| Election Name: | 2020 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | legislative |
| Seats For Election: | 13 governorships 11 states; 2 territories |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2019 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Previous Year: | 2019 |
| Next Election: | 2021 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Next Year: | 2021 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Seats won |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Seats Before1: | 26 |
| Seats After1: | 27 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 10,698,657 |
| Percentage1: | 52.41% |
| 1Data1: | 7 |
| 2Data1: | 8 |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Seats Before2: | 24 |
| Seats After2: | 23 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 9,001,081 |
| Percentage2: | 44.09% |
| 1Data2: | 4 |
| 2Data2: | 3 |
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018. Nine state governors ran for reelection and all nine won, while Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Gary Herbert of Utah decided to retire at the end of his term.[1]
In addition to state gubernatorial elections, the territories of American Samoa and Puerto Rico also held elections for their governors. Puerto Rican governor Wanda Vázquez Garced lost the New Progressive Party primary to Pedro Pierluisi,[2] while Lolo Matalasi Moliga of American Samoa could not run again due to term limits.[3]
The elections took place concurrently with the 2020 presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, and numerous state and local elections. This round of gubernatorial elections marked the first time since West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's party switch in mid-2017 that Republicans flipped any governorships held previously by Democrats, and the first round of gubernatorial elections since 2016 where Republicans made net gains, ending a streak of Democratic net gains that had occurred in prior elections during the presidency of Republican Donald Trump.
Montana was considered the most competitive race in this cycle and was rated a tossup by four of six major pundits. Incumbent Democratic governor Steve Bullock was term-limited, but his lieutenant governor, Mike Cooney, a longtime political figure in the state since 1977, was the Democratic nominee. The Republican nominee was Montana at-large congressman Greg Gianforte, who is a controversial figure because he was arrested for body-slamming a reporter the day of a 2017 special election..[4] The Bullock administration had an approval rating of 52% and a disapproval of 31%, according to a poll by the Morning Consult, meaning Cooney's election chances were higher in the otherwise solidly Republican state.[5] North Carolina was the next most competitive race, as it is a Republican-leaning swing state with a Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, meaning that Cooper faced a tough reelection. Cooper won his 2016 election by a mere 10,277 votes, or 0.22%.[6] However, most forecasters gave the race a Democratic lean as Cooper had an approval rating of 59%.[7] Cooper had also lead most polls against his Republican challenger, Dan Forest, by an average of a 11-point lead, according to RealClearPolitics.[8]
Vermont and New Hampshire are both races that could have become competitive as they are Democratic states with Republican governors in a presidential year. However, Republican incumbents Phil Scott of Vermont and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire are ranked among the most popular governors in the United States, and both races were rated likely to be safe Republican. Both are viewed as centrists who attract Democratic and independent voters. Scott's challenger was David Zuckerman, the state's lieutenant governor, who ran on both the Democratic and Progressive nominations. Zuckerman had been endorsed by Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Sununu was running against New Hampshire Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes.
In Missouri, Republican incumbent Mike Parson assumed office after the resignation of Eric Greitens due to sexual harassment and violations of campaign finance laws,[9] and his lack of name recognition and unpopularity could have made his race against state auditor Nicole Galloway, Missouri's only Democratic statewide office holder, competitive, though most forecasters still rated the race as lean Republican due to Missouri's heavy Republican lean. West Virginia’s gubernatorial race was seen as safe for Republicans because the state heavily leans Republican, but some forecasts rated it as likely Republican due to corruption allegations against incumbent Jim Justice[10] [11] [12] that have led to rising unpopularity. Justice faced centrist Democrat Ben Salango, who was endorsed by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and multiple local unions.[13]
The gubernatorial races for John Carney in Delaware and Jay Inslee in Washington were seen as safe for Democrats, while the races for Eric Holcomb in Indiana, Doug Burgum in North Dakota, and Spencer Cox in Utah were seen as safe for Republicans.
Several sites and individuals published predictions of competitive seats. These predictions looked at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assigned ratings to each seat, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat.
