In the upcoming November elections, voters in 36 states across the U.S. will be casting their ballots in gubernatorial races. These elections will serve as a barometer of public sentiment midway through President Donald Trump’s second term.

Notably, six out of the seven key battleground states are gearing up for these crucial gubernatorial contests. Among them, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin stand out with particularly intriguing races that could have significant implications.

Additionally, Democrats are eyeing Iowa and Ohio as potential opportunities to seize governors’ offices in traditionally Republican strongholds.

One of the most closely watched races will be in Georgia, where Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican often mentioned as a 2028 presidential hopeful, faces term limits. His departure opens up a fiercely contested seat in a state where Trump narrowly won by just over two points in the 2024 election.

Georgia  

Gov. Brian Kemp (R), seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, is term-limited, leaving his seat open in a state that Trump won by just more than 2 points in 2024. 

The Republican primary has largely turned into a three-way race between Trump-endorsed Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, state Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and state Attorney General Chris Carr. All three played prominent roles during the 2020 election, when the president looked to overturn former President Joe Biden’s win in the state. 

A dark money group called Georgians for Integrity has spent millions attacking Jones, though it’s unclear who’s behind the group and his opponents have said they’re not involved, according to The Associated Press. 

Meanwhile, a crowded primary is taking shape on the Democratic side that includes former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, former state Sen. Jason Esteves and former DeKalb CEO County Executive Michael Thurmond.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat a “toss up.” 

Iowa 

The Hawkeye State hasn’t elected a Democrat as its top executive since 2006, when former Gov. Chet Culver defeated former Rep. Jim Nussle (R-Iowa).

Democrats have seen a similar drought on the Senate side. The last Democrat to serve in the upper chamber from Iowa was Tom Harkin, who left office in 2015. 

On the Democratic side in this year’s governor’s race, State Auditor Rob Sand is proving to be a formidable candidate. Sand’s campaign announced earlier this month that he had raised $9.5 million last year and is starting off 2026 with more than $13 million in the bank — an impressive sum for a Democrat running in a red state.

On the Republican side are Rep. Randy Feenstra (Iowa), Iowa state Rep. Eddie Andrews, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen. So far, Trump has not waded into the Republican primary. 

The Cook Political Report rates the seat “Lean Republican.” 

Michigan

The Great Lakes State will hold closely watched contests for governor and Senate this year.

In the gubernatorial race, Democrats are hoping to retain the state’s top executive post as term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) plans to exit.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has emerged as the Democrats’ top candidate, while Republicans have a crowded primary field that includes Rep. John James (Mich.), former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard (R) and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox (R).

A wild card in the race is former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who was elected as a Democrat but is now running for governor as an independent.

Duggan argues the constant swings between the two major parties in Michigan have stymied the state’s ability to enact effective policies.

Some recent polls have shown a tight race between Benson and James, with Duggan also garnering a significant amount of support.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the Michigan governor’s race a “toss up.”

Ohio

Vivek Ramaswamy, who ran for the GOP presidential nod in 2024 and briefly worked on the advisory Department of Government Efficiency, is running to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine (R). Meanwhile, Amy Acton, a former Ohio Department of Health director, is running on the Democratic side.

Ohio has turned increasingly red over the years, underscored by former Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-Ohio) reelection loss in 2024. Yet Brown’s decision to launch another bid for the upper chamber and challenge Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) could help energize Democrats and encourage turnout for the governor’s race.

An Emerson College Polling survey released last month showed Acton narrowly beating Ramaswamy at 46 percent to 45 percent, making them essentially tied because of the margin of error.

The Cook Political Report rates the seat “likely Republican.”

South Carolina 

South Carolina’s gubernatorial race is of interest due mainly to the primary, which features several prominent Trump loyalists.  

Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell are running in the GOP primary to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster (R) in the deep-red state. Public polling has shown Wilson, Mace and Evette as the top contenders in the primary. 

The battle for Trump’s endorsement is fierce. Evette launched an ad campaign that included clips of Trump praising her, drawing ire from Mace and Wilson, who argued it made it appear like she had his endorsement. 

State Rep. Jermaine Johnson and Justin Bennett are running on the Democratic side; however, Cook Political Report rates it as “solid Republican.” 

Wisconsin 

Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced last year he would not seek a third term as the state’s top executive, setting off a scramble on both sides to succeed him.  

A crowded primary is shaping up on the Democratic side. The candidates include former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who narrowly lost to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in 2022; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez; state Rep. Francesca Hong and former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan.

Meanwhile, three Republicans have launched bids for their party’s nod: Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and political outsider Andy Manske. Control of the governor’s seat has flipped between Democrats and Republicans over the past few decades. 

Trump won Wisconsin by less than 1 point, underscoring how competitive the state is.

The Cook Political Report rates the seat a “toss up.”