State Executive Officials

State executive elections by position and year:

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Democrats gained a net 42 seats in 2018's state executive official elections. There were 303state executive seats up for election across 43 states in 2018. In the majority of elections—253—no change in partisan control occurred. Democrats won control of 44 previously-Republican seats. Republicans won control of five seats, two of which had previously been under Democratic control, two of which were previously held by independents, and one of which was previously vacant.RepublicanNorth Dakota Secretary of StateAl Jaeger was re-elected as an independent.

Here is a summary of the results of the 2018 elections:

• Democrats gained control of seven previously-Republican governorships inIllinois,Kansas,Maine,Michigan,Nevada,New Mexico, andWisconsin, while Republicans gained the previously-independent governorship inAlaska. For more about gubernatorial elections,click here.

• Democrats gained seven previously-Republican lieutenant governorships, picking up seats inIllinois,Kansas,Michigan,Minnesota,Nevada,New Mexico, andWisconsin. Republicans gained two lieutenant governorships, picking up a vacant seat inAlabama and a previously-independent seat inAlaska.

• Democrats gained four previously-Republican attorney general offices inColorado,Michigan,Nevada, andWisconsin out of the 30 states in whichelections for attorney general were held.

• Democrats gained three previously-Republican secretary of state offices inArizona,Colorado, andMichigan.

• In the 25 states holding elections for treasurer, Democrats gained four previously-Republican offices inColorado,Delaware,Nevada, andWisconsin.

• In the 15 states holding elections for auditor, Democrats gained three previously-Republican offices inDelaware,Iowa, andNew Mexico.

State executive official elections affected the number of states understate government triplex control: when one political party holds the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state offices in a state's government. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 22Republican triplexes and 12Democratic triplexes. Republicans gained a triplex in previously-DemocraticAlaska, while Democrats gained a triplex in previously-RepublicanMichigan. Democrats also gained triplexes inColorado,Wisconsin,Illinois,Maine, andNew Mexico, while Republicans lost triplexes inKansas,Nevada, andNorth Dakota, meaning that Republicans left the 2018 elections with 19 triplexes to Democrats' 17.

Gubernatorial election results also affected the number ofstate government trifectas, which arise when one party controls the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. Heading into the 2018 elections, 26 states were under Republican trifecta control and eight states were under Democratic trifecta control. As a result of gubernatorial and legislative elections,Republicans gained a trifecta inAlaska and lost trifectas inKansas,Michigan,Wisconsin, andNew Hampshire.Democrats gained trifectas inColorado,Illinois,Maine,New Mexico,New York, andNevada, meaning that Republicans left 2018 with 23 trifectas to Democrats' 14.

This page includes the following components about 2018's state executive elections:

• A summary of the results of 2018 gubernatorial elections, as well as changes in the status of state government trifectas and triplexes
• Links to Ballotpedia's coverage of battleground state executive elections
• A list of all state executiveoffices up for election in 2018
• Analysis ofgeneral election competitiveness
• Analysis ofprimary election competitiveness

2018 gubernatorial election results summary

See also:Gubernatorial elections, 2018

On Election Day 2018, 36 states held elections forgovernor, with Republicans holding 26 of them before the election, Democrats holding nine, and one—AlaskaGov.Bill Walker (Alaska)—held by an independent. Democrats flipped seven of the 26 GOP-held seats.

Heading into the election, 33 of the 50 governorships were held by Republicans and 16 by Democrats, plus Alaska’s independent. The 2018 results increased the total number of Democratic governors to 23 and reduced the GOP total to 27.

The new gubernatorial count most closely resembles the landscape after the 2010 election. The last time the Democratic Party had more than 20 governorships was in 2010, when they held 26 heading into that cycle. Republicans entered 2010 with 23 governorships and emerged with 29 following that midterm election.

Incumbents were seeking re-election in 10 of the 36 races contested in 2018, six of them Republicans and four Democrats.

All four Democratic incumbents won their races:New York (Andrew Cuomo),Oregon (Kate Brown),Pennsylvania (Tom Wolf), andRhode Island (Gina Raimondo).

Republican incumbents won inArizona (Doug Ducey),Iowa (Kim Reynolds),Nebraska (Pete Ricketts), andNew Hampshire (Chris Sununu).

