Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026

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Primaries by state
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Out of all top state executive offices, only the governor and attorney general exist in all 50 states, and only the governor is elected in all 50 states. As the chief executive officer, the governor is among the most powerful figures in state government. There are 36 gubernatorial seats on the ballot in 2026.

Of those 36 governor's offices, 18 are held by Democrats prior to the November 2026 elections, and 18 are held by Republicans.

On this page, you will find:

• Election dates and results
• List of Democratic primary candidates by state

• Click here for more on the Republican gubernatorial primaries in 2026.
• Click here for more on the gubernatorial general elections in 2026.

While this page includes links to pages on state executive elections in the U.S. Territories, it does not include the territories in its statistics.

Election dates

The following table details 2026 gubernatorial filing deadlines and primary dates in each state. The signature filing deadline is the date by which candidates must file nominating signatures with election officials in order to have their name placed on the ballot.

2026 Election Dates

State	Filing deadline	Primary election
Alabama	January 23	May 19
Alaska	June 1	August 18
Arizona	April 6	August 4
Arkansas	November 11	March 3
California	March 6	June 2
Colorado	March 18	June 30
Connecticut	June 9	August 11
Florida	June 12	August 18
Georgia	March 6	May 19
Hawaii	June 2	August 8
Idaho	February 27	May 19
Illinois	November 3	March 17
Iowa	March 13	June 2
Kansas	June 1	August 4
Maine	March 16	June 9
Maryland	February 24	June 23
Massachusetts	June 2	September 1
Michigan	April 21	August 4
Minnesota	June 2	August 11
Nebraska	February 17 (incumbent) March 2 (non-incumbent)	May 12
Nevada	March 13	June 9
New Hampshire	June 12	September 8
New Mexico	February 3	June 2
New York	April 6	June 23
Ohio	February 4	May 5
Oklahoma	April 3	June 16
Oregon	March 3 (incumbent) March 10 (non-incumbent)	May 19
Pennsylvania	March 10	May 19
Rhode Island	June 24	September 8
South Carolina	March 30	June 9
South Dakota	March 31	June 2
Tennessee	March 10	August 6
Texas	December 8	March 3
Vermont	May 28	August 11
Wisconsin	June 1	August 11
Wyoming	May 29	August 18

Seats up for election

There are 18 Republican and 18 Democratic seats up for election in 2026. The table and map below show which states are holding gubernatorial elections in 2026.

By state

Note: Prior to filing deadlines, the following lists of potential and declared candidates are unofficial. They will be updated after each candidate filing deadline has passed and the official list of candidates becomes available. Please contact us if you notice a candidate who declared for election missing from the list or a candidate who withdrew still listed.

Alabama

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See also: Alabama gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

• Will Boyd
• Ja'Mel Brown 
• Yolanda Flowers
• Doug Jones
• Chad Chig Martin 
• Nathan Mathis

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Alaska

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See also: Alaska gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 18 top-four primary)

Primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Tom Begich  (Democratic Party)
• Click Bishop  (Republican Party)
• David Bronson  (Republican Party)
• Matt Claman  (Democratic Party)
• Adam Crum  (Republican Party)
• Nancy Dahlstrom  (Republican Party)
• Edna DeVries  (Republican Party)
• Shelley Hughes  (Republican Party)
• James Parkin  (Republican Party)
• Treg Taylor  (Republican Party)
• Bernadette Wilson  (Republican Party)

Arizona

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See also: Arizona gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 4 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Katie Hobbs (Incumbent)

Arkansas

---

See also: Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

• Fredrick Love ✔
• Supha Xayprasith-Mays

California

---

See also: California gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary)

Primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Ethan Agarwal  (Democratic Party)
• Ché Ahn  (Republican Party) 
• Jesse Alberti  (No party preference) 
• Xavier Becerra  (Democratic Party)
• Chad Bianco  (Republican Party)
• Ian Charles Calderon  (Democratic Party)
• Tony Fitzpatrick  (No party preference) 
• Sharifah Hardie  (Republican Party) 
• Lewis Herms  (No party preference) 
• Steve Hilton  (Republican Party)
• Leonard Jackson  (No party preference) 
• Brandon Jones  (Republican Party) 
• Matt Mahan  (Democratic Party) 
• Daniel Mercuri  (Republican Party) 
• Katie Porter  (Democratic Party)
• Raji Rab  (Democratic Party)
• Jon Slavet  (Republican Party) 
• George Slivka  (Democratic Party) 
• Thomas Steyer  (Democratic Party)
• Eric Swalwell  (Democratic Party)
• Nicholas Thompson  (Libertarian Party) 
• Tony Thurmond  (Democratic Party)
• Antonio Villaraigosa  (Democratic Party)
• Butch Ware  (Green Party)
• Betty Yee  (Democratic Party)
• Michael Younger  (Democratic Party) 
• Leo Zacky  (Republican Party)

