2026 STATE ELECTIONS HUB
Leonine’s Elections Hub provides an at-a-glance view of 2026 state elections, including gubernatorial, legislative, and attorney general races. Each state page offers interactive maps, candidate insights, and updated polling information to help you stay informed and ahead.
Also, make sure to check out our State Sessions Information page!
Use the buttons below to explore the races by state.
Overview of the State of Elections in 2026
Following a relatively quiet off-year election cycle, the 2026 election landscape will be much more expansive and see many more competitive races than in 2025. Voters in 36 states will elect governors, 30 states will choose attorneys general and 46 states will hold elections for at least one chamber of their state legislature. The uncertainty of these contests is furthered by the large number of open gubernatorial seats and the several legislative chambers controlled by narrow margins, creating meaningful opportunities for partisan shifts.
Both parties are targeting potential gains, particularly in their efforts to secure new trifectas, where a single party controls the governorship and both legislative chambers. At present, Republicans hold 23 trifectas, Democrats control 16 and 11 states have a divided government. Many familiar battlegrounds are once again expected to draw national attention, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
That said, the map is not without potential surprises. Republicans are eyeing opportunities to disrupt Democratic control in less traditional targets such as Maine, where Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is term-limited and Democrats hold only a one-seat advantage in the state House, leaving the current trifecta vulnerable.
PRE-ELECTION STATE PARTY CONTROL
State Lawmaking Kicks Off as Legislatures Convene Nationwide
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business Though the new year is just beginning, state legislatures are wasting no time getting to work. Legislatures in 46 states will convene for a regular legislative session in 2026, while Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas do not have scheduled sessions this year. With the vast majority of legislatures convening […]
Democrats Sweep Off-Year Elections
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business Even in today’s unpredictable political environment, one trend has remained reliable: the president’s party often struggles in midterm and off-year elections. This year was no different, with Democrats winning every statewide race on the ballot, expanding their legislative majorities in New Jersey and Virginia and maintaining their one-seat advantage in […]
Virginia and New Jersey Governor Races Set the Tone for 2026
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business This year’s elections in New Jersey and Virginia are being closely watched as key indicators of the nation’s political climate heading into the 2026 midterms. These off-year gubernatorial races often act as a barometer for the broader mood of the electorate, and this year, both parties see opportunities to reshape […]
Minnesota Special Elections to Decide Senate Control
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business While Minnesota doesn’t typically hold elections in off years, there are special elections being held in November for two state Senate seats. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party currently holds a one-seat majority in the Senate, with 33 seats to Republicans’ 32. With such a razor thin majority, these two special elections […]
Texting Scandal Shakes Up Virginia Attorney General Race
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business Just a month ago, Virginia Democrats were optimistic about former Democratic Delegate Jay Jones’ chances to unseat incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares. Jones was polling well, with a September survey from Christopher Newport University showing him with a seven-point lead and raising enough money to stay competitive with Attorney […]
Redistricting Showdown: States Redraw Maps Ahead of 2026
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business Redistricting, typically a once-a-decade exercise following the census, has erupted into a high-stakes mid-cycle showdown in 2025, with Texas and California leading the charge. In late August, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new congressional map into law. The map, passed strictly along party lines, aims to flip several […]
