2020 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: 2020 General Election

2020 Governor's Chairs
by State

11 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2020

11 Elected

39 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2020

11 Open Governor's Chairs (voluntary retirement, seeking other political office, term limits)

8 Incumbents renominated by same party

101 Candidates seeking a Governor's Chair (Candidates may run under the banner of multiple parties. Hence, the number of parties may be greater than the number of candidates.)

This is a list of the current Governors' chairs, the incumbents occupying them, and the candidacy status of said incumbents. Chairs up for election in the year 2020 are marked as such.

There have been 0 deaths, 0 resignations, and 0 changes of party affiliation in 2020.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Gubernatorial Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Alaska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Arkansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Gavin Newsom • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Colorado 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Jared Polis • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Connecticut 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Edward "Ned" Lamont • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Delaware 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor John Charles Carney, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Previously served in the U.S. House 2011-2017. First elected to the Governor's Chair: 2016. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated

Florida 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor David Yutaka Ige • First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2018. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair

Idaho 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Illinois 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor J.B. Pritzker • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Indiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Iowa 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Kansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Laura Kelly • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Kentucky 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Andy Beshear • First elected: 2019 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2023 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Louisiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor John Bel Edwards • First elected: 2015; re-elected: 2019 • Chair up for regular election: Saturday 14 October 2023 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At Term Limit

Maine 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Janet T. Mills • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Maryland 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Massachusetts 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Michigan 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Gretchen Whitmer • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Minnesota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Timothy J. "Tim" Walz • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Mississippi 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2019, 2023. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Missouri 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Montana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

Open	Democratic	Governor Steve Bullock • First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2016. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At term limit. 14 May 2019: "I'm Steve Bullock and I'm running for President." 2 December 2019: Suspended campaign. "... it has become clear that in this moment, I won't be able to break through to the top tier of this still-crowded field of candidates ...." 9 March 2020: "Now I'm taking that fight to the US Senate."
		Open Chair (no incumbent)

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Nevada 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Stephen F. "Steve" Sisolak • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

New Hampshire 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2020. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

New Jersey 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2017, 2021. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Philip "Phil" Murphy • First elected: 2017 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 2 November 2021 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • 22 February 2020: Governor Phil Murphy stated that he will have surgery to remove a kidney tumor.

New Mexico 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

New York 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Andrew M. Cuomo • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014, 2018. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

North Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Roy Asberry Cooper, III • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2016 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated

North Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: North Dakota passed an initiative in November 2022 to amend the state's Constitution to add Gubernatorial term limits of 2 4 year terms. Applies to individuals elected after 1 January 2023
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Ohio 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Oklahoma 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Oregon 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Kate Brown • Ascended to the Governor's chair 18 February 2015 re: resignation of John A. Kitzhaber (Democratic); first elected in a Special Election: 2016; re-elected 2018. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair

Pennsylvania 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Thomas W. "Tom" Wolf • First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2018. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Gina Marie Raimondo • First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2018. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election. • Open Chair - At Term Limit

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Tennessee 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Texas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Utah 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2020. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2017, 2021. Term Limit: ineligble to immediately succeed after a given 4-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Ralph S. Northam • First elected: 2017 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 2 November 2021 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Washington 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Jay R. Inslee • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2016. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • on General Election ballot

West Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Wisconsin 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democratic

	Democratic	Governor Anthony Steven "Tony" Evers • First elected: 2018 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Wyoming 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period. The Wyoming Supreme Court determined on 4 May 2004 that term limits require an amendment to the state constitution rather than, as they were, imposed by a 1992 ballot initiative. At the time, the ruling was not applied to statewide offices. Reference: CATHCART v. MEYER, 2004 WY 49, 88 P.3d 1050, Case Number: 04-32, 04-33, 04-34, Decided: 05/04/2004
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic
	• Democratic-Nonpartisan League
	• Republican
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution
	• Green
	• Libertarian
Other Third Parties
	• Independent American
	• Independent Party Of Delaware
	• Mountain
	• Progressive
	• Truth Matters
Independents
	• Independent
	• No Party Affiliation
	• No Party Preference
	• Unaffiliated
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering
	• Write-in

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.