2026 Governor Elections (Ricky's Future Elections)

Background
The 2026 Gubernatorial Elections resulted in Democrats getting a net gain of seats over the Republicans. Donald Trump's high disapproval and the unstable economy likely caused the results of the election, with Democrats gaining 3 seats and Independent Matthew McConaughey winning the Texas governors race.

Alabama
Incumbent Governor Kay Ivey was term limited and unable to seek re-election to a third term. US Representative Mo Brooks won the Republican Primary in a narrow runoff election victory, while Ron Stewart won the Democratic Primary.

Republican Primary
Mo Brooks, the former US Representative from Alabama's 5th Congressional District, announced his bid during summer 2025. Brooks had run for Senate in 2022, however lost miserably in the runoff against Katie Britt. Brooks entered the race as the frontrunner, however on January 9th, 2026 Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth announced that he would also run for Governor. The race between Ainsworth and Brooks was intense. Brooks had the early lead, however he proved to be a poor campaigner and narrowly lost the first primary to Ainsworth. However, neither candidate received 50% of the vote, Brooks and Ainsworth advanced into the runoff. Just 2 weeks before the runoff, Brooks gained the endorsement of Donald Trump, which allowed him to narrowly win the primary. Nominee Eliminated in Runoff Eliminated in Primary
 * Mo Brooks, former US Representative from Alabama's 5th Congressional District and candidate for the Senate in 2022
 * Will Ainsworth, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
 * Tom Michels, construction worker
 * Walter Minnik, State Senator

Democratic Primary
Ron Stewart, a state representative announced he would run early on. Tim Hanks, a bartender from Birmingham, was his only challenger. In the Primary, Stewart Beat Hanks by a solid margin. Candidates
 * Ron Stewart, state representative
 * Tim Hanks, bartender

Alaska
Incumbent Governor Mike Dunleavy was term limited and unable to seek re-election. Nick Begich III won the election on the first round of rank choice voting, defeating former Governor Mark Walker and state Representative Les Gara, both of whom ran in 2022.

Arizona
Incumbent Governor Kari Lake ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Reuben Gallego, the United States congressman from the 3rd district. The Campaign between the two was intense, with each calling each other a 'radical'. Overall, Gallego won by a larger margin than expected, largely attributed to Lake's far right policies scaring the more moderate-conservative voters of Arizona.

Republican Primary
Lake, the incumbent was challenged by former Arizona Attorney General Mark Bronvich, who campaigned as a more moderate candidate to the far right Lake. Lake was the original favourite, having both more endorsements and fundraising money than Bronvich. However, towards the end of the campaign, Bronvich started to gain momentum. Candidates
 * Kari Lake, incumbent Governor
 * Mark Bronvich, former Arizona Attorney General

Democratic Primary
The first major candidate to announce their candidacy was Arizona Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar. State Representative Patrick Star followed, and finally came US Representative Reuben Gallego. Businessman Tim Perry also ran, starting out as a minor candidate polling 2-3 percent, however, he gained momentum over time. Despite this, Gallego was able to easily defeat his opponents Candidates
 * Patrick Star, state representative
 * Tim Perry, businessman
 * Anna Tovar, Arizona Corporation Commissioner
 * Reuben Gallego, US Representative from Arizona's 3rd congressional district.

Arkansas
Incumbent Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders won re-election to a second term.

Republican Primary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders won the primary unopposed Candidates
 * Sarah Huckabee Sanders, incumbent Governor of Arkansas

Democratic Primary

 * Bob Tucker, farmer and candidate for AR-1 in 2024

California
Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom was term limited. Tony Thurmond, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction defeated Kevin Kiley to win re-election.

Blanket Primary
Advanced to General Election Eliminated in Primary
 * Tony Thurmond (Democrat), California Superintendent of Public Instruction
 * Kevin Kiley (Republican), State Assemblyman
 * Eleni Kounalakis (Democrat), Lieutenant Governor of California
 * Cal Cramer (Independent), Former US Attorney for Oakland
 * Kevin Deleon (Democrat), former President Pro Tempore of the California Senate