State executive official vacancies, 2025
| 2025 State Executive Official Vacancies | |
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As of December 2025, there have been 47 state executive official vacancies in 28 states. The vacancies occurred in the following offices:
- Lieutenant Governor: 2
- Secretary of State: 2
- Attorney General: 4
- Public Service Commissioner/Railroad Commissioner: 7
- Treasurer: 6
- Labor Commissioner: 2
- State Auditor: 1
- Controller: 1
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: 8
- Natural Resources Commissioner/Lands Commissioner: 4
- Agriculture Commissioner: 2
- Board of Education: 2
- Insurance Commissioner: 5
- Secretary of Commerce: 1
- Other: 0
The process for filling vacancies varies by state and office. The most common methods for filling vacancies are through a gubernatorial appointment or legislative appointment. The most common reasons for a state executive vacancy include officeholders resigning, dying, leaving for a new job, being elected or appointed to a different office, or receiving a legal conviction.
- Click here to read more about procedures for filling state executive vacancies.
- Click here to read more about 2025's regular state executive official elections.
The table below details the partisan breakdown for state executive vacancies in 2025. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party held after the appointments took place.
| Partisan breakdown of the vacancies (2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of vacancy | After vacancy | |
| Democratic Party | |||
| Republican Party | |||
| Independent | |||
| Nonpartisan | |||
| Total | 47 | 32 | |
The table below details the partisan breakdown for current state executive officials and details how many offices are currently vacant.
| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
 Independent |
Nonpartisan | Vacancies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | 23 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lt. Governor | 20 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Attorney General | 21 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Secretary of State | 21 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Treasurer | 12 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Controller | 6 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Auditor | 7 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Superintendent of Schools | 1 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Insurance Commissioner | 3 | 8 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| Agriculture Commissioner | 0 | 12 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| Natural Resources Commissioner | 2 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| Labor Commissioner | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
| Public Service Commissioner | 6 | 39 | 0 | 154 | 4 |
Current and past vacancies
The table below highlights each instance where a state executive official vacancy triggered a replacement via appointment in 2025. Know of a vacancy that should be covered here? Click here to let us know.
| 2025 state executive official vacancies | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of vacancy | Office | State executive | Party | Reason | Vacancy procedure | Date filled | Successor | |
| December 8, 2025 | Hawaii Director of Finance | Sabrina Nasir | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | November 24, 2025 | Seth Colby | |
| December 5, 2025 | New Mexico Secretary of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources | Melanie Kenderdine | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | TBD | TBD | |
| November 28, 2025 | Connecticut Commissioner of Insurance | Andrew Mais | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | December 12, 2025 | Joshua D. Hershman (acting) | |
| November 24, 2025 | North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction | Kirsten Baesler | Nonpartisan | Appointed to another position | Governor Appointment | November 24, 2025 | Levi Bachmeier | |
| November 7, 2025 | Hawaii Public Utilities Commissioner | Leo Asuncion, Jr. | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | TBD | TBD | |
| November 3, 2025 | Nebraska Treasurer | Tom Briese | Republican | Resignation | Governor Appointment | November 5, 2025 | Joey Spellerberg | |
| October 31, 2025 | Hawaii Director of Finance | Luis Salaveria | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | November 1, 2025 | Sabrina Nasir (acting) | |
| October 24, 2025 | Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources | John Boyle | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | October 24, 2025 | John Crowther (acting) | |
| October 10, 2025 | Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority | Marissa Paslick Gillett | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Hybrid | October 21, 2025 | Thomas Wiehl (acting) | |
| October 3, 2025 | Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction | Michael Rice | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Other Appointment | December 8, 2025 | Glenn Maleyko | |
