2020 United States gubernatorial elections

For related races, see 2020 United States elections.
2020 United States gubernatorial elections
← 2019 November 3, 2020 2021 →
13 governorships
11 states; 2 territories
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 26 24
Seats after 27 23
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 10,698,657 9,001,081
Percentage 52.41% 44.09%
Seats up 7 4
Seats won 8 3
2020 Delaware gubernatorial election2020 Indiana gubernatorial election2020 Missouri gubernatorial election2020 Montana gubernatorial election2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election2020 North Carolina gubernatorial election2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election2020 Utah gubernatorial election2020 Vermont gubernatorial election2020 Washington gubernatorial election2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     Republican gain
     New Progressive hold      Nonpartisan politician

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018. Nine state governors ran for reelection and all nine won,[a] while Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Gary Herbert of Utah decided to retire at the end of his term.[1]

In addition to state gubernatorial elections, the territories of American Samoa and Puerto Rico also held elections for their governors. Puerto Rican governor Wanda Vázquez Garced lost the New Progressive Party primary to Pedro Pierluisi,[2] while Lolo Matalasi Moliga of American Samoa could not run again due to term limits.[3]

The elections took place concurrently with the 2020 presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, and numerous state and local elections. This round of gubernatorial elections marked the first time since West Virginia governor Jim Justice's party switch in mid-2017 that Republicans flipped any governorships held previously by Democrats, and the first round of gubernatorial elections since 2016 where Republicans made net gains, ending a streak of Democratic net gains that had occurred in prior elections during the presidency of Republican Donald Trump.


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  1. ^ Skelley, Geoffrey (April 7, 2020). "11 Governorships Are Up For Grabs In 2020. Here's What's Happening". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "Puerto Rico's governor loses primary in chaotic election". POLITICO. Associated Press. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "Four teams to vie for American Samoa's governorship". RNZ. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.