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.