1974 United States gubernatorial elections

1974 United States gubernatorial elections

← 1973 November 5, 1974 1975 →

37 governorships
35 states; 2 territories
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before 32 18
Seats after 36 13
Seat change Increase4 Decrease5
Seats up 23 12
Seats won 27 7

  Third party
 
Party Independent
Seats before 0
Seats after 1
Seat change Increase1
Seats up 0
Seats won 1

1974 Alabama gubernatorial election1974 Alaska gubernatorial election1974 Arizona gubernatorial election1974 Arkansas gubernatorial election1974 California gubernatorial election1974 Colorado gubernatorial election1974 Connecticut gubernatorial election1974 Florida gubernatorial election1974 Georgia gubernatorial election1974 Hawaii gubernatorial election1974 Idaho gubernatorial election1974 Iowa gubernatorial election1974 Kansas gubernatorial election1974 Maine gubernatorial election1974 Maryland gubernatorial election1974 Massachusetts gubernatorial election1974 Michigan gubernatorial election1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election1974 Nebraska gubernatorial election1974 Nevada gubernatorial election1974 New Hampshire gubernatorial election1974 New Mexico gubernatorial election1974 New York gubernatorial election1974 Ohio gubernatorial election1974 Oklahoma gubernatorial election1974 Oregon gubernatorial election1974 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election1974 Rhode Island gubernatorial election1974 South Carolina gubernatorial election1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election1974 Tennessee gubernatorial election1974 Texas gubernatorial election1974 Vermont gubernatorial election1974 Wisconsin gubernatorial election1974 Wyoming gubernatorial election
  Republican hold
  Republican gain
  Democratic hold
  Democratic gain
  Independent gain

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 1974, in 35 states and two territories. The Democrats achieved a net gain of four seats, Republicans took a net loss of five seats, and one Independent was elected to the governorship of a state. This election coincided with the Senate and the House elections.

In Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, governors were elected to four-year terms for the first time, instead of two-year terms. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected South Dakota governor. This is the first time a woman has been elected governor whose husband was not governor of any state. (In this case, Connecticut.)