2024 United States gubernatorial elections (Radical Change Scenario)

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 2024, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2020, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
==Delaware==
The incumbent governor of Delaware, John Carney, was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.
The Democratic primary was a heated affair. There were two main candidates - New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer from the progressive wing of the party, and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long from the establishment wing. Meyer narrowly won the primary and went to win the general election against his Republican opponent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
==Indiana==
The incumbent governor of Indiana, Eric Holcomb was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office.
Indiana's junior Senator Mike Braun went on to win the Republican primary against his main opponent Suzanne Crouch and the general election against his Democratic opponent Jennifer McCormick, both in landslide victories.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
==Missouri==
Incumbent Republican governor Mike Parson was term-limited and therefore could not seek a third term.
The Republican primary was competitive, with the two main candidates being Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Mike Kehoe. Ashcroft ended up winning the primary and the general election against his opponent Crystal Quade.
|
|
|
|
|
|
==Montana==
Incumbent Republican governor Greg Gianforte ran for re-election to a second term and defeated his Democratic opponent, Pat Flowers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
==New Hampshire==
Incumbent moderate Republican governor Chris Sununu did not run for re-election.
Both the Democratic and Republican primaries were competitive affairs. The two main Democratic candidates were Joyce Craig and Cindy Warmigton, with Craig winning. The main Republican candidates were Kelly Ayotte and Chuck Morse. The New Hampshire Democratic Party, and several other affiliated groups, did a delicate strategy of promoting Morse and attacking Ayotte. Their strategy not only made the primary a competitive affair, it was credited for the flip.
New Hampshire was the only governorship to flip from one party to the other in the 2024 election cycle.
|
|
|
||
==North Carolina==
Incumbent Democratic governor Roy Cooper was term-limited and therefore could not seek a third term.
Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein ran for the open governorship and defeated his Republican opponent, Mark Robinson, the lieutenant governor of North Carolina. 
This was the closest gubernatorial race of the 2024 election cycle.
|
|
|
==North Dakota==
Incumbent Republican governor Doug Burgum was eligible to run for a third term, having been sworn in before the passage of a 2022 amendment to North Dakota's constitution limiting governors to two terms; the amendment contained a grandfather clause.
Burgum easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Michael Steele, a small business owner.
|
|
|
|
|
|
==Utah==
Incumbent Republican governor Spencer Cox ran for re-election to a second term and won, defeating his Democratic opponent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
==Vermont==
Incumbent Republican governor Phil Scott ran for a fifth term and won easily against his Progressive opponent, David Zuckerman, despite the state supporting Joe Biden by the largest margin of any state (excluding the District of Columbia).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
==Washington==
Incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee was eligible to run for a fourth term, but decided to retire.
State Attorney General Bob Ferguson ran for the open governorship and won, defeating his Republican opponent, John Braun, the minority leader of the Washington State Senate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
==West Virginia==
Incumbent Governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, was term limited and chose to run for Senate. He would go on to defeat incumbent Senator Joe Manchin in the general election.
Moore Capito, the son of West Virginia senator Shelley Moore Capito, ran for the open governorship and won, defeating his Democratic opponent, Steve Williams, the mayor of Huntington, WV.
While Williams greatly over-performed Joe Biden's near-40% loss to Donald Trump in the state of West Virginia, he was not able to overcome the state's overwhelming tilt towards the Republican Party.
Category:Radical Change Scenario