Updated 12 November 2008
Get the rundown on the 11 Governor races in the 2008 election. Two Democrats (Delaware and Montana) and one Republican (Missouri) are not running for reelection; the remaining contested seats are held by four Democrats and four Republicans. There are currently 28 Democrats and 22 Republicans holding gubernatorial positions.
1. Delaware - Minner (D)
Incumbent Governor Ruth Ann Minner cannot run for a third term, so this is an open seat.
There are three candidates for governor: Democratic, Jack Markell; Republican, William Swain Lee; and Blue Enigma, Jeff Brown. There are also three candidates for Lt. Governor: Democratic, Matthew Denn; Republican, Charlie Copeland; and Blue Enigma, Peter Cullen.
Markell is currently the state treasurer of Delaware (since January 1999); if elected governor, he would be the first Jewish governor of Delaware.
Lee is a former Delaware Superior Court judge and was the 2004 Republican candidate for governor.
Brown is a community advocate.
Democrat favored
Markell wins 68% to 32%
There are three candidates for governor: Democratic, Jack Markell; Republican, William Swain Lee; and Blue Enigma, Jeff Brown. There are also three candidates for Lt. Governor: Democratic, Matthew Denn; Republican, Charlie Copeland; and Blue Enigma, Peter Cullen.
Markell is currently the state treasurer of Delaware (since January 1999); if elected governor, he would be the first Jewish governor of Delaware.
Lee is a former Delaware Superior Court judge and was the 2004 Republican candidate for governor.
Brown is a community advocate.
Democrat favored
Markell wins 68% to 32%
2. Indiana - Daniels (R)
Incumbent Governor Mitch Daniels, a former White House budget director under President George W. Bush, is facing two opponents in November: Democratic nominee Jill Long Thompson, former Congresswoman and Undersecretary of Agriculture, and Libertarian nominee engineer Andy Horning, who unsuccessfully ran against Daniels in 2000.
Although Indiana has not voted for the Democratic nominee for President since 1964, Daniels is the first Republican to be elected governor in 20 years. His controversial June 2006 decision to privatize the Indiana Toll Road may have contributed to low approval ratings.
State leans Republican
Daniels wins 58% to 40%
Although Indiana has not voted for the Democratic nominee for President since 1964, Daniels is the first Republican to be elected governor in 20 years. His controversial June 2006 decision to privatize the Indiana Toll Road may have contributed to low approval ratings.
State leans Republican
Daniels wins 58% to 40%
3. Montana - Schweitzer (D)
Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer is facing Republican State Senator Roy Brown and Libertarian Stan Jones. Schweitzer was elected in November 2004. Schweitzer has called for expanded coal production (of which Montana has lots) to help American achieve energy independence; he gave a speech on energy at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He is vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
Before being elected to the state House in 1998, Brown was an oil field roughneck and a small business owner.
Democrat favored
Schweitzer wins 65% to 33%
Before being elected to the state House in 1998, Brown was an oil field roughneck and a small business owner.
Democrat favored
Schweitzer wins 65% to 33%
4. Missouri - Blunt (R)
Matt Blunt, son of House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, announced in January that he would not run for a second term as governor. His 2004 election was a narrow victory over Claire McCaskill, who was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate.
There are three candidates for the open governor's seat: Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof; four-term Attorney General Jay Nixon, Democrat; and Libertarian Andrew W. Finkenstadt.
State leans Democratic
Nixon wins 58% to 40%
There are three candidates for the open governor's seat: Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof; four-term Attorney General Jay Nixon, Democrat; and Libertarian Andrew W. Finkenstadt.
State leans Democratic
Nixon wins 58% to 40%
5. New Hampshire - Lynch (D)
Governor John Lynch (D) was re-elected by a wide margin in 2006. He faces Republican State Senator Joseph D. Kenney.
Lynch was first elected governor in November 2004, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Craig Benson. This was the first time in 78 years than a challenger had defeated a one-term incumbent governor. Lynch has one of the highest gubernatorial approval ratings in the country.
Democrat favored
Lynch wins 70% to 28%
Lynch was first elected governor in November 2004, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Craig Benson. This was the first time in 78 years than a challenger had defeated a one-term incumbent governor. Lynch has one of the highest gubernatorial approval ratings in the country.
Democrat favored
Lynch wins 70% to 28%
6. North Carolina - Easley (D)
Governor Mike Easley (D) cannot run for reelection in 2008 due to term limits.
