Democrats are leading or are close in five Republican-held governor’s races as the November 3 election approaches, according to polling averages from FiftyPlusOne. Democrats are ahead in Iowa and Ohio, states where they have not won a governor’s race since 2006. In Georgia, Nevada, and Texas, the races are competitive, with Republicans holding narrow leads. Kansas is projected to maintain Republican control, with the incumbent Democratic governor term-limited.
In Iowa, state Auditor Rob Sand leads Republican Zach Lahn by nearly nine points. Sand is attempting to distance himself from the national Democratic Party, which has faced challenges in red states. Ohio's race has become unexpectedly competitive, with Democrat Amy Acton currently polling about four points ahead of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump.
In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa, although Abbott has a significant financial advantage. In Nevada, Republican Joe Lombardo, who won the governorship in 2022, is facing a challenge from Democratic state Attorney General Aaron Ford. In Georgia, businessman Rick Jackson has a spending advantage over former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Despite potential gains, Democrats are concerned about losing Kansas, where Republican Senate President Ty Masterson is leading Democratic state Senator Cindy Holscher in polling averages. The Kansas governor's race coincides with a closely contested U.S. Senate race on the same ballot.
Kabir Khanna contributed reporting to this article. Hunter Woodall covers politics for MS NOW and has reported on politics and presidential campaigns for The Associated Press and CBS News, as well as Congress for The Minnesota Star Tribune.