Impact of term limits on state executive elections in 2026
|
« 2025
|
 |
| Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
| Election analysis |
|---|
| Competitiveness report Trifecta vulnerability Impact of term limits States with multiple offices up for election |
| Elections coverage |
| Election results, 2026 State executives Governors |
Of the 300 state executive seats on the ballot in 2026, 130 of them are represented by incumbents who are subject to term limits.[1] Fifty-seven of those incumbents are ineligible to run for re-election in 2026 due to term limits. This represents 18.8% of the total seats up for election in 2026.
Term-limited state executives by state
The map below displays the 37 states that had laws limiting the number of terms state executive officials could serve as of 2026. Of those states, only 31 states held elections in 2026.
- California has the most state executive officials term-limited in the 2026 elections with eight term-limited officials, followed by Ohio and Oklahoma with six officials each.
- Nine states with state executive term limits have no officials term-limited in 2026. This includes the following states: Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
Term-limited state executives by position
The 57 termed-out incumbents in 2026 hold fifteen different offices: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, agriculture commissioner, corporation commissioner, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner, land commissioner, public service commissioner, superintendent of public schools, state board of education member, and state board of equalization member.
The 57 termed-out incumbents are from 22 states. Five states are controlled by a Democratic trifecta, 12 by a Republican trifecta, and five states are under a divided government. A state government trifecta exists when one political party holds the governor's office and majority control in both chambers of the state legislature. As of March 2026, there were 23 Republican trifectas, 16 Democratic trifectas, and 11 divided governments where neither party held trifecta control.
| 2026 breakdown by position | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Number of term-limited officeholders |  Democrats
|
 Republicans
|
 Other
|
| Agriculture Commissioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Attorney General | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Auditor | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Board of Education | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Board of Equalization | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Board of Regents | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Comptroller/Controller | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corporation Commissioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Governor | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| Insurance Commissioner | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Labor Commissioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Land Commissioner | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lieutenant Governor | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Public Service/Regulation Commissioner | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Secretary of State | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Superintendent of Schools | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Transportation Commissioner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Treasurer | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 57 | 26 | 29 | 2 |
Differential impact on parties
Term limits create open seats, which can impact the competitiveness of state executive elections. A total of 300 state executive seats are on the ballot in 2026, and 130 of those seats are subject to term limits. Out of those 130 seats, 57 feature an open seat since the incumbent is term-limited.
| 2026 term-limited state executive elections | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Trifecta status[2] | Democrats
|
Republicans
|
Other
|
# of seats with term limits | % of seats term-limited in 2026 |
| Alabama | Republican | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 57.1% |
| Alaska | Divided government | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 50.0% |
| Arizona | Divided government | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 12.5% |
| Arkansas | Republican | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 14.3% |
| California | Democratic | 6 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 66.7% |
| Colorado | Democratic | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 45.5% |
| Delaware | Democratic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Florida | Republican | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 20.0% |
| Georgia | Republican | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
| Hawaii | Democratic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
| Indiana | Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0% |
| Kansas | Divided government | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 100.0% |
| Louisiana | Republican | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 66.7% |
| Maine | Democratic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
| Maryland | Democratic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Michigan | Divided government | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 100.0% |
| Missouri | Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Montana | Republican | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 50.0% |
| Nebraska | Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
| Nevada | Divided government | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 18.2% |
| New Mexico | Democratic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 57.1% |
| North Dakota | Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Ohio | Republican | 0 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 54.5% |
| Oklahoma | Republican | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 66.7% |
| Oregon | Democratic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Pennsylvania | Divided government | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0% |
| Rhode Island | Democratic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20.0% |
| South Carolina | Republican | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 66.7% |
| South Dakota | Republican | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 33.3% |
| Tennessee | Republican | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
| Wyoming | Republican | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total | N/A | 26 | 29 | 2 | 130 | 43.8% |
Term-limited elections by state
Alabama
Thirteen state executive offices are up for election in Alabama in 2026. Four officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Kay Ivey (R)
- Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R)
- Attorney General Steve Marshall (R)
- Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate (R)
Alaska
Two state executive offices are up for election in Alaska in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Mike Dunleavy (R)
Arizona
Nine state executive offices are up for election in Arizona in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Treasurer Kimberly Yee (R)
Arkansas
Seven state executive offices are up for election in Arkansas in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land (R)
California
Twelve state executive offices are up for election in California in 2026. Eight officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Gavin Newsom (D)
- Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (D)
- Treasurer Fiona Ma (D)
- Commissioner of Insurance Ricardo Lara (D)
- Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond (NP)
- Board of Equalization District 1 Representative Ted Gaines (R)
- Board of Equalization District 3 Representative Tony Vazquez (D)
- Board of Equalization District 4 Representative Mike Schaefer (D)
Colorado
Eleven state executive offices are up for election in Colorado in 2026. Five officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Jared Polis (D)
- Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera (D)
- Attorney General Phil Weiser (D)
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D)
- Treasurer Dave Young (D)
Delaware
Three state executive offices are up for election in Delaware in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Florida
Five state executive offices are up for election in Florida in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Ron DeSantis (R)
Georgia
Ten state executive offices are up for election in Georgia in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Brian Kemp (R)
Hawaii
Seven state executive offices are up for election in Hawaii in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Indiana
Three state executive offices are up for election in Indiana in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Kansas
Eleven state executive offices are up for election in Kansas in 2026. Two officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Laura Kelly (D)
- Lieutenant Governor David Toland (D)
Louisiana
Three state executive offices are up for election in Louisiana in 2026. Two officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Public Service Commission District 1 Representative Eric Skrmetta (R)
- Public Service Commission District 5 Representative Foster Campbell (D)
Maine
One state executive office is up for election in Maine in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Janet T. Mills (D)
Maryland
Four state executive offices are up for election in Maryland in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Michigan
Twelve state executive offices are up for election in Michigan in 2026. Four officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D)
- Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II (D)
- Attorney General Dana Nessel (D)
- Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D)
Missouri
One state executive office is up for election in Missouri in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Montana
Two state executive offices are up for election in Montana in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Public Service Commission District 1 Representative Randy Pinocci (R)
Nebraska
Fourteen state executive offices are up for election in Nebraska in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Nevada
Eleven state executive offices are up for election in Nevada in 2026. Two officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Attorney General Aaron Ford (D)
- Treasurer Zach Conine (D)
New Mexico
Twelve state executive offices are up for election in New Mexico in 2026. Four officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
- Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales (D)
- Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D)
- Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard (D)
North Dakota
Seven state executive offices are up for election in North Dakota in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Ohio
Eleven state executive offices are up for election in Ohio in 2026. Six officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Richard Michael DeWine (R)
- Attorney General Dave Yost (R)
- Auditor of State Keith Faber (R)
- Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R)
- State Board of Education District 3 Representative Charlotte McGuire (NP)
- Treasurer Robert Sprague (R)
Oklahoma
Nine state executive offices are up for election in Oklahoma in 2026. Six officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Kevin Stitt (R)
- Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell (R)
- Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett (R)
- Commissioner of Insurance Glen Mulready (R)
- Commissioner of Labor Leslie Osborn (R)
- State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd (R)
Oregon
Two state executive offices are up for election in Oregon in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Pennsylvania
Two state executive offices are up for election in Pennsylvania in 2026. No officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
Rhode Island
Five state executive offices are up for election in Rhode Island in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Attorney General Peter Neronha (D)
South Carolina
Nine state executive offices are up for election in South Carolina in 2026. Two officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Henry McMaster (R)
- Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette (R)
South Dakota
Seven state executive offices are up for election in South Dakota in 2026. Two officials were ineligible to run because of term limits.
- State Auditor Richard Sattgast (R)
- Treasurer Josh Haeder (R)
Tennessee
One state executive office is up for election in Tennessee in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Bill Lee (R)
Wyoming
Five state executive offices are up for election in Wyoming in 2026. One official was ineligible to run because of term limits.
- Governor Mark Gordon (R)
See also
- State executive official elections, 2026
- State executives with term limits
- Impact of term limits on state legislative elections in 2026
- Term limits on the ballot
- Term limits in the United States
- Impact of term limits on state executive elections in 2025
Footnotes
- ↑ This does not include executive offices in the U.S. Territories, or executive offices in Washington, D.C.
- ↑ A state's trifecta status was current as of March 2026.
