Staff Reports
The nonprofit Ballotpedia just dropped a big, useful map of the 2026 state elections. It shows 296 state executive offices on the ballot across 43 states. That is not small. If you still think the only races that matter are the presidential or Senate fights, this report should wake you up.
Ballotpedia lays out the battlefield
This year voters will choose 36 governors, 31 lieutenant governors, 30 attorneys general, and 26 secretaries of state. Ballotpedia’s count also shows Republicans holding a narrow edge in governors right now — 26 to 24 — and similar GOP majorities among current attorneys general and secretaries of state. Fifteen governors are locked out by term limits, which means many open seats and more fights for control in crucial states.
Why attorney general and secretary of state races matter
Don’t roll your eyes. Attorney general races decide who leads big legal fights over things like consumer protections, federal overreach, and school policy. Secretary of state races matter even more for how elections are run. In 41 states, the secretary of state oversees voting rules, voter rolls, and ballots. Control of those offices can shape the rules of democracy for years.
Arizona and other flashes to watch
One new wrinkle: Arizona will hold its first election for a lieutenant governor after voters created the post. That changes how governors run and who can step in if trouble hits. Ballotpedia also flags several secretary of state and attorney general contests as battlegrounds. Big states and swing states will be noisy. That means money, messaging, and real stakes — not just cable-show drama.
Bottom line: Treat state elections like national strategy
Republicans should treat these state elections as the front line. Candidate recruitment, local turnout, and funding matter more than another pundit argument about the national horse race. If conservatives sleep on attorney general and secretary of state races, they will lose policy fights and the rules of the game. So read the Ballotpedia map, show up, and stop acting surprised when state offices shape national outcomes.
