Open state executive seats reach highest count since 2018
In 2026, 118 of the 296 state executive offices on the ballot have no incumbent, the highest total since Ballotpedia began tracking this in 2018. Term limits account for 57 of those open seats. Of 287 general elections, 267 are contested, and the 36 governor races include 10 that Ballotpedia labels as battlegrounds.
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In 2026, 296 state executive offices are on ballots. Of those, 118 have no incumbent, the most since 2018; term limits account for 57. The open-seat share is 39.8%, down from 43.7% in 2024. There are 287 general elections: 267 contested, 20 uncontested. Of 161 incumbents running,
Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “This year has the most open state executive elections since 2018.” Browse more stories.