United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 6, 2018, in 36 states and three territories. These elections formed part of the 2018 United States elections. Other coinciding elections were the 2018 United States Senate elections and the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections.
Many of the states holding gubernatorial elections have term limits which made some multi-term governors ineligible for re-election. Two Democratic governors were term-limited while six incumbent Democratic governors were eligible for re-election. Among Republican governors, twelve were term-limited while eleven could seek re-election. One independent governor was eligible for re-election.
Elections were held in 26 of the 33 states with Republican governors, nine of the 16 states with Democratic governors, one state (Alaska) with an independent governor, two territories (Guam and Northern Mariana Islands) with Republican governors, one territory (U.S. Virgin Islands) with an independent governor, and the District of Columbia with a Democratic mayor. Incumbent state governors running to be reelected included 14 Republicans, five Democrats, and one independent. Territorial incumbents running included one Republican and one independent. The incumbent Democratic mayor of Washington, D.C. also ran for re-election.
Democrats gained control of nine state and territorial governorships that had previously been held by Republicans and an independent. They picked up Republican-held open seats in the states of Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, and New Mexico, in addition to defeating Republican incumbents in Illinois and Wisconsin and not losing any seats of their own. Additionally, they won the Republican-controlled territory of Guam and the independent-controlled territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Republicans won the governorship of Alaska previously held by an independent. Democrats also won the total popular vote for the year's gubernatorial elections for the second year in a row.
As of 2025, this is the last time that Republicans won governorships in Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts, and the last time that Democrats won the gubernatorial office in Nevada.
Six women won election for the first time as Governor in 2018.
Election predictions.
Several sites and individuals publish predictions of competitive seats. These predictions look at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assign ratings to each seat, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat. Most election predictors use "tossup" to indicate that neither party has an advantage, "lean" to indicate that one party has a slight advantage, "likely" or "favored" to indicate that one party has a significant but not insurmountable advantage and "safe" or "solid" to indicate that one party has a near-certain chance of victory. Some predictions also include a "tilt" rating that indicates that one party has an advantage that is not quite as strong as the "lean" rating would indicate (except Fox News, where "likely" is the highest rating given). Governors whose names are in parentheses are not contesting the election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Maryland.
One-term Republican incumbent Larry Hogan ran for re-election.
Former president of the NAACP Benjamin Jealous was the Democratic nominee.
Green Party candidate and entrepreneur Ian Schlakman sought his party's nomination. Libertarian Shawn Quinn was nominated the LP's candidate by convention.
Hogan won re-election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Massachusetts.
One-term Republican incumbent Charlie Baker ran for re-election.
Former State Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez, environmentalist Bob Massie, and former Newton Mayor Setti Warren have announced their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. Warren withdrew from the race, leaving only Gonzalez and Massie.
Baker won re-election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Michigan.
Two-term Governor Rick Snyder was term-limited, as Michigan does not allow governors to serve more than two terms.
Attorney General Bill Schuette, Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, state Senator Patrick Colbeck, and physician Jim Hines were seeking the Republican nomination.
Former state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, former executive director of the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion Abdul El-Sayed, and businessman Shri Thanedar were seeking the Democratic nomination.
Bill Gelineau and John Tatar were seeking the Libertarian nomination.
Whitmer won the election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Minnesota.
Two-term Governor Mark Dayton was eligible to seek re-election, but did not do so.
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor nominee was U.S. Representative Tim Walz. The Republican nominee was Hennepin County Commissioner and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Jeff Johnson.
Former Independence Party Governor Jesse Ventura expressed interest in running again, but ultimately declined.
Walz won the election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Nebraska.
One-term incumbent Pete Ricketts ran for re-election. Former governor Dave Heineman considered a primary challenge to Ricketts.
State Senator Bob Krist won the Democratic nomination. He intended to create a third party to run, but abandoned this plan.
Ricketts won re-election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Nevada.
Two-term Governor Brian Sandoval was term-limited, as Nevada does not allow governors to serve more than two terms.
Attorney General Adam Laxalt and State Treasurer Dan Schwartz ran for the Republican nomination, which Laxalt won.
Clark County Commissioners Steve Sisolak and Chris Giunchigliani sought the Democratic nomination, which Sisolak won.
Sisolak won the election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
New Hampshire.
Chris Sununu, who was elected in 2016 by a margin of two percent, sought re-election.
Former Portsmouth mayor and 2016 candidate Steve Marchand and former state senator Molly Kelly ran for the Democratic nomination. Kelly won the nomination.
Jilletta Jarvis sought the Libertarian nomination.
Sununu won re-election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
New Mexico.
Two-term Governor Susana Martinez was term-limited, as New Mexico does not allow governors to serve three consecutive terms.
U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham faced U.S. Representative Steve Pearce in the general election.
Lujan Grisham won the election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
New York.
Two-term Governor Andrew Cuomo ran for re-election, as New York does not have gubernatorial term limits.
Actress and activist Cynthia Nixon challenged Cuomo for the Democratic Party nomination, but did not win.
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro was the Republican nominee.
Libertarian Larry Sharpe was the first opponent to declare his candidacy in the race, declaring his candidacy on July 12, 2017 – and won the Libertarian nomination for governor.
Cuomo won re-election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Ohio.
Two-term Governor John Kasich was term-limited, as Ohio does not allow governors to serve three consecutive terms.
Attorney General Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor ran for the Republican nomination, which DeWine won.
Former U.S. Representative and two-time presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Attorney General and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Richard Cordray, and state Senator Joe Schiavoni ran for the Democratic nomination, which was won by Cordray.
Green Party nominee for State House in 2016 Constance Gadell-Newton declared her candidacy.
Filmmaker and comedian Travis Irvine was the Libertarian Party's candidate for governor.
DeWine won the election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
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! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Oklahoma.
Two-term Governor Mary Fallin was term-limited as Oklahoma does not allow governors to serve more than two terms.
Businessman Kevin Stitt advanced to a runoff in the Republican primary, eventually winning.
With only one opponent in the primary, former Attorney General Drew Edmondson won the Democratic nomination outright.
The Libertarian nominee was Chris Powell.
Stitt won the general election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Oregon.
Kate Brown became governor of Oregon in February 2015 following the resignation of John Kitzhaber. In accordance with Oregon law, a special election was held in 2016, which Brown won. She ran for a full term and won the primary.
State Representative Knute Buehler won the Republican nomination.
Brown won election to a full term.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col" style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 130px"|Party
! scope="col" style="width: 17em"|Candidate
! scope="col" style="width: 5em"|Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"|%
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em"| ;templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" / ;±%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
Pennsylvania.
One-term Governor Tom Wolf was eligible for re-election and was unopposed in the primary.
State Senator Scott Wagner won the Republican nomination.
Ken Krawchuk ran as a Libertarian.
Wolf won re-election.
! scope="col" colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party
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! scope="col" style="width: 5em" |Votes
! scope="col" style="width: 3.5em" |%
! colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes
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! scope="col"