The race to gain the majority of governorships across the country just shifted a bit in Democrats' favor as The Cook Political Report moved both Texas and Florida's races toward the party. Midterm elections are commonly viewed as a test of the political environment facing the party in power, and the president's party has historically lost seats during them. Republicans hold a narrow majority in both the House and Senate.
Republicans have also controlled a majority of governorships for roughly two decades, not including a four-year Democratic stint from roughly 2007 to 2011. There are 36 top state seats on the ballot in November's election, of which the parties currently hold 18 apiece. Democrats are hoping to capitalize on President Donald Trump's dropping approval ratings in state and national polls as the midterm elections are less than five weeks away.
The president's overall approval and ranking on key policy issues like the economy, immigration, jobs and the ongoing war in Iran have slipped as households across America are flagging affordability concerns. Cook says in part that "Democrats could make gains across the country in critical states this November, potentially giving them a majority of governorships for the first time since 2010." Cook says that the party is seriously battling to flip Alaska, Ohio, Nevada and Georgia. Polling is neck and neck in the Georgia race, as Republican Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited.
Recent polls show Republican Rick Jackson with a one- or two-point advantage over Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, where earlier polling in the summer showed Bottoms ahead. The Peach State has not elected a Democratic governor in more than two decades. Amy Acton is leading in a majority of new polls versus Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
Prediction market site Kalshi also shows Acton with a 20 percent advantage over Ramaswamy to win the seat. In Alaska, Governor Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and recent polls favor Democrats. The state uses a jungle primary system that requires voters to rank the four candidates by preference in the upcoming general election, which includes two Democrats and two Republicans.
Trump won the state in the 2024 presidential election. Nevada's governor seat is held by Republican Joe Lombardo, seeking to maintain his office against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. An Emerson College Polling/KLAS-TV survey conducted last month showed Ford narrowly ahead, but before that, Lombardo led in a majority of surveys.
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