Two Republican incumbents lost:

• Illinois: BusinessmanJ.B. Pritzker (D) defeated incumbentBruce Rauner (R).

• Wisconsin:Tony Evers (D) defeated incumbentScott Walker (R).

In five other races without incumbents running, seats held by Republicans were taken by Democrats:

• Kansas:State Sen.Laura Kelly (D) defeatedSecretary of StateKris Kobach (R). IncumbentGov.Jeff Colyer (R), who took office following former Gov. Brownback's resignation, ran for a full term but was defeated by Kobach in the August 7 primary, leaving the seat open.

• Maine:Maine Attorney GeneralJanet Mills (D) defeated businessmanShawn Moody (R) andstate TreasurerTeresea Hayes (I). Incumbent Gov.Paul LePage (R) was term-limited, leaving the seat open.

• Michigan: Formerstate Senate Minority LeaderGretchen Whitmer (D) defeatedMichigan Attorney GeneralBill Schuette (R). Incumbent Gov.Rick Snyder (R) was term-limited, leaving the seat open.

• New Mexico: U.S. Rep.Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) defeated U.S. Rep.Steve Pearce (R). Incumbent Gov.Susana Martinez (R) was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, leaving the seat open.

• Nevada:Clark County CommissionerSteve Sisolak (D) defeatedNevada Attorney GeneralAdam Laxalt (R). IncumbentGov.Brian Sandoval (R) was term-limited, leaving the seat open.

In theAlaska governor’s race, former state Sen.Mike Dunleavy (R) defeated former U.S. Sen.Mark Begich (D). IncumbentGov.Bill Walker (I) suspended his re-election campaign on October 19, 2018, saying in a statement, "In the time remaining, I believe we cannot win a three-way race,” leaving the seat open for the two major-party candidates.

The first of the maps below shows the results of the 2018 gubernatorial elections. The second shows the total gubernatorial partisan affiliations following the 2018 elections.

2018 state government trifectas results summary

Democrats emerged from the 2018 elections with a net gain instate government trifectas—where one political party holds thegovernorship, a majority in thestate senate, and a majority in thestate house in a state's government.Republicans retain a net advantage of eight trifectas over Democrats. The new trifecta count stands at 14 Democratic, 22 Republican, and 14 divided.

Entering the 2018 midterm election, Republicans had a +14 state trifecta lead: of34 states with trifectas, 26 were Republican and eight were Democratic. But after the votes were counted, Democrats increased their trifecta total with a net gain of six, and Republicans declined to 22 trifectas (a net loss of four). States with divided government (i.e., no trifecta for either major party) declined to 14.

This outcome is similar to the trifecta balance following the 2014 midterm election, which left Republicans with 24 trifectas, Democrats with 13, and 13 states with no trifecta advantage for either major party. After the 2010 midterms, 25 states had no trifectas, Republicans had nine, and Democrats had 16.

In two cases where Democrats gained trifectas, and in one case where Republicans lost a trifecta, Democrats won open gubernatorial races that had been vacated by Republican incumbents who could not seek re-election due to term limits.

The total number of trifectas—36—is almost in line with the 37 trifectas in 2013 and 2014, the most trifectas in recent history.

Change in state government trifectas, 2018 elections
Trifecta status	Before	After	Net
Democratic trifectas	8	14	+6
Republican trifectas	26	22	-4
Divided government	16	14	-2

The six Democratic flips from divided government to trifecta control in 2018 were in:

• Colorado: Democrats won control of the Colorado Senate.
• Illinois: Democrats won the governor’s office with businessmanJ.B. Pritzker (D) defeating incumbentBruce Rauner (R).
• Maine: Democrats won control of the Maine Senate and took the governor’s office with Maine Attorney GeneralJanet Mills (D) defeating businessmanShawn Moody (R) and state TreasurerTeresea Hayes (I). Incumbent Gov.Paul LePage (R) was term-limited, leaving the seat open.
• New Mexico: Democrats won the governor’s office with U.S. Rep.Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) defeating U.S. Rep.Steve Pearce (R). Incumbent Gov.Susana Martinez (R) was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, leaving the seat open.
• New York: Democrats won control of the New York Senate.
• Nevada: Democrats won the governor’s office withSteve Sisolak (D) defeatingAdam Laxalt (R).

