Articles & NewsMar 11, 2026
26 States Will Vote for Both Governor and US Senator in 2026
In 2026, voters in 26 states including Texas will choose both their governor and US senator on the same ballot. This creates important opportunities for civic engagement. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Senator John Cornyn are both expected to run for re-election. The 26 states are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. Some races will be 'open' because current officials are retiring or term-limited. In 16 states, the governor's race is open, and in 8 states, the Senate race is open. Six states have both races open. This means voters will have significant power to shape both state and federal leadership. In some states, the current governor and senator are from different political parties, which could create interesting election dynamics. Ballotpedia provides detailed information about each state's races, including which incumbents are retiring and party affiliations.