Most election predictors use:
| IE [15] | Sabato [16] | Politico [17] | Daily Kos [18] | RCP [19] | 270towin [20] | Result | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | data-sort-value="094" | D+6 | John Carney | data-sort-value="-58.3" | 58.3% D | data-sort-value="-59.5" | Carney 59.5% D | ||||||||
| Indiana | data-sort-value="109" | R+9 | Eric Holcomb | data-sort-value="51.4" | 51.4% R | data-sort-value="56.5" | Holcomb 56.5% R | ||||||||
| Missouri | data-sort-value=109 | R+9 | Mike Parson | data-sort-value="51.1" | 51.1% R | data-sort-value="57.1" | Parson 57.1% R | ||||||||
| Montana | data-sort-value=111 | R+11 | Steve Bullock | data-sort-value="-50.2" | 50.2% D | data-sort-value="54.4" | Gianforte 54.4% R | ||||||||
| New Hampshire | EVEN | Chris Sununu | data-sort-value="52.8" | 52.8% R | data-sort-value="65.1" | Sununu 65.1% R | |||||||||
| North Carolina | data-sort-value="103" | R+3 | Roy Cooper | data-sort-value="-49.0" | 49.0% D | data-sort-value="-51.5" | Cooper 51.5% D | ||||||||
| North Dakota | data-sort-value=116 | R+16 | Doug Burgum | data-sort-value="76.5" | 76.5% R | data-sort-value="65.8" | Burgum 65.8% R | ||||||||
| Utah | data-sort-value=120 | R+20 | Gary Herbert | data-sort-value="66.7" | 66.7% R | data-sort-value="63.0" | Cox 63.0% R | ||||||||
| Vermont | data-sort-value="-15" | D+15 | Phil Scott | data-sort-value="55.2" | 55.2% R | data-sort-value="68.5" | Scott 68.5% R | ||||||||
| Washington | data-sort-value="-7" | D+7 | data-sort-value="-54.2" | 54.2% D | data-sort-value="-56.6" | Inslee 56.6% D | |||||||||
| West Virginia | data-sort-value="119" | R+19 | Jim Justice | data-sort-value="-49.1" | 49.1% D | data-sort-value="63.5" | Justice 63.5% R | ||||||||
States where the margin of victory was between 1% and 5%:
| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Indiana | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Missouri | 2018 | Incumbent elected to full term. | nowrap |
| |||
| Montana | 2012 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. | nowrap |
| |||
| New Hampshire | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| North Carolina | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| North Dakota | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Utah | 2009 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican hold. | nowrap |
| |||
| Vermont | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Washington | 2012 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| West Virginia | 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
|
| Territory | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | 2012 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap |
| |||||
| Puerto Rico | New Progressive | 2019 | Incumbent lost nomination. New governor elected.[21] New Progressive hold. | nowrap |
|
These were the election dates for the regularly scheduled general elections.
| State | Filing deadline[24] | Primary election | Primary run-off | General election | Poll closing [25] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | July 14, 2020 | September 15, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2000 | 8:00pm | |
| Indiana | February 7, 2020 | June 2, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=1800 | 6:00pm | |
| Missouri | March 31, 2020 | August 4, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2000 | 8:00pm | |
| Montana | March 9, 2020 | June 2, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2200 | 10:00pm | |
| New Hampshire | June 12, 2020 | September 8, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2000 | 8:00pm | |
| North Carolina | December 20, 2019 | March 3, 2020 | June 23, 2020 | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=1930 | 7:30pm | |
| North Dakota | April 6, 2020 | June 9, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2200 | 10:00pm | |
| Utah | March 19, 2020 | June 30, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2200 | 10:00pm | |
| Vermont | May 28, 2020 | August 11, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=1900 | 7:00pm | |
| Washington | May 15, 2020 | August 4, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=2300 | 11:00pm | |
| West Virginia | January 25, 2020 | June 9, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=1930 | 7:30pm | |
| American Samoa | September 1, 2020 | N/A | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=0300 | 3:00am | |
| Puerto Rico | January 5, 2020 | August 16, 2020 | N/A | November 3, 2020 | data-sort-value=1600 | 4:00pm |
See main article: 2020 Delaware gubernatorial election.