In each of the four states where Republicans lost trifectas the balance of power became divided:

• Kansas: Democrats won the governor’s office with State Sen.Laura Kelly (D) defeating Secretary of StateKris Kobach (R). Incumbent Gov.Jeff Colyer (R), who took office following former Gov.Sam Brownback's resignation in January 2018, ran for a full term but was defeated by Kobach in the August 7 primary, leaving the seat open.
• Michigan: Democrats won the governor’s office with former state Senate Minority LeaderGretchen Whitmer (D) defeating Michigan Attorney GeneralBill Schuette (R). Incumbent Gov.Rick Snyder (R) was term-limited, leaving the seat open.
• Wisconsin: Democrats won the governor’s office withTony Evers (D) defeating incumbentScott Walker (R).
• New Hampshire: Democrats won control of theHouse andSenate.

Overall, 10 total states saw a trifecta status change in some way.

• Colorado: divided government to Democratic trifecta
• Illinois: divided government to Democratic trifecta
• Kansas: Republican trifecta to divided government
• Maine: divided government to Democratic trifecta
• Michigan: Republican trifecta to divided government
• Nevada: divided government to Democratic trifecta
• New Hampshire: Republican trifecta to divided government
• New Mexico: divided government to Democratic trifecta
• New York: divided government to Democratic trifecta
• Wisconsin: Republican trifecta to divided government

The maps and charts below show the pre- and post-2018 election state government trifectas and the percentage of the population living under trifecta control.

2018 state government triplexes results summary

See also:State government triplexes

Astate government triplex is defined as one political party holding the offices ofgovernor,attorney general, andsecretary of state. In states where these officers are not all from the same party, differing political views often bring them into direct conflict with one another.

Election 2018 gave Democrats a net gain of five state government triplexes and reduced the number of Republican triplexes by four. These 2018 results trim the GOP advantage to 18 triplex states versus 17 for Democrats. Going into the election, Republicans held a 22-12 advantage.

In two states, triplexes were flipped from one party to the other:

Alaska: Republicans picked up their only triplex gain in Alaska—and took one away from the Democrats—with former state Sen.Mike Dunleavy (R) defeating former U.S. Sen.Mark Begich (D) in the governor’s race. Because theattorney general ofAlaska is appointed by thegovernor, and the state does not have a secretary of state, Ballotpedia considers a triplex in Alaska to be the party controlling the governor’s office. IncumbentGov.Bill Walker was an independent, but he was endorsed by the Democrats, creating a triplex for Democrats. Walker had been running in a three-way contest for re-election, but he suspended his re-election campaign in October and endorsed Begich.

Michigan: Democrats flipped all three offices and took a triplex away from the Republicans.

• Governor: Formerstate Senate Minority LeaderGretchen Whitmer (D) defeatedMichigan Attorney GeneralBill Schuette (R) to become governor. Incumbent Gov.Rick Snyder (R) was term-limited.
• Attorney General:Dana Nessel (D) defeatedTom Leonard (R), the speaker of the House in the Michigan House of Representatives. Incumbent Attorney Gen.Bill Schuette (R) was term-limited.
• Secretary of State:Jocelyn Benson (D) defeatedMary Treder Lang (R). IncumbentRuth Johnson (R) was term-limited.

Democratic triplex gains occurred in these five states:

Colorado:Democrats flipped the attorney general and the secretary of state.

• Attorney General:Phil Weiser (D) defeatedGeorge Brauchler (R). IncumbentAttorney GeneralCynthia Coffman (R) did not run for re-election.
• Secretary of State:Jena Griswold (D) defeated incumbentWayne Williams (R).

Wisconsin: Democrats flipped the governor and attorney general.

• Governor:Tony Evers (D) defeated incumbentScott Walker (R).
• Attorney General: AttorneyJosh Kaul (D) defeated incumbentBrad Schimel (R).

Illinois: Democrats flipped thegovernor: BusinessmanJ.B. Pritzker (D) defeated incumbentBruce Rauner (R).

