Win at the State Level
Governors and state legislatures control redistricting and set the rules for how elections are run. Which party wins power in the states in 2026 will shape control of the House—and the White House—for years to come.
To fight back against Republican gerrymandering and voter suppression, a key part of our long-term strategy, we need to win in the states. These races are some of the most important, and overlooked, on the map.
State governments also have enormous influence over people’s daily lives. For Democrats to rebuild trust with voters, they have to show they can deliver results when in power. While the federal government remains gridlocked, state government is often where that work can happen fastest.
By organizing early in key states, we’re building power that lasts far beyond a single election cycle.
Jump to races:
Must-Flip Races
The most competitive GOP-held seats, where margins will be razor-thin and outcomes will determine which party holds power.
Georgia
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 45.88% | R: 53.41%
Governor Brian Kemp is term-limited, and Democrats are surging after flipping two seats on the Public Service Commission in 2025—their first non-federal statewide election wins in Georgia since 2006. Flipping the governor's mansion would cement Georgia's status as a true battleground and give Democrats a critical check on Republican power in the South.
Republicans currently hold a full trifecta in Georgia, giving them unchecked control over a state that has become a true presidential and Senate battleground. Winning the governor's mansion would break that trifecta, giving Democrats a critical veto over any Republican efforts to restrict voting access, redraw district maps, or tilt the playing field ahead of 2028.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 47.30% | R: 48.81%
Nevada
Democrats already hold majorities in both the Nevada State Assembly and Senate, and adding a Democratic governor would mean a full trifecta in a critical presidential battleground. That trifecta would put Democrats in a position to protect the 2028 election results and lock in legislative gains before the next redistricting cycle.
Must-Hold Races
The most competitive Democratic-held seats, where outcomes will determine which party holds power.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 50.32% | R: 49.65%
Arizona
Governor Katie Hobbs has called this race "the toughest in the country," defending a seat she won by fewer than 17,000 votes in 2022 while Republicans fielded an aggressive primary field backed by Trump.
Arizona is one of the most contested presidential and Senate battlegrounds in the country, and with the state legislature divided, Governor Hobbs has been the critical check on Republican attempts to restrict voting access and manipulate election administration. Losing this seat would give Republicans unified control over Arizona's election infrastructure heading into 2028, making it one of the highest-stakes gubernatorial races on the map.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 54.47% | R: 43.94%
Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, leaving an open seat in a state Trump carried by just 1.4 points in 2024.
Michigan is a must-win presidential state and hosts one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle. With the governorship open and the legislature divided, holding this seat is critical to maintaining a check on redistricting and election administration in a state where both parties are fighting for every advantage heading into 2028.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 51.15% | R: 47.75%
Wisconsin
Governor Tony Evers announced he will not seek re-election, opening up a seat in one of the most consequential battleground states in the country for both presidential and Senate races.
The governor controls the redistricting process that will shape the state's political map for the next decade. With the current governorship open and the legislature divided, holding this seat is essential to keeping Republicans from drawing themselves a structural advantage before 2028.
Reach Races
The races where the political environment is shifting and early investments could help secure tough wins—and, where we fall short, help us build the infrastructure needed to win in the next cycle or two.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 39.53%| R: 58.05%
Iowa
Iowa's governor's seat is open for the first time since 2006, and with the state's economy reeling from tariffs, Democrats have a strong recruit in State Auditor Rob Sand, who has high approval ratings across party lines. This is a real opportunity to deny Republicans an unchecked trifecta in a state feeling the pain of their agenda. Flipping this seat would give Democrats a veto over Republican legislation in a state that has been swinging harder right with every cycle.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 49.54%| R: 47.33%
Kansas
With Democratic Governor Laura Kelly term-limited out, Republicans are working hard to seize back the governorship and complete their hold on a state where they already control a legislative supermajority. Keeping a Democrat in the governor's office is the only remaining check on that supermajority, and losing it would give the GOP the ability to push through their full agenda without any opposition.
2022 gubernatorial results: D: 37.38%| R: 62.41%
Ohio
Governor Mike DeWine is term-limited, and Republicans have rallied around Vivek Ramaswamy, who has the backing of both Trump and Vice President Vance. Democrats have a strong candidate in Dr. Amy Acton, and with Sherrod Brown driving massive turnout in the Senate race, the governor's race is poised to benefit directly from Ohio's biggest Democratic mobilization effort in years.
Ohio Republicans already hold a full trifecta and have used it aggressively to entrench their power through redistricting and election law changes. Flipping the governor's mansion would break that trifecta and give Democrats a veto in a state that is also home to one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, making a coordinated Democratic effort here one of the highest-leverage investments of the entire cycle.
Get involved
Join a local group near you
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