See also: 2020 Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Delaware |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Delaware gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | John Carney |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 292,903 |
| Percentage1: | 59.5% |
| Nominee2: | Julianne Murray |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 190,312 |
| Percentage2: | 38.6% |
| Map Size: | 100px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John Carney |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John Carney |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
One-term incumbent Democrat John Carney ran for re-election to a second term.[26] [27] Primaries took place on September 15. Carney decisively defeated progressive community activist and environmentalist[28] David Lamar Williams, Jr. in the Democratic primary.[29] Multiple candidates ran in the Republican primary, including attorney Julianne Murray, Delaware State Senator from the 16th district Colin Bonini, small business owner David Bosco, local Republican politician David Graham, Delaware State Senator from the 21st district Bryant Richardson, and perennial candidate Scott Walker. Murray narrowly defeated Bonini with a plurality of the vote. Carney won reelection by a large margin.
See main article: 2020 Indiana gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Indiana gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Indiana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Indiana gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Indiana gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Image1: | Holcomb Official Headshot (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Eric Holcomb |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Suzanne Crouch |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,706,727 |
| Percentage1: | 56.5% |
| Nominee2: | Woody Myers |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Running Mate2: | Linda Lawson |
| Popular Vote2: | 968,094 |
| Percentage2: | 32.1% |
| Image3: | Donald Rainwater.png |
| Nominee3: | Donald Rainwater |
| Party3: | Libertarian Party (United States) |
| Running Mate3: | William Henry |
| Popular Vote3: | 345,569 |
| Percentage3: | 11.4% |
| Map Size: | 155px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Eric Holcomb |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Eric Holcomb |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
One-term incumbent Republican Eric Holcomb ran for re-election in 2020 alongside his running mate Suzanne Crouch. Holcomb ran against the Democratic nominee, former Health Commissioner of Indiana Woody Myers, and his running mate Linda Lawson, the former Minority Leader of the Indiana House of Representatives.[30] Donald Rainwater, a U.S. Navy veteran, was the Libertarian nominee.[31] Primaries were held on June 2, although both Holcomb and Myers ran uncontested. Holcomb won the election in a landslide, though Libertarian Donald Rainwater's 11% of the vote was the highest percentage of vote for a third-party candidate in any of the 2020 gubernatorial race, and the highest any Libertarian candidate ever received in Indiana in a three-party race (The 2006 United States Senate election in Indiana saw the Libertarian candidate take 12.6% of the vote, but there was no Democratic candidate running).[32]
See main article: 2020 Missouri gubernatorial election.
See also: 2020 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Missouri gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Missouri |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Missouri gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Missouri gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Mike Parson |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,720,202 |
| Percentage1: | 57.1% |
| Nominee2: | Nicole Galloway |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,225,771 |
| Percentage2: | 40.7% |
| Map Size: | 275px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Mike Parson |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Mike Parson |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
One-term incumbent Republican Mike Parson took office upon Eric Greitens' resignation due to threatening the dissemination of sexual images and campaign finance violations.[33] Parson ran for election to a full term in 2020 and easily won the Republican primary. State auditor Nicole Galloway, Missouri's only Democratic statewide office holder, won the Democratic primary, defeating pastor Eric Morrison, and multiple other candidates including Jimmie Matthews, Antoin Johnson, and Robin Quaethem.[34] Primaries took place on August 4. The Libertarian nominee was U.S. Air Force veteran Rik Combs, while Jerome Bauer was the Green Party nominee.[35] Both candidates ran uncontested in their respective primaries. Despite predictions that this election could be close and that Parson could underperform national Republicans in the state, Parson won handily.
See main article: 2020 Montana gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Montana gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Montana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Montana gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Montana gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Greg Gianforte |
| Running Mate1: | Kristen Juras |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 328,548 |
| Percentage1: | 54.4% |
| Nominee2: | Mike Cooney |
| Running Mate2: | Casey Schreiner |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 250,860 |
| Percentage2: | 41.6% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Steve Bullock |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Greg Gianforte |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Two-term incumbent Democrat Steve Bullock was term-limited in 2020, making him the only incumbent governor in the United States (not counting U.S. territories) who was term-limited in this election year. This was therefore an open-seat election, and viewed as the most competitive gubernatorial election in the 2020 cycle. Primaries were held on June 2, with heavy competition in both. Bullock's lieutenant governor, Mike Cooney, a longtime local politician, was the Democratic nominee, defeating businesswoman and daughter of former U.S. representative Pat Williams, Whitney Williams, in the Democratic primary.[36] [37] Cooney's running mate was Minority Leader of the Montana House of Representatives, Casey Schreiner. The Republican nominee was Montana's at-large congressman Greg Gianforte, who defeated Attorney General Tim Fox and State Senator from the 6th district, Albert Olszewski.[4] [38] [39] [40] Gianforte's running mate was Kristen Juras, a businesswoman and attorney.[41] Gianforte was a controversial figure in the state, as he was arrested for body slamming a reporter the day of a 2017 special election. Despite predictions that this election would be close, Gianforte won by 12 points, making this the first time Montana has voted for a Republican for governor since 2000. This was the only gubernatorial seat to change parties in 2020.
