2018 United States gubernatorial elections
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| 2018 United States gubernatorial elections | |
|---|---|
 AHC300 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source | |
| Election name | 2018 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Country | United States |
| Type | gubernatorial |
| Previous election | 2017 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Previous year | 2017 |
| Next election | 2019 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Next year | 2019 |
| Election date | November 6, 2018 |
2018 United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 2018, concurrent with the 2018 United States elections, the 2018 United States Senate elections, and the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections. The elections determined governors in 36 states and three territories, influencing partisan control across state executives and affecting interactions with the Donald Trump administration, the United States Congress, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Background and political context
The 2018 contests occurred after the 2016 United States presidential election which elevated Donald Trump to the presidency and followed the 2017 special and off-year gubernatorial contests in Virginia, New Jersey, and Kentucky. National movements such as the Me Too movement, debates over the Affordable Care Act, and controversies involving the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation shaped the climate. Partisan strategies mobilized by the Republican Party (United States) and the Democratic Party (United States) intersected with organizations like the National Republican Governor's Association and the Democratic Governors Association, while advocacy groups including the Sierra Club, National Rifle Association, and Planned Parenthood targeted state executive races. Demographic trends in states such as Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Arizona were scrutinized alongside court rulings from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Election schedule and seats contested
Voters selected governors in 36 states—every state except Virginia and New Jersey which hold off-year elections—and three territories: the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. Several incumbents including John Kasich, Jerry Brown, and Susana Martinez were term-limited or did not seek reelection, triggering competitive open-seat contests in states like Ohio, California, New Mexico, and Kansas. Special elections and resignations involving figures such as Christie in New Jersey and appointments by state legislatures influenced candidate fields alongside primary contests in the Iowa Democratic Party and the Missouri Republican Party. State constitutions and statutes in places such as Alaska, Maine, and Louisiana shaped primary systems, with unique rules like California's top-two primary and Louisiana's jungle primary affecting nomination dynamics.
Campaigns and key issues
Campaigns emphasized health care debates tied to the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid expansion debates following decisions by governors in Kentucky and Arkansas, and economic policy measures linked to federal tax changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Immigration policy arguments referenced DACA and enforcement policies from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while environmental policy disputes involved the Environmental Protection Agency and state responses to the Paris Agreement withdrawal. High-profile controversies included criminal justice reform proposals, responses to mass shootings highlighted by activists from March for Our Lives, and infrastructure concerns tied to federal programs overseen by the Department of Transportation. Campaign financing saw heavy involvement from political action committees like EMILY's List and Club for Growth, with television markets in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami critical for advertising. Debates featured gubernatorial hopefuls such as Gavin Newsom, Andrew Cuomo, Phil Murphy, and Kristi Noem addressing state pension liabilities and labor disputes involving groups like the Service Employees International Union.
Results and seat changes
Overall, the elections resulted in a net change of governorships between the Democratic Party (United States) and the Republican Party (United States). Democrats scored notable pickups in states including Michigan, Kansas, and Wisconsin, while Republicans held or gained in states such as Montana and Nevada. High-profile outcomes included victories by candidates like Gretchen Whitmer, Jared Polis, and Steve Bullock where ballot measures and concurrent congressional outcomes in districts like Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district influenced turnout. The aggregation of gubernatorial outcomes impacted the partisan composition ahead of the 2020 United States presidential election and affected redistricting strategies under state officials in the aftermath of the 2010 United States Census and ongoing litigation in the Supreme Court of the United States.
State-by-state summaries
Alabama: Governor race featured Republican incumbents and challengers tied to the Jeff Sessions political orbit and involved debates over Medicaid changes and education funding overseen by the Alabama State Legislature.
Alaska: Top-two primary dynamics influenced candidates aligned with local priorities in Anchorage and issues related to the Alaska Permanent Fund.
Arizona: Competitive contest reflected shifting politics in Maricopa County, with candidates addressing border policy near Pima County and interactions with federal agencies.
Arkansas: Race centered on Medicaid expansion and rural economic development amid involvement from the Arkansas Democratic Party.
California: Open-seat contest after the term limit on Jerry Brown saw Gavin Newsom secure the governorship in a field that included Antonio Villaraigosa and John Cox, with debates about housing policy in San Francisco and wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Colorado: Outcome intertwined with Jared Polis's campaign on health care and education funding controversies in the Colorado General Assembly.
Connecticut: Governor's race highlighted pension liabilities and urban policy in Hartford and New Haven.
