elections were held in 26 of the 33 states with Republican governors, nine of the 16 states with Democratic governors, one state (Alaska) with an independent governor, two territories (Guam and Northern Mariana Islands) with Republican governors, one territory (U.S. Virgin Islands) with an independent governor, and the District of Columbia with a Democratic mayor. Incumbent state governors running to be reelected included 14 Republicans, five Democrats, and one independent. Territorial incumbents running included one Republican and one independent. The incumbent Democratic mayor of Washington, D.C. also ran for re-election.

Democrats gained control of nine state and territorial governorships that had previously been held by Republicans and an independent. They picked up Republican-held open seats in the states of Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, and New Mexico, in addition to defeating Republican incumbents in Illinois and Wisconsin and not losing any seats of their own. Additionally, they won the Republican-controlled territory of Guam and the independent-controlled territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Republicans won the governorship of Alaska previously held by an independent. Democrats also won the total popular vote for the year's gubernatorial elections for the second year in a row.

As of 2024, this is the last time that Republicans won governorships in Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts, and the last time Democrats did so in Nevada.

Several sites and individuals publish predictions of competitive seats. These predictions look at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assign ratings to each seat, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat. Most election predictors use "tossup" to indicate that neither party has an advantage, "lean" to indicate that one party has a slight advantage, "likely" or "favored" to indicate that one party has a significant but not insurmountable advantage and "safe" or "solid" to indicate that one party has a near-certain chance of victory. Some predictions also include a "tilt" rating that indicates that one party has an advantage that is not quite as strong as the "lean" rating would indicate (except Fox News, where "likely" is the highest rating given). Governors whose names are in parentheses are not contesting the election.

^ Highest rating given

States

Territories and federal district

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

1. Florida, 0.4%

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

1. Wisconsin, 1.1%
2. Georgia, 1.4%
3. Iowa, 2.8%
4. Connecticut, 3.2%
5. South Dakota, 3.4%
6. Ohio, 3.7%
7. Nevada, 4.1%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. Kansas, 5.0%
2. Oregon, 6.4%
3. Alaska, 7.0%
4. New Hampshire, 7.0%
5. Maine, 7.7%
6. South Carolina, 8.1%
7. U.S. Virgin Islands, 9.3%
8. Michigan, 9.5%

Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats.

2018 Alabama gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Kay Ivey Walt Maddox Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,022,457 694,495 Percentage 59.5% 40.4%

County results Ivey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Maddox:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Kay Ivey Republican Elected Governor Kay Ivey Republican

Incumbent Kay Ivey took office upon Robert Bentley's resignation in April 2017.

Ivey won election to a full term.

2018 Alaska gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Mike Dunleavy Mark Begich Party Republican Democratic Running mate Kevin Meyer Debra Call Popular vote 145,631 125,739 Percentage 51.4% 44.4%

State house district results Dunleavy:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Begich:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Bill Walker Independent Elected Governor Mike Dunleavy Republican

One-term incumbent Bill Walker ran for re-election as an independent but dropped out of the race on October 19 to endorse Mark Begich (several days after Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott resigned and several weeks before election day).

Former Alaska Senate member Mike Dunleavy won the Republican nomination.

Former U.S. Senator Mark Begich ran uncontested for the Democratic nomination.

Billy Tolein ran for governor on the Libertarian party ticket.

Dunleavy won the election.

2018 Arizona gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Doug Ducey David Garcia Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,330,863 994,341 Percentage 56.0% 41.8%

County results Ducey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Garcia:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Doug Ducey Republican Elected Governor Doug Ducey Republican

One-term incumbent Doug Ducey sought re-election.

Professor David Garcia won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Libertarian candidate for president in 2016 Kevin McCormick declared his candidacy.

Ducey won re-election.

2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →

Nominee Asa Hutchinson Jared Henderson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 582,406 283,218 Percentage 65.3% 31.8%

County results Hutchinson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Henderson:      40-50%      50–60%

Governor before election Asa Hutchinson Republican Elected Governor Asa Hutchinson Republican

One-term incumbent Asa Hutchinson ran for re-election.

Jared Henderson, a former state executive director for Teach For America, won the Democratic nomination.

Libertarian Mark West sought his party's nomination.

Hutchinson won re-election.

2018 California gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2021 (recall) →

Nominee Gavin Newsom John Cox Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 7,721,410 4,742,825 Percentage 61.9% 38.1%

County results Newsom:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Cox:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Jerry Brown Democratic Elected Governor Gavin Newsom Democratic

Two-term consecutive, four-term non-consecutive Governor Jerry Brown was term-limited, as California governors are limited to lifetime service of two terms in office. Brown previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983; California law affects only terms served after 1990.

The Democratic nominee was Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Republican nominee was businessman John H. Cox.

Libertarian candidates included transhumanist activist Zoltan Istvan.

Newsom won the election in a landslide, breaking the record for the largest number of votes received in a gubernatorial election.