See main article: 2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election |
| Country: | New Hampshire |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2018 |
| Next Election: | 2022 New Hampshire gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Chris Sununu |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 516,609 |
| Percentage1: | 65.1% |
| Nominee2: | Dan Feltes |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 264,639 |
| Percentage2: | 33.4% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Chris Sununu |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Chris Sununu |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
New Hampshire is one of two states, alongside Vermont, that has two-year terms for their governors instead of four-year terms, meaning they held their gubernatorial latest elections in 2018. In December 2019, two-term incumbent Republican Chris Sununu announced that he would run for a third two-year term in 2020, ending speculation he would choose to run for the U.S. Senate instead. Sununu easily defeated Franklin city counselor Karen Testerman in the Republican primary.[42] [43] In a hotly contested Democratic primary, Majority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate Dan Feltes narrowly defeated Andru Volinsky, a member of the Executive Council of New Hampshire from the 2nd district.[44] [45] [46] [47] The primaries took place on September 8. Despite national Democrats winning by large margins in the state's presidential, senate, and house races, Sununu won by a large margin based on his popularity with voters of both parties.
See main article: 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial election.
See also: 2020 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 North Carolina gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Roy Cooper |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,834,790 |
| Percentage1: | 51.5% |
| Nominee2: | Dan Forest |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,586,605 |
| Percentage2: | 47.0% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Roy Cooper |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Roy Cooper |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
One-term incumbent Democrat Roy Cooper, who won his 2016 election by an extremely slim margin of only 10,281 votes,[48] ran for re-election in 2020. Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest was the Republican nominee.[49] Primaries were held on March 3, where Cooper defeated retired U.S. Army captain and perennial candidate Ernest T. Reeves in a landslide in the Democratic primary,[50] and Forest decisively defeated the North Carolina State Representative from the 20th district, Holly Grange, in the Republican primary.[51] Cooper won reelection as pundits predicted, though the margin was close. Cooper outperformed national Democrats in the state, who narrowly lost both the Presidential and Senate races.
See main article: 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Country: | North Dakota |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Image1: | File:Governor Doug Burgum (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Doug Burgum |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Running Mate1: | Brent Sanford |
| Popular Vote1: | 235,479 |
| Percentage1: | 65.8% |
| Nominee2: | Shelley Lenz |
| Party2: | North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party |
| Running Mate2: | Ben Vig |
| Popular Vote2: | 90,789 |
| Percentage2: | 25.4% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Doug Burgum |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Doug Burgum |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Map Size: | 250px |
One-term incumbent Republican Doug Burgum ran for re-election in 2020. Brent Sanford, the incumbent lieutenant governor, remained his running mate. The Democratic nominee was veterinarian and former Killdeer school board member Shelly Lenz, whose running mate was Ben Vig, a former member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 23rd district. Primaries were held on June 9, with Burgum winning by a landslide margin over U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Coachman and Lenz running uncontested. Burgum won reelection in a landslide.
