Thirty-six states will elect a governor on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Democrats are trying to win a majority of governors' offices for the first time in two decades. Results were not in when this story was published.
Those 36 states are home to about 80 percent of the nation's population, and 19 of the races have no incumbent, the Associated Press reported. Going into Election Day, Republicans hold 26 of the 50 governorships, so Democrats need a net gain of two to take the majority. Democrats already lead states that hold about 60 percent of the population. They last won a majority of governors' offices in 2006.
The AP says Democrats' best pickup chances are in Alaska, Georgia, Iowa and Ohio, where the Republican incumbents are term-limited. Another is Nevada, where Attorney General Aaron Ford is challenging Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.
Republicans' best chance at a pickup is Kansas, where Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited. Next on their list is Wisconsin, where Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany faces Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Republicans also have their eye on Michigan and on Oregon, where Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek faces Republican Christine Drazan.
Democrats are also spending in Texas, where Gina Hinojosa is challenging Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the Democratic Governors Association put in $1 million. In Florida, Republican Byron Donalds faces Democrat David Jolly.
Tennessee is also choosing a new governor. Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Jerri Green are on the ballot to succeed term-limited Gov. Bill Lee, WBBJ reported.
Official results take time, and every vote must be counted and certified before races are final.
Sources: Associated Press, PBS News, WBBJ