| October 1, 2025 | Wyoming Public Service Commission | Mary Throne | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | October 1, 2025 | Christopher Boswell | |
| October 1, 2025 | Oklahoma Secretary of State | Josh Cockroft | Republican | Resignation | Governor Appointment | October 2, 2025 | Benjamin Lepak | |
| September 30, 2025 | Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction | Ryan Walters | Republican | Resignation | Governor Appointment | October 7, 2025 | Lindel Fields | |
| September 30, 2025 | Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture | Charlie Hatcher | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | October 1, 2025 | Andrew Holt | |
| September 8, 2025 | Attorney General of Missouri | Andrew Bailey | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | September 8, 2025 | Catherine Hanaway | |
| September 2, 2025 | Louisiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources | Tyler Gray | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | September 2, 2025 | Dustin Davidson | |
| September 1, 2025 | Arkansas Commissioner of Insurance | Alan McClain | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | November 5, 2025 | Jimmy Harris | |
| August 29, 2025 | Attorney General of Alaska | Treg Taylor | Republican | Resignation | Governor Appointment | August 29, 2025 | Stephen Cox | |
| August 8, 2025 | Alaska Commissioner of the Department of Revenue | Adam Crum | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | August 8, 2025 | Janelle Earls | |
| July 14, 2025 | Florida Commissioner of Education | Manny Diaz Jr. | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Other appointment | July 14, 2025 | Anastasios Kamoutsas | |
| July 7, 2025 | Utah State Board of Education | Molly Hart | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | August 14, 2025 | Erin Longacre | |
| July 2, 2025 | Michigan Public Service Commission | Alessandra Carreon | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | July 21, 2025 | Shaquila Myers | |
| July 2, 2025 | Nevada Commissioner of Insurance | Scott Kipper | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor appointment | July 2, 2025 | Ned Gaines (acting) | |
| July 1, 2025 | Vermont Commissioner of Labor | Michael Harrington | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | September 22, 2025 | Kendal Smith | |
| June 30, 2025 | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Glenn Hegar | Republican | Resignation | Governor appointment | July 1, 2025 | Kelly Hancock (acting) | |
| June 30, 2025 | New Hampshire Commissioner of Education | Frank Edelblut | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor appointment | August 8, 2025 | Caitlin Davis | |
| June 30, 2025 | Utah Superintendent of Public Instruction | Sydnee Dickson | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Other appointment | July 1, 2025 | Molly Hart | |
| June 23, 2025 | Oregon Commissioner of Insurance | Andrew Stolfi | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | June 23, 2025 | TK Keen (acting) | |
| June 3, 2025 | Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce | Elizabeth Tanner | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | August 14, 2025 | Stefan Pryor | |
| June 1, 2025 | Alabama Public Service Commission | Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | June 16, 2025 | Cynthia Almond (R) | |
| May 30, 2025 | Arizona Director of Insurance | Barbara Richardson | Nonpartisan | Resignation | Governor Appointment | May 30, 2025 | Maria Ailor (acting) | |
| May 14, 2025 | Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction | Jhone Ebert | Nonpartisan | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | October 27, 2025 | Victor Wakefield | |
| May 28, 2025 | Attorney General of Wyoming | Bridget Hill | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | May 28, 2025 | Ryan Schelhaas (acting) | |
| April 1, 2025 | Florida Chief Financial Officer | Jimmy Patronis (R) | Republican | Elected to another office | Governor Appointment | July 21, 2025 | Blaise Ingoglia (R) | |
| April 1, 2025 | Kentucky Public Service Commission | John Stacy | Nonpartisan | Resigned at term end | Governor Appointment | July 1, 2025 | Andrew Wood | |
| March 14, 2025 | Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction | Lisa Coons | Nonpartisan | Resignation before end of term | Governor Appointment | March 14, 2025 | Emily Anne Gullickson (acting) | |
| March 7, 2025 | Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food | Craig Buttars | Nonpartisan | Resignation before end of term | Governor Appointment | May 21, 2025 | Kelly Pehrson | |
| February 24, 2025 | Arizona Department of Education | Jennifer Clark | Nonpartisan | Removed from office | Governor Appointment | March 17, 2025 | Kathleen Wiebke | |
| February 16, 2025 | Lieutenant Governor of Florida | Jeanette Nunez | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor appointment | August 12, 2025 | Jay Collins (R) | |
| January 25, 2025 | Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources | Travis Voyles | Nonpartisan | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | March 26, 2025 | Stefanie Taillon | |