Did not make the ballot:

• Javen Allen 
• Toni Atkins
• Eleni Kounalakis
• Kyle Langford 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Colorado

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See also: Colorado gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 30 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Michael Bennet
• Carmen Broesder 
• David Hughes 
• Anthony Martinez 
• William Moses 
• Erik Underwood
• Phil Weiser

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Connecticut

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See also: Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 11 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Ned Lamont (Incumbent)
• Joshua Elliott

Florida

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See also: Florida gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 18 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Faith E. Antonio
• Evelyn Castillo-Bach
• Richard Dembinsky
• Jerry Demings
• Thomas E. Fernandez
• Dayna Foster
• Indony Jean Baptiste
• David Jolly
• Charles Lewis I
• Donald Peterson
• Christopher Powell
• Jessica Vernekar

Georgia

---

See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Keisha Bottoms
• Olu Brown
• Geoff Duncan
• Jason Esteves
• Derrick Jackson
• Michael Thurmond

Did not make the ballot:

• Ruwa Romman

Guam

---

See also: Guam gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 1 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Joe S. San Agustin
• Josh Tenorio

Hawaii

---

See also: Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 8 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Idaho

---

See also: Idaho gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Maxine Durand
• Stephen Heidt
• Terri Pickens 
• Chanelle Torrez 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Illinois

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See also: Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

• J.B. Pritzker (Incumbent)

Did not make the ballot:

• Patricia L. Tillman

Iowa

---

See also: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Paul Dahl
• Rob Sand
• Julie Stauch

Kansas

---

See also: Kansas gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 4 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Ethan Corson
• Cindy Holscher

Maine

---

See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Shenna Bellows
• Jason Cherry
• Kenneth Forrest Pinet
• Troy Dale Jackson
• Angus King III
• Hannah Pingree
• Nirav Shah

Maryland

---

See also: Maryland gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 23 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Wes Moore (Incumbent)
• Eric Felber

Did not make the ballot:

• Ralph Jaffe

Massachusetts

---

See also: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2026 (September 1 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Maura Healey (Incumbent)
• Matthew Dewar
• Andrea James

Did not make the ballot:

• Connor Gray

Michigan

---

See also: Michigan gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 4 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Jocelyn Benson
• Kevin Hogan 
• Marni Sawicki 
• Chris Swanson

Did not make the ballot:

• Garlin Gilchrist II

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Minnesota

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See also: Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 11 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Rick DeVoe 
• Amy Klobuchar
• Kobey Layne 
• Christopher Seymore 

Did not make the ballot:

• Tim Walz (Incumbent)

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Nebraska

---

See also: Nebraska gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 12 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Larry Marvin
• Lynne Walz

Nevada

---

See also: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Aaron Ford

New Hampshire

---

See also: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2026 (September 8 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Jonathan Kiper
• Cinde Warmington

New Mexico

---

See also: New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Sam Bregman
• Debra Haaland

Did not make the ballot:

• Ken Miyagishima 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

New York

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See also: New York gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 23 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Kathy Hochul (Incumbent)
• Jean Anglade

Did not make the ballot:

• Antonio Delgado

Ohio

---

See also: Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 5 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Amy Acton

Oklahoma

---

See also: Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 16 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Cyndi Munson

Oregon

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See also: Oregon gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Tina Kotek (Incumbent)
• Forest Alexander 
• James Atkinson 
• Brittany Jones 
• Tristan Sheppard

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Pennsylvania

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See also: Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Josh Shapiro (Incumbent)

Rhode Island

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See also: Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2026 (September 8 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Daniel McKee (Incumbent)
• Helena Foulkes
• Gregory Stevens 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

South Carolina

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See also: South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Justin Bennett 
• Jermaine Johnson
• Mullins McLeod

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

South Dakota

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See also: South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Dan Ahlers
• Robert Arnold

Tennessee

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See also: Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 6 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Carnita Atwater 
• Tim Cyr
• Jerri Green
• Adam Kurtz

