Democracy in Action - Campaign Literature Archive 2018 Governor Races

Nov. 6, 2018 Governor Races

At Stake: 36 Seats
Before Nov. 6: 33R, 16D and 1I.

AL - AK - AZ - AR - CA - CO - CT - FL - GA - HI - ID - IL - IA - KS - ME - MD - MA - MI - MN - NE - NV - NH - NM - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - VT - WI - WY

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After Nov. 6: 27R, 23D.

Thirty-six governorships at stake in 2018*.
*Does not include Guam, USVI and CNMI.

25.01 +	20.01-25.0	15.01-20.0	10.01-15.0	5.01-10.0	0-5.0	0-5.0	5.01-10.0	10.01-15.0	15.01-20.0	20.01-25.0	25.01 +
HI 28.97	NY 24.41 CA 23.90	RI 15.46 IL 15.70* PA 17.07	CO 10.62 MN 11.41 NM 14.40*	KS 5.03* OR 6.40 ME 7.71* MI 9.56*	WI 1.10* CT 3.16 NV 4.08*	FL 0.40 GA 1.39 IL 2.73 SD 3.41 OH 3.71	AK 7.03* NH 7.04 SC 8.04	MD 11.84 OK 12.10 TX 13.31 AZ 14.16 VT 14.92	NE 18.00 AL 19.07	TN 21.01 ID 21.58	MA 33.48 AR 33.56 WY 39.58

*Seat changed parties.

Several More Facts & Figs

The most expensive race of the cycle was Illinois with total spending of over $200 million.

The closest Governor's race of the cycle was in Florida, where Ron DeSantis (R) edged Andrew Gillum (D). The most lopsided race was in Wyoming where Mark Gordon (R) easily defeated Mary Trone (D).

Of the 72 major party nominees, 16 were women: 12D (2 incumbents and 10 challengers/open) and 4R (2 incumbents and 2 challengers/open). Two women governors were leaving, both Republicans (Martinez-NM and Fallin-OK). For the Democrats 2 of 2 incumbents and 4 of 10 challengers won; for the Republicans 2 of 2 incumbents seeing re-election won as did 1 of the 2 challengers. The number of women governors will increase from 6 (2D, 4R) to 9 (6D, 3R). Democrats: Kelly-KS, Mills-ME, Whitmer-MI, Lujan Grisham-NM, Brown-OR and Raimondo-RI. Republicans: Ivey-AL, Reynolds-IA and Noem-SD.

In six states voters only had two choices on the ballot: AL, CA, MA, NE, NM and SC.

The strongest showings a third party or independent candidate was in Nebraska where Greg Orman, a Johnson County businessman who also ran for U.S. Senate in 2014, obtained 6.50% of the vote. Other strong showings were Treasurer Terry Hayes (I) in Maine (5.91%), businessman and former state Rep. Joe Trillo (I) in Rhode Island (4.39%), state Sen. Sam McCann (Cons.) in Illinois (4.23%), Oz Griebel (GFCT) in Connecticut (3.89%), Chris Powell (L) in Oklahoma, the best showing by a Libertarian (3.44%), and Rex Rammell (C) in Wyoming (3.32%).

Over 100 general election gubernatorial debates were noted. In only two states, Alabama and Nevada were no debates held.