2018 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Jared Polis Walker Stapleton Party Democratic Republican Running mate Dianne Primavera Lang Sias Popular vote 1,348,888 1,080,801 Percentage 53.4% 42.8%

County results Polis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Stapleton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election John Hickenlooper Democratic Elected Governor Jared Polis Democratic

Two-term Governor John Hickenlooper was term-limited, as Colorado does not allow governors to serve three consecutive terms.

The Democratic nominee was U.S. Representative Jared Polis.

The Republican nominee was Colorado State Treasurer Walker Stapleton.

Polis won the election.

2018 Connecticut gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Ned Lamont Bob Stefanowski Party Democratic Republican Running mate Susan Bysiewicz Joe Markley Popular vote 694,510 650,138 Percentage 49.4% 46.2%

County results Lamont:      40–50%      50–60% Stefanowski:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Dannel Malloy Democratic Elected Governor Ned Lamont Democratic

Two-term Governor Dan Malloy was eligible to seek re-election, but declined to do so.

The Democratic nominee was former selectman from Greenwich Ned Lamont.

Republicans endorsed Mark Boughton, mayor of Danbury, at the statewide nominating convention held on May 11 and 12, 2018, at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard. Candidates qualifying to primary at the convention were former First Selectman of Trumbull Tim Herbst and former candidate for Congress Steve Obsitnik. Failing to qualify at the convention to primary were Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, former secretary of state candidate Peter Lumaj, state representative Prasad Srinivasan, former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker and Stamford Director of Administration, Mike Handler.

Businessman Bob Stefanowski became the second candidate in the history of Connecticut to petition to be on the primary ballot on June 18, 2018, and the first for a gubernatorial race. Businessman David Stemerman became the third to do so on June 19, 2018. Neither Stefanowski nor Stemerman participated in the statewide convention. Both Lauretti and Handler pledged to conduct a petition drive to get on the August 14, 2018, primary election ballot, but dropped out.

Micah Welintukonis, former vice chair of the Coventry Town Council ran as an independent.

Lamont won the election in a close race.

2018 Florida gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Ron DeSantis Andrew Gillum Party Republican Democratic Running mate Jeanette Núñez Chris King Popular vote 4,076,186 4,043,723 Percentage 49.6% 49.2%

County results DeSantis:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Gillum:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Rick Scott Republican Elected Governor Ron DeSantis Republican

Two-term Governor Rick Scott was term-limited, as Florida does not allow governors to serve three consecutive terms.

U.S. Representative Ron DeSantis won the Republican nomination.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum won the Democratic nomination.

Randy Wiseman sought the Libertarian nomination.

DeSantis narrowly won the election in a close race.

2018 Georgia gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Brian Kemp Stacey Abrams Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,978,408 1,923,685 Percentage 50.2% 48.8%

County results Kemp:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Abrams:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Nathan Deal Republican Elected Governor Brian Kemp Republican

Two-term Governor Nathan Deal was term-limited, as Georgia does not allow governors to serve three consecutive terms.

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp won first and second place in the May 22 Republican primary; Cagle lost the runoff to Kemp on July 24, 2018.

State Representative Stacey Abrams garnered the Democratic nomination outright.

Ted Metz, chair of the Libertarian Party of Georgia, ran unopposed in the Libertarian primary.

Kemp won the election.

2018 Hawaii gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee David Ige Andria Tupola Party Democratic Republican Running mate Josh Green Marissa Kerns Popular vote 244,934 131,719 Percentage 62.7% 33.7%

County results Ige:      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election David Ige Democratic Elected Governor David Ige Democratic

One-term Governor David Ige ran for re-election. Ige took office after defeating previous Governor Neil Abercrombie in the Democratic primary and then winning the general election. Ige was nominated again, after defeating a primary challenge by Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa.

The Republican nominee was state house minority leader Andria Tupola.

Ige won re-election.

2018 Idaho gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Brad Little Paulette Jordan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 361,661 231,081 Percentage 59.8% 38.2%

County Results Little:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Jordan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Butch Otter Republican Elected Governor Brad Little Republican

Three-term Governor Butch Otter was eligible to seek re-election, but did not do so.

Lieutenant Governor Brad Little won the Republican nomination.

Paulette Jordan, a former state representative, was nominated in the Democratic primary.

Little won the election.

2018 Illinois gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →

Nominee J. B. Pritzker Bruce Rauner Party Democratic Republican Running mate Juliana Stratton Evelyn Sanguinetti Popular vote 2,479,746 1,765,751 Percentage 54.5% 38.8%

County Results Pritzker:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Rauner:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Bruce Rauner Republican Elected Governor J. B. Pritzker Democratic

One-term incumbent Republican Bruce Rauner ran for re-election. State Representative Jeanne Ives also ran for the Republican nomination, but lost narrowly to Rauner.

On the Democratic side, Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Bob Daiber, former chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and member of the Kennedy family Chris Kennedy, State Representative Scott Drury, State Senator Daniel Biss, and venture capitalist J. B. Pritzker all ran for the Democratic nomination. Pritzker, who is related to former United States Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, won the primary, and became one of the wealthiest governors in United States history upon election.