Delaware: Contest involved economic development in Wilmington and oversight of the Delaware General Assembly.
Florida: High-profile campaign in Tallahassee affected statewide races, with attention to ballot initiatives and the role of Miami-Dade County.
Georgia: Governor's contest in Atlanta suburbs engaged debates on voting laws and federal court decisions.
Hawaii: Local issues including tourism impacts in Honolulu shaped the gubernatorial contest.
Idaho: Race focused on education funding and agricultural policy in Boise.
Illinois: Governor's race followed corruption scandals in Springfield, influencing Democratic dominance in Cook County.
Indiana: Contests addressed infrastructure and workforce development in Indianapolis.
Iowa: Close race tied to rural wellbeing and agricultural policy in Des Moines.
Kansas: Upset win reflected backlash against tax policies associated with the outgoing governor and involved figures from the Kansas State Legislature.
Kentucky: Special dynamics following the 2016 United States Senate elections affected gubernatorial campaigning in Frankfort.
Louisiana: Jungle primary rules produced a runoff influenced by oil industry debates centered in Baton Rouge.
Maine: Healthcare and opioid crisis were central in Augusta.
Maryland: Outcome influenced by issues in Annapolis and regional economic development tied to the Chesapeake Bay.
Massachusetts: The race in Boston suburbs involved debates on transportation and housing.
Michigan: Democratic pickup came amid backlash to state tax policy and debates over the Flint water crisis.
Minnesota: Close contest reflected suburban trends in Minneapolis and policy disputes in the Minnesota Legislature.
Mississippi: Campaigns engaged with education funding and Medicaid choices in Jackson.
Missouri: Ballot measures and gubernatorial contests in Jefferson City influenced party control.
Montana: Republican success reflected rural voting patterns and resource extraction issues near Helena.
Nebraska: Unique unicameral legislature context shaped the gubernatorial campaign in Lincoln.
Nevada: Outcome tied to tourism policy in Las Vegas and public lands debates.
New Hampshire: Close contest linked to opioid policy and proximity to Boston media markets.
New Mexico: Open-seat contest involved oil and gas debates in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
New York: Downstate and upstate divides shaped the contest in Albany and the role of figures like Andrew Cuomo.
North Carolina: Race engaged with redistricting litigation and the role of the North Carolina General Assembly.
North Dakota: Energy sector debates influenced the contest near the Bakken formation.
Ohio: Open-seat race in Columbus followed after John Kasich's term limit and centered on economic recovery.
Oklahoma: Campaigns addressed education funding crises and teacher strikes in Oklahoma City.
Oregon: Environmental debates and timber industry concerns shaped the race in Salem.
Pennsylvania: Gubernatorial contest reflected partisan swings in Harrisburg and suburban counties.
Rhode Island: Issues in Providence included pension reform and coastal resilience.
South Carolina: Election in Columbia involved debates over infrastructure and tourism.
South Dakota: Campaigns centered on rural health care and agriculture in Pierre.
Tennessee: Outcome influenced by debates over health care access and state fiscal policy in Nashville.
Texas: High-profile gubernatorial contest affected national attention on Houston and border policy.
Utah: Contests reflected unique party dynamics in Salt Lake City and relations with the LDS Church community.
Vermont: Progressive politics and rural policy dominated in Montpelier.
Washington: Governor's race included debates on taxation and education funding in Olympia.
West Virginia: Energy sector and opioid crisis issues shaped the contest in Charleston.
Wisconsin: Democratic pickup tied to reactions against the incumbent and union issues in Madison.
Wyoming: Energy and grazing policy influenced the campaign near Cheyenne.
Territories: Guam: Local issues in Hagåtña influenced the gubernatorial outcome. Northern Mariana Islands: Commonwealth contests involved relations with the federal government in Saipan. American Samoa: Unique territorial governance and cultural issues shaped the campaign in Pago Pago.
Aftermath and impact on national politics
The collective results affected the balance of power for the Democratic Governors Association and the National Republican Governors Association, shaping policy responses in state capitals and affecting federal-state relations with agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Environmental Protection Agency. The new governors played roles in redistricting strategies ahead of the 2020 United States redistricting cycle and influenced litigation concerning voting rights in cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. Outcomes also affected presidential politics by elevating figures such as Gavin Newsom and Jared Polis to national prominence, altering the 2020 United States presidential election candidate landscape and influencing party platforms at the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee.