The U.S. Senate gets the national headlines, but 2026’s 36 governor races may matter just as much for how Americans are actually governed. From open seats to high-profile dropouts, the marquee contests in California, Texas and Florida are reshaping the map for control of statehouses.
California: a scrambled top tier
California’s race blew open after Congressman Eric Swalwell exited amid misconduct allegations, vaulting former state attorney general Xavier Becerra into the lead. In the June 2 primary, Becerra (D) and Republican Steve Hilton advanced to the general election, having topped a crowded field that included Tom Steyer, Chad Bianco and Katie Porter. The contest to succeed a termed-out incumbent will test whether Republicans can be competitive statewide in a deep-blue state.
Texas: Abbott goes for four
In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott is running for a fourth term, having advanced from his primary to face Democrat Gina Hinojosa in November. Abbott enters as a clear favourite in a Republican-leaning state, but a high-turnout midterm and national headwinds make even safe incumbents watch their margins.
Florida: a wide-open scramble
Florida is the marquee open seat. With Ron DeSantis term-limited, the August 18 primary will set the field. On the Republican side, Rep. Byron Donalds leads comfortably at 46%, well ahead of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and James Fishback. The Democratic field is unsettled, with David Jolly at 21% and a majority of voters undecided. Whoever wins the GOP primary starts as a favourite in a state that has trended red.
Why governors matter
Governors wield enormous practical power — over budgets, abortion access, voting administration, education and how a state engages with federal policy. With redistricting fights and election rules increasingly fought at the state level, who holds these offices shapes far more than a single term’s agenda.
The bottom line
From California’s reshuffled field to Florida’s open scramble and Abbott’s bid for a fourth term in Texas, 2026’s governor races are a high-stakes undercard to the battle for Congress. With 36 seats in play, the results will redraw the balance of power across the states — and set the terms for the next national fight.
Photo: Darron Birgenheier / BY-SA via flickr
