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Fox News Power Rankings: The top races to watch as 36 states choose their next governor
Fox News has released its latest "Power Rankings" analysis ahead of the 2026 US midterms, highlighting that 36 states will elect governors this year — a contest the outlet argues deserves more attention than it typically receives, given that more voters will choose a governor than a US senator in 2026. The rankings identify key races that could determine which party controls a majority of state governorships, including what may be the only realistic flip opportunity for Republicans, as well as contests seen as bellwethers for how various voter groups are responding to President Trump's second term.
Among the details highlighted, the piece notes a race in the Pacific Northwest being watched as a test for Democrats, and references a Ford gubernatorial campaign in one state carrying an estimated $18 billion policy price tag. The broader midterm picture also includes four Senate toss-up races (in Alaska, Iowa, Maine and Ohio) and 16 House toss-up seats, discussed alongside the governor rankings by commentators ahead of Michigan's 4 August Democratic primary, with the full article laying out toss-up, lean-Republican and lean-Democrat classifications for the various governor contests.
In short
- Fox News ranks the top 2026 governor races across 36 states.
- More voters will pick governors than senators this year.
- Races could show GOP's only flip chance and Trump-era voter shifts.
Explained simply
Governors run individual states and make decisions affecting millions of people on issues like education, healthcare and law enforcement. In 2026, 36 American states will hold governor elections in the same year, making it a particularly significant midterm cycle for state-level politics.
Control of governorships matters considerably for both major parties' national strategies and influence. Elections for governor offices attract particular attention this year partly because more voters will cast ballots for governors than for US senators, giving them unusual prominence in the midterm landscape.
Analysts examine governor races as indicators of how different voter groups are responding to the political climate and current leadership. Close races and likely shifts in control are studied carefully since governors directly shape policy on issues that affect people's daily lives at the state level.