| January 25, 2025 | Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota | Larry Rhoden | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor Appointment | January 30, 2025 | Tony Venhuizen (R) | |
| January 23, 2025 | South Carolina State Auditor | George L. Kennedy | Nonpartisan | Resigned before end of term | Other appointment | February 3, 2025 | Sue Moss (acting) | |
| January 21, 2025 | Attorney General of Florida | Ashley B. Moody | Republican | Appointed to another office | Governor appointment | February 17, 2025 | John Guard (R) (acting), James Uthmeier (R) | |
| January 8, 2025 | North Dakota Commissioner of Labor | Reice Haase | Nonpartisan | Elected or appointed to another office | Governor appointment | January 8, 2025 | Zach Greenberg | |
| January 3, 2025 | North Dakota Public Service Commission | Julie Fedorchak | Republican | Elected or appointed to another office | Governor appointment | January 6, 2025 | Jill Kringstad | |
| January 2, 2025 | West Virginia Treasurer | Riley Moore | Republican | Elected or appointed to another office | Governor appointment | January 3, 2025 | Larry Pack | |
| January 1, 2025 | Arkansas Secretary of State | John Thurston | Republican | Elected or appointed to another office | Governor appointment | January 1, 2025 | Cole Jester (R) | |
Methodology
Ballotpedia counts a seat as vacant if the outgoing officeholder leaves office before their official term-end date or the incoming officeholder takes office after their official term-start date. If an officeholder takes or leaves office according to their official term-start or -end date, Ballotpedia does not count that as a vacant seat.
How are vacancies filled in state executive offices?
The method for filling a state executive official vacancy varies by both the office and state. Select an office tab below to see a map of how each state fills a vacancy and a table that breaks down the different systems used to fill vacancies. Underneath, select a state-specific office to learn more about how it is filled through state law. Please note this page is undergoing updates, and each tab may not contain every component at this time.
Not every state executive office exists in all 50 states, and the name of an office may vary across states where it is found. For example, the state executive office of controller is known as comptroller in several states like Indiana, Maryland, and New Jersey.
State executive official vacancies can be filled through gubernatorial appointments, state legislative appointments, appointments by another office, a type of hybrid system, or in rare circumstances, a special election. We designate a state as having a hybrid system if a vacancy is filled by one or more methods. The method employed in these states is usually dependent on if the state legislature is in session, the amount of time remaining in the vacant executive official's term, or the time until the next general election in that state. Some offices require the appointment to be confirmed by either the state senate or both chambers of the state legislature. This information is denoted on the map for each state.
Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. For some offices, the map does not list any information on how the vacancy is filled which indicates that after extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office, please email us.
Vacancy fill systems by state
Types of systems used to fill vacancies
Offices
- Governor of Alabama
- Governor of Alaska
- Governor of American Samoa
- Governor of Arizona
- Governor of Arkansas
- Governor of California
- Governor of Colorado
- Governor of Connecticut
- Governor of Delaware
- Governor of Florida
- Governor of Georgia
- Governor of Guam
- Governor of Hawaii
- Governor of Idaho
- Governor of Illinois
- Governor of Indiana
- Governor of Iowa
- Governor of Kansas
- Governor of Kentucky
- Governor of Louisiana
- Governor of Maine
- Governor of Maryland
- Governor of Massachusetts
- Governor of Michigan
- Governor of Minnesota
- Governor of Mississippi
- Governor of Missouri
- Governor of Montana
- Governor of Nebraska
- Governor of Nevada
- Governor of New Hampshire
- Governor of New Jersey
- Governor of New Mexico
- Governor of New York
- Governor of North Carolina
- Governor of North Dakota
- Governor of Ohio
- Governor of Oklahoma
- Governor of Oregon
- Governor of Pennsylvania
- Governor of Puerto Rico
- Governor of Rhode Island
- Governor of South Carolina
- Governor of South Dakota
- Governor of Tennessee
- Governor of Texas
- Governor of Utah
- Governor of Vermont
- Governor of Virginia
- Governor of Washington
- Governor of West Virginia
- Governor of Wisconsin
- Governor of Wyoming
- Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
See also
- Chart of state executive officers
- State executive officials
- State executive offices
- State executive official elections, 2025
- State legislative vacancies, 2025
- State intermediate appellate court vacancies, 2025
- State supreme court vacancies, 2025
- How vacancies are filled in state executive offices
Footnotes
