Midterm watch: 36 governor races split evenly, with 19 open seats

Polls in Mecklenburg County are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Residents of Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis and Indian Trail are casting ballots for the U.S. Senate, all U.S. House seats in the state, and various local offices and measures. According to Ballotpedia, the state does not have a governor election this year, but the day is part of the national midterm cycle that determines control of Congress for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term.

Nationwide, 36 governorships are on the ballot. Before today's vote, Republicans held 26 governor's offices and Democrats held 24. Of the 36 offices being decided, each party currently holds 18. This creates a perfectly balanced starting point for the executive branch of state governments. Democrats would need a net gain of two governorships to secure a nationwide majority, a feat they have not achieved since Republicans took control in 2010.

A significant portion of these races are open, meaning no incumbent is on the ballot in 19 of the 36 contests. Fifteen governors are term-limited, preventing them from running again. Three other incumbents chose not to seek re-election: Iowa's Kim Reynolds, Minnesota's Tim Walz and Wisconsin's Tony Evers. Rhode Island's Daniel McKee did not run in the general election after losing his primary. These open seats introduce uncertainty as new faces attempt to claim the top executive spot in their respective states.

Ballotpedia identifies nine states as governor's race battlegrounds: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin. In these states, the outcome is considered too close to call. Democrats are defending five governorships in states that President Trump won in 2024, including Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Republicans are defending two governorships in states that former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024: New Hampshire and Vermont.

Specific matchups have drawn national attention. In Georgia, Republican health care executive Rick Jackson is competing against Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed Brian Kemp. In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is running against Democrat Amy Acton. The Associated Press notes that the Ramaswamy campaign faced backlash over an advertisement featuring Acton's estranged mother. The AP also describes Texas, Florida and Iowa as competitive governor races, suggesting a potential shift in power in those regions.

The mood of the election is described by the Associated Press as a referendum on Trump's second term. Voters are reported to be struggling with high prices and angry over an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance, while only 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. About seven in 10 adults say the country is heading in the wrong direction, with most blaming the president for high prices.

More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote of four years ago in many closely watched states. Republicans were bracing to lose the House and fighting to hold the Senate, while Democrats were cautiously optimistic. President Trump held dozens of rallies, ending his schedule Sunday in Salina, Kansas, where he told supporters, "I really want you to pretend I'm on the ballot." His schedule also included stops in Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.

The 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. An AP analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This included more than $850 million spent in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

In North Carolina, the U.S. Senate seat is an open race because incumbent Senator Thom Tillis is retiring. The race features Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper against former Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley. Tillis retired after clashing with Trump. The state also has three ballot measures on the ballot, including amendments to limit property taxes, reduce the income tax rate cap, and require voter identification.

Election administration has been a point of contention. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting, a move critics said risks disenfranchising eligible voters. The administration also sued in Alaska and California regarding voting procedures. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. Wall Street is watching the results for clues on AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations.

Voters in Mecklenburg County can find their polling place at vote.gov. Anyone in line when polls close is entitled to vote. ID rules vary by state, so voters are advised to check their specific rules before going. The outcome of these 36 governor races, along with the House and Senate contests, will shape the balance of power in American government for the next two years.