2026 United States secretary of state elections explained

Election Name:2026 United States secretary of state elections
Country:United States
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2024 United States secretary of state elections
Previous Year:2024
Next Election:2027 United States secretary of state elections
Next Year:2027
Seats For Election:26 secretary of state offices
1Blank:Seats up
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Seats Before1:26
1Data1:13
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Seats Before2:21
1Data2:13
Map Size:350px

The 2026 United States secretary of state elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the secretary of state of twenty-six U.S. states.

The previous secretary of state elections for this group of states took place in 2022. The secretary of state of Vermont serves two-year terms and was last elected in 2024.

These elections will take place concurrently with various other federal, state, and local elections.

Partisan composition

Going into these elections, this class of secretaries of state is made up of 13 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Democrats are defending four states won by Donald Trump in 2024 (Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin), while Republicans do not hold any states won by Kamala Harris.

Race summary

StateSecretary
of state
PartyFirst
elected
StatusCandidates
AlabamaRepublican2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
ArizonaDemocratic2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
ArkansasTBDRepublicanTBD Term-limitednowrap
CaliforniaDemocratic2021Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
ColoradoDemocratic2018Term-limitednowrap
ConnecticutDemocratic2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
GeorgiaRepublican2018Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
IdahoRepublican2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
IllinoisDemocratic2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
IndianaRepublican2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
IowaRepublican2014Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
KansasRepublican2018Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
MassachusettsDemocratic1994Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
MichiganDemocratic2018Term-limitednowrap
MinnesotaDFL2014Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
NebraskaRepublican2018Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap TBD
NevadaDemocratic2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
New MexicoDemocratic2016
Term-limitednowrap
North DakotaRepublican2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
OhioRepublican2018Term-limitednowrap
Rhode IslandDemocratic2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
South CarolinaRepublican2002Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
South DakotaRepublican2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
VermontDemocratic2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap
WisconsinDemocratic2023 Incumbent's intent unknown
WyomingRepublican2022Incumbent's intent unknownnowrap TBD

Alabama

Secretary of State Wes Allen was elected in 2022 with 65.9% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Arizona

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes was elected in 2022 with 52.4% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so. He has hinted at a potential primary challenge to Arizona governor Katie Hobbs.[1]

Arkansas

Secretary of State John Thurston resigned after being elected as state treasurer in 2024. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders will appoint a temporary replacement to fill the remainder of Thurston's term. However, the interim appointee cannot run for election per the state constitution.

California

Secretary of State Shirley Weber was elected in 2022 with 60.1% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Colorado

Secretary of State Jena Griswold was re-elected in 2022 with 55.1% of the vote. She will be term limited by the Colorado Constitution and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.[2]

Connecticut

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas was elected in 2022 with 55.2% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Georgia

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was re-elected in 2022 with 53.2% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Idaho

Secretary of State Phil McGrane was elected in 2022 with 72.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Illinois

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias was elected in 2022 with 54.3% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Indiana

Secretary of State Diego Morales was elected in 2022 with 54.1% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so. Beau Bayh, judicial law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and son of former Indiana governor Evan Bayh, is a potential Democratic candidate.[3]

Iowa

Secretary of State Paul Pate was re-elected in 2022 with 60.1% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Kansas

Secretary of State Scott Schwab was re-elected in 2022 with 58.4% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Massachusetts

Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin was re-elected in 2022 with 67.7% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Michigan

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was re-elected in 2022 with 55.9% of the vote. She is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

Minnesota

Secretary of State Steve Simon was re-elected in 2022 with 54.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Nebraska

Secretary of State Bob Evnen was re-elected unopposed in 2022. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

New Mexico

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was re-elected in 2022 with 54.5% of the vote. She is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

North Dakota

Secretary of State Michael Howe was re-elected in 2022 with 63.3% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Ohio

Secretary of State Frank LaRose was re-elected in 2022 with 59.3% of the vote. He is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

Rhode Island

Secretary of State Gregg Amore was re-elected in 2022 with 59.5% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

South Carolina

Secretary of State Mark Hammond was re-elected in 2022 with 63.3% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

South Dakota

Secretary of State Monae Johnson was re-elected in 2022 with 63.9% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Vermont

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas was re-elected in 2024 with 59.6% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Wisconsin

Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski was appointed in 2023 after Doug La Follette resigned. She is eligible to run for election but has not yet stated if she will do so.

Wyoming

Secretary of State Chuck Gray was elected in 2022 with 91.6% of the vote, without major party opposition. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Barchenger . Stacy . Adrian Fontes says gubernatorial buzz is 'a real conversation', but focuses on reelection . . 20 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241119185224/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/19/adrian-fontes-says-arizona-governor-buzz-is-a-real-conversation/76425093007/ . 19 November 2024 . 19 November 2024 . live . subscription.
  2. Web site: Birkeland · . Bente . 2022-11-08 . Democrat Jena Griswold wins second term as Colorado’s top election official . 2024-10-02 . . en.
  3. Web site: Howey . Brian . HOWEY: Indiana Democrats didn’t fully embrace McCormick . . 16 November 2024 . 15 November 2024.