Politics

Wide open governor’s races foreshadow midterm uncertainty

There are open-seat races in half the states electing chief executives this year.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs smiles as she arrives to give her State of the State address in the House of Representatives at the Capitol, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Two-thirds of the states will elect governors in this year’s midterm elections, as both Democrats and Republicans stockpile hundreds of millions of dollars in the battle for control of statehouses across the nation.

As primary election season kicks off Tuesday, in which incumbent governors in Arkansas and Texas are likely to skate to renomination, Democrats and Republicans are projecting optimism that the midterms will break their way. But in the face of stubbornly high costs and President Donald Trump’s sinking approval rating, Republicans are conscious that history is not on their side.

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