Open seats in the 2019 state executive elections

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State Executive Officials
State executive elections by position and year:

Thirty-six state executive offices were up for election across three states—Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi—in 2019. Those offices included three gubernatorial seats, three lieutenant gubernatorial seats, three attorney general seats, and three secretary of state seats. There were also 24 down-ballot races.

Out of those 36 offices on the ballot in 2019, 15—or 41.7%—were open seats, meaning the incumbent did not file to run for re-election. In districts where the incumbent legislator does not file for re-election, the seat is guaranteed to a newcomer.[1]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) was the only governor not running for re-election in 2019. He was prevented from doing so due to term limits.
  • Two of three incumbent lieutenant governors, attorneys general, and secretaries of state with terms ending in 2019 did not seek re-election.
  • Both Kentucky and Louisiana had three open seats on the ballot, while Mississippi had nine.
  • The 15 open seats were held by 10 retiring Republican officeholders and five retiring Democratic officeholders.

    • States compared by open seats

    The map below shows the number of retiring state executive incumbents by state in 2019. A darker shade of green indicates a greater number of retiring incumbents. In those states shaded in gray, regular state executive elections were not scheduled to occur in 2019.

    Total number of incumbent state executive officials retiring, 2019
    State Total seats up for election Democratic retirements Republican retirements Total retirements
    Kentucky 7 2 1 3
    Louisiana 15 1 2 3
    Mississippi 14 2 7 9

    Historical context

    The chart below shows the percentage of open state executive seats in odd-year elections from 2015 to 2019. 2017 saw the highest percentage of open state executive seats.

    The map below shows the percentage change in number of retirements per state between 2015 and 2019. Blue indicates an increase in the number of retirements, with a darker shade indicating a greater increase. Red indicates a decrease in the number of retirements, with a darker shade indicating a greater decrease. Hover your mouse over a particular state (or tap it if using a touchscreen) to view specific retirement figures for that state as well as the percentage change between 2015 and 2019. The retirement rate increased in two states and decreased in one state.

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Kentucky governors and lieutenant governors run on a joint ticket. For the purposes of this analysis, they were considered two separate offices.
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