In this open seat, Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue is the Democratic nominee; Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is the Republican nominee. Perdue worked in education and health care before entering politics; she served in the state legislature from 1986-2000. Although the state has been under Democratic leadership for 16 years, fall polls point to a close election. McCrory is the longest-serving mayor (seven terms) in Charlotte's history. He
State leans Democratic
Perdue wins 50% to 47%
In this open seat, Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue is the Democratic nominee; Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is the Republican nominee. Perdue worked in education and health care before entering politics; she served in the state legislature from 1986-2000. Although the state has been under Democratic leadership for 16 years, fall polls point to a close election. McCrory is the longest-serving mayor (seven terms) in Charlotte's history. He
State leans Democratic
Perdue wins 50% to 47%
7. North Dakota - Hoeven (R)
Republican John Hoeven has served as governor of North Dakota since 2000 (two-year terms). He is the nation's longest-serving governor.
Hoeven is favored to defeat his challenger, Democratic State Senator Tim Mathern.
Before becoming governor, Hoeven was the President of the Bank of North Dakota, the nation's only state-owned bank. Mathern was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1986.
Republican favored
Hoeven wins 74% to 24%
Hoeven is favored to defeat his challenger, Democratic State Senator Tim Mathern.
Before becoming governor, Hoeven was the President of the Bank of North Dakota, the nation's only state-owned bank. Mathern was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1986.
Republican favored
Hoeven wins 74% to 24%
8. Utah - Huntsman (R)
Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. is the 16th governor of Utah; he was first elected in 2004 with 58% of the vote. His GOP roots run deep: he was White House staff assistant in the Reagan Administration; U.S. ambassador to Singapore in the George H.W. Bush Administration; and a deputy United States trade representative in the George W. Bush Administration.
Democrat Bob Springmeyer and Libertarian Dell Schanze round out the ballot. Springmeyer is an advocate, currently serving as president of the Utah Wildlife and Conservation Foundation. He spearheaded the building of the Ronald McDonald House of Utah. Schanze is an entrepreneur, founding Totally Awesome Computers in 1996.
Safe Republican
Huntsman wins 78% to 20%
Democrat Bob Springmeyer and Libertarian Dell Schanze round out the ballot. Springmeyer is an advocate, currently serving as president of the Utah Wildlife and Conservation Foundation. He spearheaded the building of the Ronald McDonald House of Utah. Schanze is an entrepreneur, founding Totally Awesome Computers in 1996.
Safe Republican
Huntsman wins 78% to 20%
9. Vermont - Douglas (R)
Three-term (two-year terms) incumbent Governor Jim Douglas faces Democrat Gaye Symington, speaker of the state House of Representatives. Other challengers include Liberty Union candidate Pete Diamondstone and Vermont Progressive candidate Anthony Pollina. There are additional independent candidates.
Douglas leads in the polls, but must win by 50% of the vote + one to keep the final decision out of the hands of the state Legislature, where Symington has the edge.
State leans Republican
Douglas wins 53% to 22%
Douglas leads in the polls, but must win by 50% of the vote + one to keep the final decision out of the hands of the state Legislature, where Symington has the edge.
State leans Republican
Douglas wins 53% to 22%
10. Washington - Gregoire (D)
Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire is perhaps best known for having won the closest race in 2004 after two recounts. The 2008 contest is a rematch with former State Senator Dino Rossi.
Democrats have held the governorship since 1980. Republican candidate Dino Rossi has listed his party preference as "G.O.P." rather than "Republican." In a June survey, Elway research learned that 25% of the state's registered voters did not know that "G.O.P." is shorthand for the Republican Party.
State leans Democratic
Gregoire wins 53%-47%
Democrats have held the governorship since 1980. Republican candidate Dino Rossi has listed his party preference as "G.O.P." rather than "Republican." In a June survey, Elway research learned that 25% of the state's registered voters did not know that "G.O.P." is shorthand for the Republican Party.
State leans Democratic
Gregoire wins 53%-47%
11. West Virginia - Manchin (D)
Incumbent Governor Joe Manchin (D) faces former State Senator Russ Weeks (R) and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson, who also ran in 2004.
Manchin was elected governor in 2004. A career politician, he served in the state legislature from 1982-1996. He lost a gubernatorial run in 1996 but was elected state Secretary of State in 2000. Weeks was elected to the state Senate in 2002; he was not reelected in 2006. A Vietnam vet, Weeks was a community advocate before being elected to the legislature.
Democrat favored
Manchin wins 70% to 26%
Manchin was elected governor in 2004. A career politician, he served in the state legislature from 1982-1996. He lost a gubernatorial run in 1996 but was elected state Secretary of State in 2000. Weeks was elected to the state Senate in 2002; he was not reelected in 2006. A Vietnam vet, Weeks was a community advocate before being elected to the legislature.
Democrat favored
Manchin wins 70% to 26%