Both parties held on to their own safe seats on the slender gubernatorial map, which featured only one highly competitive race.
Republicans easily won the seven governorships they were heavily favored to retain, holding on to open seats in Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota and West Virginia, and re-electing Govs. Greg Gianforte of Montana, Spencer Cox of Utah and Phil Scott of Vermont.
The most competitive of those races heading into Election Day was in Indiana, but U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R) won by double digits over Jennifer McCormick (D), the former state superintendent of public instruction, as well as a potential third-party spoiler.
In Missouri, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) defeated state House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D). In North Dakota, U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) defeated state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn (D). And in West Virginia, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (D) defeated Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D).
Republicans also held on in the most competitive governor’s race on the map, in New Hampshire, while Democrats successfully defended their seats in Delaware, North Carolina and Washington.
That means the partisan split of the nation’s governors will remain unchanged in 2025.
Attorney General Josh Stein (D) won handily in North Carolina, the only other presidential battleground besides New Hampshire that hosted a governor’s race. The contest fizzled thanks to the weak candidacy of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), who was buried when more damaging revelations of past statements and adult website activities came to light.
In Washington State, former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R) couldn’t end a four-decade-long GOP cold streak, losing to Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D). And in Delaware, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer (D) defeated state House Minority Leader Mike Ramone (R).