2006 Gubernatorial Races

<i>Mar 22 2006</i><br> Most states hold elections for governor on an alternating cycle with Presidential elections: there are 36 statehouses on the block in November. <br><br> Republicans have a 28 to 22 advantage in governorships -- unchanged from the 2004 election. However, of the 36 governorships in play, 22 (61%) are held by Republicans. In addition, eight (36%) Republican governors are not running for re-election, but only one Democrat is stepping down. This puts far more pressure on the GOP than the Democratic party. <br><br> All governors stepping aside due to term limits are Republican.

Open Governorships

An open seat is one where the incumbent is not running for re-election.

1. Arizona: Mike Huckabee-R, not running due to term limits.
2. Colorado: Bill Owens-R, not running due to term limits.
3. Florida: Jeb Bush-R, not running due to term limits.
4. Idaho: Dirk Kempthorne-R, not running for re-election.
5. Iowa: Tom Vilsack-D, not runningn for re-election.
6. Massachusetts: Mitt Romney-R, not running for re-election.
7. Nevada: Kenny Guinn-R, not running due to term limits.
8. New York: George Pataki-R, the longest-serving Governor in the country, not running; mentioned as a 2008 Presidential candidate.
9. Ohio: Bob Taft-R, not running due to term limits.

Republican-Held Seats

1. Alabama: Riley
2. Alaska: Murkowski
3. California: Schwarzenegger
4. Connecticut: Rell
5. Georgia: Perdue
6. Hawaii: Lingle
7. Maryland: Ehrlich
8. Nebraska: Heineman
9. Minnesota: Pawlenty
10. Rhode Island: Carcieri
11. South Carolina: Sanford
12. South Dakota: Rounds
13. Texas: Perry
14. Vermont: Douglas

Democratic-Held Seats

1. Arizona: Napolitano
2. Illinois: Blagojevich faces Republican State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka.
3. Kansas: Sebelius
4. Maine: Baldacci
5. Michigan: Granholm
6. New Hampshire: Lynch
7. New Mexico: Richardson
8. Oklahoma: Henry
9. Oregon: Kulongoski
10. Pennsylvania: Rendell
11. Tennessee: Bredesen
12. Wisconsin: Doyle
13. Wyoming: Freudenthal