Abraham Lincoln

As I stated back in  This Land Is Your Land and The Power of Statehouse Elections, never underestimate the importance of state elections. A governor and state legislature make numerous policy decisions affecting health care, education, infrastructure and immigration. In addition, state legislation addresses Medicaid, job training, criminal justice reform, and family leave. Sexual harassment and assault policy, income inequality, and a woman’s right to choose falls under their jurisdiction. Lastly, marriage equality, discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and climate change legislation happens at the statehouse.

The Democratic Party is planning an unusually aggressive push to win seats in state legislatures targeting more than 650 seats and aiming to make gains in 42 chambers. State legislatures have taken on new political importance in recent years. State lawmakers have become increasingly influential in steering policies that affect millions of Americans. And with the outbreak of this year’s extraordinary redistricting war, control of state legislatures has become even more consequential. “2026 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform state legislative power,” said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

The Democratic Party has turned to state legislative races to counter the Republicans attempt to control the national elections through redistricting. They are laying the groundwork for efforts to draw new maps ahead of the 2028 election.

Following a string of special election victories, Democrats have a path to flip several Republican-held legislative chambers and break GOP supermajorities in states across the country this November. Republicans have not flipped a single Democratic legislative seat. Wins in some states could deliver Democrats total control of state government — both legislative chambers and the governor, known as a trifecta — making it much easier to pass progressive legislation. In other states, weakening Republican majorities or breaking veto-proof supermajorities would make it easier for Democrats to object to GOP policies.

Legislatures with potential changes in partisan control:
Democratic-held chambers: Maine House, Minnesota Senate, Michigan Senate, Pennsylvania House
No-party control: Minnesota House (tied 67-67)
Republican-held chambers: Alaska Senate, Alaska House, Arizona Senate, Arizona House, Michigan House, New Hampshire Senate, New Hampshire House, Pennsylvania Senate, Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin House

The gubernatorial map is more evenly split, with Democrats holding 24 governorships, plus D.C. and some territories, and Republicans holding 26. Watched contests, including toss-ups in Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada and Ohio, while Kansas’ Democratic-held governorship is rated as leaning Republican.

According to the Cook Political Report, the races for governor in Georgia, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin are toss ups while Sabato’s Crystal Ball only declares that Alaska and Georgia are such. Here are the latest election polls for governorship races across the country.

Still, the results are unclear. “We are under 100 days before the election,” Katy Owens Hubler, director of NCSL’s Elections and Redistricting Program, told state lawmakers during a session at NCSL’s Legislative Summit. “A lot can still change.”

Voters in 46 states are holding regular state legislative elections in 2026, alongside general elections scheduled for November 3, 2026. Voters in 36 states are holding elections for governor.

New Jersey’s state legislature and governor are not up for election this year. Become involved in your own state races.

New York State Elections

The Democratic Socialists of America candidates made gains in New York despite super PACs spending $9.6 million in state legislative races — nearly five times the total from 2024. The anti-DSA spending, which totaled $2.9 million, largely failed to win races. In New York City, Senate candidate Aber Kawas and Assembly contenders Christian Celeste Tate, David Orkin, Eon Huntley, Illapa Sairitupac, Samantha Kattan all defeated their opponents by double digits. In Buffalo, Assembly candidate Adam Bojak appears likely to become DSA’s first legislator from Western New York. In Syracuse, Maurice Brown won against a 28-year incumbent Assemblymember.

In the end, will New York Democrats win back their supermajority in the state senate? Or will Republicans pick up some seats? They’re targeting a handful of Republican-held districts – including one open seat – in hopes of winning back that two-thirds majority in both chambers. The big races to watch in November:

State Senate

District 7 – The town of North Hempstead, with smaller parts reaching into Hempstead and Oyster Bay
Support Democrat Rory Lancman running against incumbent Republican State Senator Jack Martins.

District 38 – The vast majority of Rockland County—including the towns of Clarkstown, Orangetown, and Ramapo—and extends across the Hudson River into a small portion of Ossining in Westchester County
Support Democrat Joe Rand running against incumbent Republican State Senator Bill Weber

District 39 – Parts of Dutchess, Putnam, and Orange counties in the Hudson Valley
Support Democrat Lisa Kaul running against incumbent Republican State Senator Rob Rolison

District 43 – Parts of the Capital Region and Hudson Valley: All of Rensselaer County. Most of Washington County and the northeast corner of Albany County
Support Democrat Devin Lander running against incumbent Republican State Senator Jack Ashby

District 44 – Parts of Saratoga County and Schenectady County, including the town of Niskayuna and the city of Schenectady
Support Democrat Sarah Rogerson running against incumbent Republican State Senator Jim Tedisco

State Assembly

District 16 – Parts of Nassau County within the Town of North Hempstead
Support Democrat Kim Keiserman running against Republican David Hassid

District 21 – Parts of southwestern Nassau County on Long Island
Support incumbent Democrat Assembly Member Judy Griffin running against Republican Irene Villacci

District 23 – Parts of the borough of Queens including Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel, Breezy Point, Roxbury, Neponsit, Belle Harbor, Rockaway Park, Rockaway Beach, Arverne, Edgemere, Bayswater, Far Rockaway
Support Democrat Pesach Osina running against Republican Tom Sullivan

District 46 – Parts of the borough of Brooklyn including Coney Island, Sea Gate, Parts of Bath Beach, Parts of Bay Ridge, Parts of Brighton Beach, Parts of Dyker Heights, Parts of Gravesend
Support Democrat Chris McCreight running against incumbent Republican Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny

District 97 – Parts of southern Rockland County, including all of the Town of Orangetown and portions of the Town of Ramapo
Vote for incumbent Democrat Assembly Member Aaron Wieder running against Republican Rob Bonomolo. Wieder does not have a campaign site.

District 107 – Most of Rensselaer County, portions of Columbia and Washington counties, and the town of Bethlehem in Albany County
Support Democrat Chloe Pierce running against incumbent Republican Assembly Member Scott Bennett

District 143 – Parts of Erie County in Western New York, including the towns of Cheektowaga and Lancaster, the villages of Depew and Sloan, and portions of the Ellicott, Fillmore, and Lovejoy districts in the City of Buffalo

Vote for Democrat Monica Wallace running against incumbent Republican Assembly Member Patrick Childzinski Wallace does not have a campaign site.

Race for Governor

Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul has a $20 million war chest and the wind at her back in a state where her party’s registered voters outnumber Republicans two to one. Even so, Ms. Hochul, 67, has something to prove. Support Governor Kathy Hochul for New York Governor.

Can a Republican become Governor of New York? Blakeman Makes His Case.

What You Can Do

Donate a little to very campaign above or focus on a few. Volunteer . This includes, but not limited to, registration drives, canvassing, phone banking, text banking, post card and letter writing. Attend their town halls, fairs and public events. 

Join National Networks whose focus is on getting out the vote:
League of Women Voters
Rock The Vote

The following organizations let you decide who to communicate with: battleground state voters, a particular campaign, specific congressional races, etc. You, yourself, can organize post card and letter writing “parties”. They’re a good way to work together and network at the same time. 
Vote Forward
Postcard to Voters
Postcards to Swing States

Join National Networks whose focus is on electing local politicians:
Indivisible
Move On

Next Post

Midterm Election Deadlines