| Election Name: | 1988 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | No |
| Previous Election: | 1987 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Previous Year: | 1987 |
| Next Election: | 1989 United States gubernatorial elections |
| Next Year: | 1989 |
| Seats For Election: | 14 governorships 12 states; 2 territories |
| Election Date: | November 8, 1988 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Seats won |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Seats Before1: | 27 |
| Seats After1: | 28 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| 1Data1: | 4 |
| 2Data1: | 5 |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Seats Before2: | 23 |
| Seats After2: | 22 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| 1Data2: | 8 |
| 2Data2: | 7 |
| Map Size: | 324px |
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 1988, in 12 states and two territories. Going into the elections, eight seats were held by Republicans, and four by Democrats. After the elections, the Democrats had a net gain of one seat. The elections coincided with the United States House elections, United States Senate elections and presidential election. As of, this is the last time that a Republican was elected as a Governor of Delaware, and the last time a Democrat was elected as a Governor of North Dakota.
| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | Candidates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Evan Mecham | 1986 | Already scheduled recall election cancelled after Mecham's impeachment Secretary of State Rose Mofford (D) succeeded him. | |||||
| Delaware | Mike Castle | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Indiana | Robert D. Orr | 1980 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic gain. | nowrap | ||||
| Missouri | John Ashcroft | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Montana | Ted Schwinden | 1980 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. | nowrap |
| |||
| New Hampshire | John H. Sununu | 1982 | Incumbent retired. New governor elected. Republican hold. | nowrap |
| |||
| North Carolina | James G. Martin | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| North Dakota | George A. Sinner | Democratic-NPL | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| ||
| Rhode Island | Edward D. DiPrete | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Utah | Norman H. Bangerter | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Vermont | Madeleine Kunin | 1982 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| Washington | Booth Gardner | 1984 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |
| |||
| West Virginia | Arch A. Moore Jr. | 1968 1976 1984 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Democratic gain. | nowrap |
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