The numbers: Eleven states hold regularly scheduled governor elections in 2028. As of November 9, 2026, Republicans hold 8 of those seats and Democrats hold 3. The elections are scheduled for November 7, 2028. North Dakota’s winner takes office December 15, 2028, and the other 10 winners take office in January 2029.
Data as of November 9, 2026; officeholders per the National Governors Association and each governor’s office. Sources listed below.
Which Governor Seats Are Up in 2028?
The 2028 governor map includes Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. Nine of those states elect governors to four-year terms in presidential years. New Hampshire and Vermont elect governors every two years, so they appear on both the 2026 and 2028 ballots.
The party breakdown is a snapshot, not a prediction. A governor may resign, leave for another office or decide not to run, and a name in this table means current officeholder, not confirmed 2028 candidate.
2028 Governor Races: Full Table
| State | Current governor | Party holding seat | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Matt Meyer | Democratic | Office of the Governor |
| Indiana | Mike Braun | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| Missouri | Mike Kehoe | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| Montana | Greg Gianforte | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| New Hampshire* | Kelly Ayotte | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| North Carolina | Josh Stein | Democratic | Office of the Governor |
| North Dakota | Kelly Armstrong | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| Utah | Spencer Cox | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| Vermont* | Phil Scott | Republican | Office of the Governor |
| Washington | Bob Ferguson | Democratic | Office of the Governor |
| West Virginia | Patrick Morrisey | Republican | Office of the Governor |
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*New Hampshire and Vermont held governor elections on November 3, 2026, for terms beginning in January 2027. Those results are pending certification as of November 9, 2026. The table lists the current officeholder and will be updated only after each state certifies its result.
Where the Two Parties Defend Seats
Republican-held seats on the 2028 map are in Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. Democratic-held seats are in Delaware, North Carolina and Washington.
This is an inventory of defenses, not a ranking by difficulty. Competitiveness cannot be read from a state’s appearance on the map; candidate fields and the 2028 environment are not yet set.
One seat on the map is already open under state law. Montana’s constitution bars the secretary of state from certifying a candidate for governor who would have served eight or more years in any 16-year period at the end of the current term, according to Article IV, Section 8. Gov. Greg Gianforte took office in January 2021, and his current term ends in January 2029, so he cannot appear on the 2028 ballot for governor.
Where 2028 Fits in the Governor Cycle
Most states elect governors in midterm years. The 2026 cycle covered 36 states, while 2028 covers 11. Five states elect governors in odd-numbered years: New Jersey and Virginia in 2025, and Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi in 2027.
Two U.S. territories also elect governors in 2028. Puerto Rico and American Samoa elected their current governors in 2024 to four-year terms. Territories are not shaded on the state map.
Why the Count Is Not the Same as Control of Governorships
The 11 races in 2028 do not by themselves decide how many governorships each party holds. That total depends on all 50 states, including the 36 that voted in 2026. Those 2026 results take effect in January 2027 and are still being certified state by state. For state deadlines, see our guide to when 2026 results are certified.
Incumbency is also not the same as renomination. Official filings and primary results establish who appears on the general-election ballot.
How to Track the Map Through 2028
The most durable starting point is each state’s election calendar and candidate filing records, published by the state’s chief election official. Filing deadlines and primary dates vary by state, and several fall in the first half of 2028.
Governor races share the November 7, 2028 ballot with the presidential race and the regular Senate contests. See the 2028 Electoral College map, the 2028 Senate map of all 34 Class III seats and the 2028 presidential primary calendar.
What the 8-3 Split Does and Doesn’t Tell You
Republicans hold 8 of the 11 seats on the 2028 governor map, and Democrats hold 3. That shows which party has more seats to defend. It does not show which races will be close, who will run or who will win.
Accurate 2028 governor coverage separates current officeholders, filed candidates, party nominees and projected competitiveness. Those are four different categories.
Governor Map Questions
How many governor races are there in 2028? Eleven regularly scheduled state races, plus Puerto Rico and American Samoa.
Which party holds more of the 2028 seats? Republicans hold 8 and Democrats 3 as of November 9, 2026.
Why are New Hampshire and Vermont on both the 2026 and 2028 maps? Both states elect governors to two-year terms.
Is any 2028 governor seat guaranteed to be open? Yes. Montana’s term limit bars Gov. Greg Gianforte from the 2028 ballot for governor.
When do governors elected in 2028 take office? North Dakota’s governor takes office December 15, 2028. The other 10 take office in January 2029, on dates set by each state’s law.
Sources
- National Governors Association: Current Governors
- Montana Constitution, Article IV, Section 8: Limitation on terms of office
- North Dakota Constitution, Article V (Section 5: term begins December 15)
- Vermont Secretary of State: 2026 general election results (unofficial)
- New Hampshire Secretary of State: Elections
- Offices of the governors of Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia (linked in the table)