See main article: 2020 Utah gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Utah gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Utah |
| Flag Year: | 2011 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Utah gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Utah gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Spencer Cox |
| Running Mate1: | Deidre Henderson |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 918,754 |
| Percentage1: | 63.0% |
| Nominee2: | Christopher Peterson |
| Running Mate2: | Karina Brown |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 442,754 |
| Percentage2: | 30.4% |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Gary Herbert |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Spencer Cox |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Two and a half-term incumbent Republican Gary Herbert was eligible for re-election in 2020, as Utah does not have gubernatorial term limits. However, he announced shortly after being re-elected in 2016 that he would not run for a third full term.[52] Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox defeated multiple other high-profile Republicans in the competitive Republican primary on June 30 including former governor Jon Huntsman Jr., Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives Greg Hughes, and former Chairman of the Utah Republican Party Thomas Wright. Cox's running mate for Lieutenant Governor was Utah Senator from the 7th district, Deidre Henderson. Meanwhile, University of Utah law professor Christopher Peterson won an overwhelming majority of delegates at the Utah Democratic Convention, immediately awarding him with the Democratic nomination alongside his running mate, community organizer Karina Brown.[53] [54] [55] During the general election campaign, an advertisement featuring Cox and Peterson together calling for unity went viral.[56] Cox won in a landslide, outperforming national Republicans in the state.
See main article: 2020 Vermont gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2018 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2018 |
| Next Election: | 2022 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Phil Scott |
| Party1: | Vermont Republican Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 248,412 |
| Percentage1: | 68.5% |
| Nominee2: | David Zuckerman |
| Party2: | Vermont Progressive Party |
| Alliance2: | Vermont Democratic Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 99,214 |
| Percentage2: | 27.4% |
| Map Size: | 120px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Phil Scott |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Phil Scott |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Two-term incumbent Republican Phil Scott confirmed he was seeking a third term in 2020. However, he did not campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the handling of which awarded Scott with a 75% approval rating in the summer.[57] Scott was re-elected with 55% of the vote in 2018. Scott is a heavy critic of President Donald Trump, who holds a net negative 39% disapproval rating in Vermont.[58] He is one of the last remaining liberal Republican politicians with center-left political leanings, and remains an outlier in the otherwise staunchly Democratic state.[59] [60] Primary elections were held on August 11. Scott defeated multiple challengers in the Republican primary, the most prominent of which was lawyer and pastor John Klar.[61] Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman defeated former education secretary Rebecca Holcombe in the Democratic primary.[62] He also defeated Cris Ericson and Boots Wardinski in the Vermont Progressive Party primary, despite only being recognized as a write-in candidate. Zuckerman was endorsed by U.S. Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders, the most popular senator amongst his constituents in the country.[63] [64] Zuckerman chose to run under the Progressive Party ballot line in the general election, listing the Democratic Party as a secondary nomination, utilizing Vermont's electoral fusion system. Despite Vermont being one of the most heavily Democratic states in the nation with a partisan voting index of D+15, Scott won reelection in a landslide because of his widespread popularity and focus on local issues. Scott has also been praised for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zuckerman had also made past comments perceived as being anti-vaccination.[65]
See main article: 2020 Washington gubernatorial election.
See also: 2020 Washington lieutenant gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Washington gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Washington |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Washington gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Washington gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Jay Inslee |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,294,243 |
| Percentage1: | 56.6% |
| Nominee2: | Loren Culp |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,749,066 |
| Percentage2: | 43.1% |
| Map Size: | 275px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Jay Inslee |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jay Inslee |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Two-term incumbent Democrat Jay Inslee was eligible to run for re-election in 2020, as Washington does not have gubernatorial term limits. Inslee ran for re-election to a third term after dropping out of the Democratic presidential primaries on August 21, 2019.[66] [67] He faced police chief of the city of Republic, Washington, Loren Culp.[68] A top-two, jungle primary took place on August 4, meaning that all candidates appeared on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation and the top two (Inslee and Culp) advanced to the general election in November. Washington is one of two states in the country, alongside California and Louisiana (and Nebraska for statewide offices), that holds jungle primaries rather than conventional ones.[69] Inslee won both the primary and general elections in a landslide, becoming the first governor of Washington in decades to be elected to a third term. Culp refused to concede, citing false claims of election fraud.[70]
See main article: 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Country: | West Virginia |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Jim Justice |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 497,944 |
| Percentage1: | 63.5% |
| Nominee2: | Ben Salango |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 237,024 |
| Percentage2: | 30.2% |
| Map Size: | 230px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Jim Justice |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jim Justice |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
One-term incumbent Republican Jim Justice ran for re-election in 2020. Justice was elected as a Democrat, but later switched to the Republican Party, making him the first Republican governor since Cecil H. Underwood, elected from 1997 until 2001.[71] Justice faced centrist Democrat Ben Salango, who was endorsed by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. Primaries were held on June 9, with Justice defeating former West Virginia Secretary of Commerce Woody Thrasher and former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 63rd district, Mike Folk, by a large margin. Meanwhile, Salango won by a slim margin in a hotly contested Democratic primary between Salango and community organizer Stephen Smith,[72] businessman Jody Murphy,[73] and Douglas Hughes.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, retired Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton,[71] and Secretary of State Mac Warner were mentioned as potential general election challengers, prior to Justice's decision to re-join the Republican Party.