Libertarian candidate Kash Jackson was nominated at the state party convention on March 3. He defeated Matt Scaro and Jon Stewart.

Pritzker won the election in a landslide.

2018 Iowa gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Kim Reynolds Fred Hubbell Party Republican Democratic Running mate Adam Gregg Rita Hart Popular vote 667,275 630,986 Percentage 50.3% 47.5%

County results Reynolds:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70-80% Hubbell:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%

Governor before election Kim Reynolds Republican Elected Governor Kim Reynolds Republican

Incumbent governor Kim Reynolds took office in 2017, upon the resignation of Terry Branstad, following his confirmation as ambassador to China. Reynolds sought election to a full term in 2018.

Former gubernatorial aide John Norris, state Senator Nate Boulton, former state party chairwoman Andy McGuire, SEIU leader Cathy Glasson, attorney Jon Neiderbach, former Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn, and businessman Fred Hubbell sought the Democratic nomination, which Hubbell won.

Jake Porter, who was the Libertarian nominee for secretary of state in 2010 and 2014, ran for the Libertarian nomination for governor.

Reynolds won the election.

2018 Kansas gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Laura Kelly Kris Kobach Greg Orman Party Democratic Republican Independent Running mate Lynn Rogers Wink Hartman John Doll Popular vote 506,727 453,645 68,590 Percentage 48.0% 43.0% 6.5%

County Results Kelly:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kobach:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Jeff Colyer Republican Elected Governor Laura Kelly Democratic

Jeff Colyer succeeded Sam Brownback in January 2018 after he was confirmed as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach defeated Governor Colyer, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, former state Senator Jim Barnett, and former state Representative Mark Hutton for the Republican nomination.

The Democratic nominee was state Senator Laura Kelly.

Businessman Greg Orman, who finished second in the 2014 U.S. Senate election in Kansas, ran as an Independent.

Kelly won the election.

2018 Maine gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →

Nominee Janet Mills Shawn Moody Terry Hayes Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 320,962 272,311 37,268 Percentage 50.9% 43.2% 5.9%

County results Mills:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70% Moody:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor before election Paul LePage Republican Elected Governor Janet Mills Democratic

Two-term governor Paul LePage was term-limited, as Maine does not allow governors to serve three consecutive terms. LePage won re-election in a three-way race over Democrat Mike Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler, in 2014. The primary election was June 12, and conducted with ranked choice voting, a system recently implemented and being used for the first time in the 2018 elections in Maine. It was not used in the general election due to an advisory opinion by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court calling its use in general elections for state offices unconstitutional.

Businessman and 2010 independent candidate for governor Shawn Moody won the Republican nomination.

The Democratic nominee was Attorney General Janet Mills.

Two independent candidates qualified for the ballot; State Treasurer Terry Hayes and businessman and newspaper columnist Alan Caron.

Mills won the election.

2018 Maryland gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →

Nominee Larry Hogan Ben Jealous Party Republican Democratic Running mate Boyd Rutherford Susan Turnbull Popular vote 1,275,644 1,002,639 Percentage 55.4% 43.5%

County results Hogan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Jealous:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Larry Hogan Republican Elected Governor Larry Hogan Republican

One-term Republican incumbent Larry Hogan ran for re-election.

Former president of the NAACP Benjamin Jealous was the Democratic nominee.

Green Party candidate and entrepreneur Ian Schlakman sought his party's nomination. Libertarian Shawn Quinn was nominated the LP's candidate by convention.

Hogan won re-election.

2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022 →

Nominee Charlie Baker Jay Gonzalez Party Republican Democratic Running mate Karyn Polito Quentin Palfrey Popular vote 1,781,341 885,770 Percentage 66.6% 33.1%

County results Baker:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Charlie Baker Republican Elected Governor Charlie Baker Republican

One-term Republican incumbent Charlie Baker ran for re-election.

Former State Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez, environmentalist Bob Massie, and former Newton Mayor Setti Warren have announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. Warren withdrew from the race, leaving only Gonzalez and Massie.

Baker won re-election.

2018 Michigan gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Gretchen Whitmer Bill Schuette Party Democratic Republican Running mate Garlin Gilchrist Lisa Posthumus Lyons Popular vote 2,266,139 1,859,534 Percentage 53.3% 43.8%

County results Whitmer:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Schuette:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Rick Snyder Republican Elected Governor Gretchen Whitmer Democratic

Two-term Governor Rick Snyder was term-limited, as Michigan does not allow governors to serve more than two terms.

Attorney General Bill Schuette, Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, state Senator Patrick Colbeck, and physician Jim Hines were seeking the Republican nomination.

Former state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, former executive director of the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion Abdul El-Sayed, and businessman Shri Thanedar were seeking the Democratic nomination.

Bill Gelineau and John Tatar were seeking the Libertarian nomination.

Whitmer won the election.