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Texas

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See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

• Patricia Abrego
• Chris Bell
• Bobby Cole
• Carlton Hart
• Gina Hinojosa ✔
• Jose Navarro Balbuena
• Zach Vance
• Angela Villescaz 
• Andrew White 

Did not make the ballot:

• Nick Pappas 
• Faizan Syed
• Meagan Tehseldar 

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= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Vermont

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See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 11 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Wisconsin

---

See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 11 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

• Mandela Barnes
• Joel Brennan
• David Crowley
• Francesca Hong
• Missy Hughes
• Brett Hulsey
• Sara Rodriguez
• Zachary Roper
• Kelda Roys

Did not make the ballot:

• Ryan Strnad

Wyoming

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See also: Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2026 (August 18 Democratic primary)

 Democratic primary candidates

Note: The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Election coverage by office

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See also

• Past gubernatorial elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
• Past state executive elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
• Past election analysis: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018

Footnotes

Governors

Current Governors

Alabama • Alaska • American Samoa • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Northern Mariana Islands • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Puerto Rico • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • U.S. Virgin Islands • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Elections

2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010

Features

States with gubernatorial term limits • Election of lieutenant governors • How gubernatorial vacancies are filled • States with gubernatorial recall provisions • Gubernatorial impeachment procedures • Comparison of gubernatorial salaries • Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries • Residences of the American governors

2026 state executive official elections

Governor

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Iowa • Kansas • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • Northern Mariana Islands • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • U.S. Virgin Islands • Vermont • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Lieutenant Governor

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Iowa • Kansas • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Nebraska • Nevada • New Mexico • New York • Northern Mariana Islands • Ohio • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • U.S. Virgin Islands • Vermont • Wisconsin

Attorney General

Alabama • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Guam • Idaho • Illinois • Iowa • Kansas • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Nebraska • Nevada • New Mexico • New York • North Dakota • Northern Mariana Islands • Ohio • Oklahoma • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Vermont • Wisconsin

Secretary of State

Alabama • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Georgia • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Nebraska • Nevada • New Mexico • North Dakota • Ohio • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Vermont • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Treasurer

Alabama • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Massachusetts • Nebraska • Nevada • New Mexico • Ohio • Oklahoma • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Vermont • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Auditor

Alabama • Arkansas • Delaware • Iowa • Massachusetts • Minnesota • Missouri • Nebraska • New Mexico • Ohio • Oklahoma • South Dakota • Vermont • Wyoming

Comptroller

California • Connecticut • Idaho • Illinois • Maryland • Nevada • New York • South Carolina • Texas

Education officials

Alabama (board of education) • Arizona (superintendent) • California (superintendent) • Colorado (board of education) • Colorado (board of regent) • District of Columbia (board of education) • Georgia (superintendent) • Guam (education board) • Idaho (superintendent) • Kansas (board of education) • Louisiana (board of education) • Michigan (board of education) • Michigan (board of regent) • Michigan (board of trustees) • Michigan (board of governors) • Nebraska (board of education) • Nebraska (board of regents) • Nevada (board of regents) • New Mexico (board of education) • North Dakota (superintendent) • Northern Mariana Islands (board of education) • Ohio (board of education) • Oklahoma (superintendent) • South Carolina (superintendent) • Texas (board of education) • U.S. Virgin Islands (board of education) • Utah (board of education) • Wyoming (superintendent)

Commissioners

Alabama (agriculture) • Alabama (public service) • Arizona (corporation) • Arizona (mine inspector) • Arkansas (public lands) • California (board of equalization) • California (insurance) • Florida (agriculture) • Georgia (agriculture) • Georgia (labor) • Georgia (insurance) • Georgia (public service) • Guam (utilities) • Hawaii (Hawaiian affairs) • Iowa (agriculture) • Kansas (insurance) • Louisiana (public service) • Massachusetts (governor's council) • Montana (public service) • Nebraska (public service) • New Hampshire (executive council) • New Mexico (public lands) • North Dakota (agriculture) • North Dakota (public service) • North Dakota (tax) • Oklahoma (corporation) • Oklahoma (insurance) • Oklahoma (labor) • Oregon (labor) • South Carolina (agriculture) • South Dakota (public lands) • South Dakota (public utilities) • Texas (agriculture) • Texas (public lands) • Texas (railroad) • U.S. Virgin Islands (board of elections)