Maine:Democrats flipped thegovernor:Maine Attorney GeneralJanet Mills (D) defeated businessmanShawn Moody (R). IncumbentPaul LePage (R) was term-limited.^[3]

New Mexico:Democrats flipped thegovernor: U.S. Rep.Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) defeated U.S. Rep.Steve Pearce (R). Incumbent Gov.Susana Martinez (R) was term-limited.

Republicans lost triplexes in four states:

Kansas:Democrats flipped thegovernor:State Sen.Laura Kelly (D) defeatedSecretary of StateKris Kobach (R). IncumbentGov.Jeff Colyer (R) took office following former Gov. Sam Brownback’s resignation in January 2018. Colyer ran for a full term but was defeated by Kobach in the August 7 primary, leaving the seat open.

Nevada:Democrats flipped the governor and attorney general.

• Governor:Steve Sisolak (D) defeatedAdam Laxalt (R). IncumbentGov.Brian Sandoval was term-limited.
• Attorney General: State Sen.Aaron Ford (D) defeated former state AssemblymanWesley Duncan (R). Incumbent Attorney GeneralAdam Laxalt (R), who was first elected in2014, ran forgovernor of Nevada rather than seeking re-election.

North Dakota:The incumbent Republicansecretary of state won re-election as an independent, breaking the triplex held by Republicans. IncumbentAl Jaeger—now an independent—defeated state Sen.Joshua Boschee (D). Jaeger originally announced that he would not seek re-election in 2018 for the first time in 26 years. His announcement followed the Republican state party deciding to endorse challengerWill Gardner over Jaeger. However, Gardner dropped out of the race in May, two days after a news story was published detailing an incident in 2006 where Gardner was accused of and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Arizona:Katie Hobbs (D) defeatedSteve Gaynor (R) in the general election forsecretary of state, thus flipping control of that office to Democrats. The seat was held byMichele Reagan (R), who was defeated in the Republican primary by Gaynor.

Battleground elections

Ballotpedia designated certain 2018 elections asbattleground races, due to those races being either particularly competitive, interesting, or meaningful to the future balance of power in that jurisdiction. For example, Ballotpedia identified 25 gubernatorial elections asbattleground races. Of the 26 Republican-held seats up for election, 16 were battlegrounds, including 10 of the 13 open seats. Of the nine Democratic-held seats up for election, eight—all exceptHawaii—were battlegrounds. Alaska's independent-held seat was also a battleground.

• For more information about 2018 gubernatorial battleground elections,click here
• For more information about 2018 attorney general battleground elections,click here
• For more information about 2018 secretary of state battleground elections,click here

Offices up for election

Governor

There were36 gubernatorial seats up for election in 2018.

Out of all the state executive offices, 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. Other executive offices ordinarily report to him or her.

Lieutenant Governor

There were30 lieutenant gubernatorial seats on the ballot in 2018.

In 45 states, thelieutenant governor is the second-highest executive office, behind thegovernor. Although the powers and duties of the lieutenant governor vary from state to state, lieutenant governors are responsible for filling vacancies in the office of governor. In many states, lieutenant governors often sit on boards or commissions, and they are often involved in the proceedings of the state Senate.

Attorney General

There were30 attorney general seats on the ballot in 2018.

As the state's chief legal officer, the attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process.

Secretary of State

There were27 secretary of state seats on the ballot in 2018.

Although the duties and powers of the secretary of state vary from state to state, a common responsibility is management and oversight of elections and voter rolls, which are assigned to the secretary of state in 41 states. Other common responsibilities include registration of businesses, maintenance of state records, and certification of official documents.

Down-ballot

There were 180 down-ballot state executive seats up for election in 2018.

