Midterms Live results

By Dylan Scott and Ryan Mark
Updated

The top races for control of the governors’ mansions

Republicans currently hold an astonishing two-thirds of the governors’ mansions across the country, giving the GOP an overwhelming advantage in controlling state governments. This year, 26 of those seats are on the ballot.

Forecasts from leading election watchers show about 18 of the most competitive governor races in the 2018 midterm elections are currently Republican-held seats. Democrats finally have a lot of chances to regain some ground.

Beyond the usual issues, there’s one other big reason to pay attention to governors this year: Governors who are elected in 2018 will almost all still be in office in 2021, when the next round of congressional redistricting starts. In many states, governors will wield a veto pen over the new House and state legislative maps.

As in all elections this year, President Trump will loom large over the gubernatorial campaigns. In some major races, like Florida, his handpicked candidate is running against an upstart Democrat who is betting on a big blue wave. Democrats are polling strongly even in states like Ohio, which Trump won by 8 points.

A few seem sure to flip: Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in Illinois, for example, is considered all but a goner; Democrat J.B. Pritzker has a 16-point lead in the polls, on average. In Michigan, Democratic nominee Gretchen Whitmer has established an impressive 9-point lead in the polling in the contest to replace the outgoing, unpopular GOP Gov. Rick Snyder.

But a dozen or more other races look like they could go either way.

Alaska Governor

Once a three-person race, it's now a two-candidate game

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
GOP Mike Dunleavy 120,673 53%
DEM Mark Begich 98,885 43%
IND Bill Walker 4,493 2%
LIB William Toien 4,151 2%
389 of 442 (88%) precincts reporting, 228,202 total votes

Connecticut Governor

Democrats try to hold on amid a struggling economy

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Ned Lamont 688,951 49%
GOP Bob Stefanowski 648,868 46%
IND Oz Griebel 54,622 4%
LIB Ned Hanscomb 5,646 0%
OTH Mark Greenstein (Constitution Party) 1,282 0%
684 of 725 (94%) precincts reporting, 1,399,369 total votes

Florida Governor

Racism and an FBI inquiry roil 2018's most important governor's race

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
GOP Ron DeSantis 4,074,728 50%
DEM Andrew Gillum 4,040,155 49%
OTH Darcy Richardson (Reform Party) 47,109 1%
IND Kyle Gibson 24,381 0%
IND Ryan Foley 14,760 0%
IND Bruce Stanley 14,760 0%
6,007 of 6,007 (100%) precincts reporting, 8,215,893 total votes

Georgia Governor

Stacey Abrams aims to make history in the Deep South

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
GOP Brian Kemp 1,978,408 50%
DEM Stacey Abrams 1,923,691 49%
LIB Ted Metz 37,236 1%
2,634 of 2,634 (100%) precincts reporting, 3,939,335 total votes

Iowa Governor

The anti-Trump backlash imperils a GOP incumbent in the Midwest

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
GOP Kim Reynolds 667,173 50%
DEM Fred Hubbell 630,933 48%
LIB Jake Porter 21,429 2%
OTH Gary Siegwarth (Clear Water Party of Iowa Party) 7,471 1%
1,679 of 1,679 (100%) precincts reporting, 1,327,006 total votes

Kansas Governor

A Trumpian immigration hawk vs. a centrist Democrat

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Laura Kelly 489,337 48%
GOP Kris Kobach 443,346 43%
IND Greg Orman 66,163 6%
LIB Jeff Caldwell 18,898 2%
IND Richard Kloos 6,232 1%
7,034 of 7,034 (100%) precincts reporting, 1,023,976 total votes

Maine Governor

The race to succeed the divisive outgoing Gov. Paul LePage

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Janet Mills 305,360 51%
GOP Shawn Moody 257,159 43%
IND Teresea Hayes 35,607 6%
543 of 584 (93%) precincts reporting, 598,126 total votes

Michigan Governor

The Flint disaster looms over the campaign to replace Rick Snyder

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Gretchen Whitmer 2,260,108 53%
GOP Bill Schuette 1,856,615 44%
LIB Bill Gelineau 56,861 1%
GRN Jennifer Kurland 28,887 1%
OTH Todd Schleiger (US Taxpayers Party) 24,746 1%
OTH Keith Butkovich (Natural Law Party) 10,272 0%
4,773 of 4,969 (96%) precincts reporting, 4,237,489 total votes

Nevada Governor

Republican infighting hangs over the bid to follow popular Gov. Brian Sandoval

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Stephen Sisolak 465,774 50%
GOP Adam Laxalt 424,604 46%
IND Ryan Bundy 13,787 1%
OTH Russell Best (Independent American Party) 9,861 1%
LIB Jared Lord 8,723 1%
1,471 of 1,988 (74%) precincts reporting, 922,749 total votes

New Mexico Governor

One of the best Democratic pickup opportunities in 2018

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Michelle Lujan Grisham 392,215 57%
GOP Steve Pearce 294,875 43%
1,490 of 1,492 (100%) precincts reporting, 687,090 total votes

Ohio Governor

Two long-tenured public servants vie for outgoving Gov. John Kasich's seat

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
GOP Mike DeWine 2,183,869 51%
DEM Richard Cordray 1,999,356 46%
LIB Travis Irvine 76,951 2%
GRN Constance Gadell-Newton 47,500 1%
8,903 of 8,904 (100%) precincts reporting, 4,307,676 total votes

Oregon Governor

America's first openly LGBTQ governor fights for reelection

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Kate Brown 803,585 50%
GOP Knute Buehler 712,781 45%
OTH Patrick Starnes (Independent Party of Oregon Party) 46,674 3%
LIB Nick Chen 23,268 1%
OTH Chris Henry (Progressive Party) 9,648 1%
OTH Aaron Donald Auer (Constitution Party) 0 0%
1,342 of 1,342 (100%) precincts reporting, 1,595,956 total votes

South Dakota Governor

South Dakota could elect its first woman governor

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
GOP Kristi Noem 172,894 51%
DEM Billie Sutton 161,416 48%
LIB Kurt Evans 4,844 1%
697 of 697 (100%) precincts reporting, 339,154 total votes

Wisconsin Governor

Democrats hope to finally topple Gov. Scott Walker

Updated Nov 19, 2018, 5:11pm EST
DEM Tony Evers 1,323,676 50%
GOP Scott Walker 1,294,291 48%
LIB Phillip Norman Anderson 20,030 1%
IND Maggie Turnbull 18,641 1%
GRN Michael White 11,038 0%
IND Arnie Enz 2,709 0%