Justice won reelection in a landslide.
See main article: 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election |
| Country: | American Samoa |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 American Samoa gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Image1: | Lemanu Peleti Mauga (cropped).png |
| Image1 Size: | x136px |
| Nominee1: | Lemanu Peleti Mauga |
| Running Mate1: | Eleasalo Ale |
| Party1: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote1: | 7,154 |
| Percentage1: | 60.3% |
| Image2 Size: | x136px |
| Nominee2: | Gaoteote Palaie Tofau |
| Running Mate2: | Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet |
| Party2: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,594 |
| Percentage2: | 21.9% |
| Nominee4: | Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai Talia |
| Running Mate4: | Tapaʻau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga |
| Party4: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote4: | 1,461 |
| Percentage4: | 12.3% |
| Nominee5: | Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. Nua |
| Running Mate5: | Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr. |
| Party5: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Popular Vote5: | 652 |
| Percentage5: | 5.5% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Lolo Matalasi Moliga |
| Before Party: | Nonpartisan politician |
| After Election: | Lemanu Peleti Mauga |
| After Party: | Nonpartisan politician |
| Map Size: | 300px |
Two-term incumbent Governor Lolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga was term-limited in 2020. Running to replace him were Lieutenant Governor Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, American Samoa Senate President Gaoteote Palaie Tofau, territorial Senator Nua Sao, and executive director of the American Samoa Government Employees' Retirement Fund Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai Talia. Although individuals can and do affiliate with political parties, elections are held on a non-partisan basis with candidates running without party labels and no party primaries. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on a shared ticket. The Mauga–Ale ticket won the election with more than 60% of the vote.[74]
See main article: 2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election.
| Election Name: | 2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Puerto Rico |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2016 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2016 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Nominee1: | Pedro Pierluisi |
| Party1: | New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico) |
| Alliance1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 406,830 |
| Percentage1: | 32.9% |
| Nominee2: | Carlos Delgado Altieri |
| Party2: | Popular Democratic Party (Puerto Rico) |
| Alliance2: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote2: | 389,896 |
| Percentage2: | 31.6% |
| Nominee3: | Alexandra Lúgaro |
| Party3: | Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana |
| Popular Vote3: | 175,583 |
| Percentage3: | 14.2% |
| Nominee4: | Juan Dalmau |
| Party4: | Puerto Rican Independence Party |
| Color4: | 008000 |
| Popular Vote4: | 169,516 |
| Percentage4: | 13.7% |
| Nominee5: | César Vázquez Muñiz |
| Party5: | Project Dignity |
| Color5: | 00ADC6 |
| Popular Vote5: | 85,211 |
| Percentage5: | 6.9% |
| Image6: | File:Eliezer Molina Pérez.png |
| Nominee6: | Eliezer Molina |
| Color6: | C0C0C0 |
| Party6: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote6: | 8,485 |
| Percentage6: | 0.6% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Wanda Vázquez |
| Before Party: | New Progressive Party |
| After Election: | Pedro Pierluisi |
| After Party: | New Progressive Party |
| Map Size: | 300px |
Incumbent governor Wanda Vázquez Garced of the New Progressive Party and the Republican Party, who became governor after Pedro Pierluisi's succession of Ricardo Rosselló was declared unconstitutional,[75] was defeated in the New Progressive primary by Pierluisi in her bid to win a full term. He faced Isabela mayor Carlos Delgado Altieri, who won the Popular Democratic Party primary, as well as Senator Juan Dalmau of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, Alexandra Lúgaro of Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana, César Vázquez of Proyecto Dignidad, and independent candidate Eliezer Molina. Pierluisi won the election by a very slim margin.