Elections by state

Battleground races

• Arizona Attorney General election, 2018
• Colorado Attorney General election, 2018
• Connecticut Attorney General election, 2018
• Florida Attorney General election, 2018
• Wisconsin Attorney General election, 2018
• Ohio Attorney General election, 2018
• Nevada Attorney General election, 2018
• Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018
• Michigan Attorney General election, 2018
• Illinois Attorney General election, 2018
• Illinois Attorney General election, 2018 (March 20 Democratic primary)
• Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
• New York Attorney General election, 2018 (September 13 Democratic primary)
• Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 8 Democratic primary)
• Arizona gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Democratic primary)
• Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Democratic primary)
• Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
• Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Democratic primary)
• Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 22 Democratic primary)
• Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 11 Democratic primary)
• Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 20 Democratic primary)
• Iowa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 5 Democratic primary)
• Kansas gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 7 Democratic primary)
• Maine gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Democratic primary)
• Maryland gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Democratic primary)
• Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 7 Democratic primary)
• Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
• Nevada gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Democratic primary)
• New York gubernatorial election, 2018 (September 13 Democratic primary)
• Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2018 (September 12 Democratic primary)
• Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
• New York lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (September 13 Democratic primary)
• Connecticut lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)
• Massachusetts Secretary of State election, 2018 (September 4 Democratic primary)
• Arizona gubernatorial election, 2018
• California gubernatorial election, 2018
• Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018
• Maine gubernatorial election, 2018
• Nevada gubernatorial election, 2018
• New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2018
• Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2018
• Oregon gubernatorial election, 2018
• Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2018
• Alaska gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Iowa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Kansas gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Nebraska gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• New Mexico gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• New York gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Pennsylvania gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• South Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Texas Agriculture Commissioner election, 2018 (March 6 Republican primary)
• Alabama Attorney General election, 2018 (June 5 Republican primary)
• Florida Attorney General election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary)
• Alabama Attorney General election, 2018 (July 17 Republican primary runoff)
• Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 8 Republican primary)
• Alabama gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 5 Republican primary)
• Arizona gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary)
• Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Republican primary)
• Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Republican primary)
• Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary)
• Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 22 Republican primary)
• Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (March 20 Republican primary)
• Kansas gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 7 Republican primary)
• Maine gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Republican primary)
• Michigan gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 7 Republican primary)
• Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Republican primary)
• Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Republican primary)
• Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 15 Republican primary)
• South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Republican primary)
• South Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 5 Republican primary)
• Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 2 Republican primary)
• Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 21 Republican primary)
• Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 (July 24 Republican primary runoff)
• South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Republican primary runoff)
• Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary runoff)
• Georgia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (July 24 Republican primary runoff)
• Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (July 17 Republican primary runoff)
• Kansas Secretary of State election, 2018 (August 7 Republican primary)
• Arizona Secretary of State election, 2018
• Colorado Secretary of State election, 2018
• Ohio Secretary of State election, 2018
• Nevada Secretary of State election, 2018
• Michigan Secretary of State election, 2018
• Iowa Secretary of State election, 2018
• Georgia Secretary of State election, 2018
• District of Columbia State Board of Education election, 2018
• Michigan State Board of Regents election, 2018

General election competitiveness

See also:Annual State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2018

Ballotpedia’s 2018 study of competitiveness in state executive elections revealed the percentage of open seats to be roughly consistent with the average since 2011.

Of the 303 state executive races that occurred in 2018, 186 (61.4%) featured an incumbent seeking re-election. This was broadly consistent with the 63.6% average measured since 2011, and slightly lower than the 67.3% rate for the 2014 election when many of the same offices were last on the ballot.

Of the 117 incumbents not seeking re-election, 46 of them (39.3%) were legally precluded from doing so because of term limits. Of 16 open races for governor in 2018, 13 were due to term limits forcing the incumbent to leave office.

Of the 58 partisan open seats where an incumbent from a major party could have run again, 36 of them (62.1%) were in a state that contained a pivot county (a county that voted twice to elect President Obama in 2008 and 2012, but then switched to supporting President Trump in 2016).

For more on state executive election competitiveness, see:

• Incumbents not seeking re-election in 2018
• Races without major party competition
• Influence of presidential elections on incumbent departures
• Influence of pivot counties on incumbent departures

Primary competitiveness

See also:2018 primary election competitiveness in state and federal government

Ballotpedia provided in-depth coverage of primary elections in top-ballot state executive races. Click the links below for more information:

A contested primary is one in which voters have a choice on the ballot. Most commonly, this means that there is more than one candidate from the same political party in the race. Exceptions to this include states with multi-member state legislative districts and states featuring atop-two primary system, such asCalifornia andWashington.

The following chart compares the number of open seats, incumbents with primary competition, contested partisan primaries, total seats, and total candidates in 2018 versus 2016 and 2014:

See also

Suggest a link

Footnotes