Staff Reports
The national Democrat party is bracing for impact as Donald Trump prepares to reclaim the White House while Republicans firmly hold majorities in both the House and Senate. It seems the Democrats are dusting off their old “resistance” playbook and setting their sights on the states. With a collection of competitive governor’s races looming in 2025, it’s likely that these contests will serve as a litmus test for Trump’s popularity in his second, nonconsecutive term.
The upcoming gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia will be closely watched, as local issues are expected to influence these races significantly. These showdowns will set the stage for an even larger election year in 2026, when a staggering 36 governorships will be on the ballot. Currently, states like Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, and New York are already shaping up to be battlegrounds.
Republicans currently hold 27 governorships compared to the Democrats’ 23. With the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling on abortion shifting the focus toward state governance, these offices have become hotspots for political contests. Thus, the stakes couldn’t be higher, as the Democrats aim to regain ground and the Republicans strive to expand their foothold.
In the Garden State, Governor Phil Murphy’s impending departure due to term limits leaves a vacancy ripe for competition. New Jersey has long leaned blue, but Murphy eked out a nail-biting victory in 2021. The Democrats have a crowded field featuring various members of Congress and big-city mayors, while the Republicans are bracing for a four-way contest led by former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. Given Trump’s impressive performance in the state during the 2024 election, Democrats can’t afford to take this one lightly.
Turning attention to Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin’s term limit also creates an opportunity for both parties. With Republicans likely to nominate Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Democrats are expected to rally behind former Rep. Abigail Spanberger. This race will serve as a crucial gauge of Trump’s impact on down-ballot contests; after all, it was during his first term that the Democrats secured a significant victory in Virginia just a few years prior.
As for the 2026 races, Arizona will be a focal point, with rumors swirling around the re-election prospects of Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who barely defeated Kari Lake in 2022. Hobbs battles with low approval ratings and a Republican-controlled legislature, making her an enticing target for the GOP. Meanwhile, Michigan has its own tumultuous political landscape with term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leaving office and an influx of new candidates on both sides. Not to mention the drama brewing in Minnesota, where Governor Tim Walz contemplates his future after recently being thrust into the vice presidential spotlight.
New Jersey and Virginia set to open barn-burner governor’s race season https://t.co/Nd2qdgZbCf
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 3, 2025
And let’s not forget about Nevada, where Republican Joe Lombardo flipped the governorship in a state that favored Trump in 2024. As the Democrats seek to reclaim this crucial position, they’ll be keeping an eye on the potential candidacy of state Attorney General Aaron Ford. The political cornucopia doesn’t stop there. New Mexico will see an open race after Michelle Lujan Grisham’s departure, and New York’s Kathy Hochul faces a potential uprising from within her party as she’s seen as vulnerable.
Overall, as governors speculate on their futures leading up to the 2025 and 2026 elections, both parties are ramping up their strategies. No time can be wasted, as the evolving political landscape promises to be anything but predictable. While many Democrats are banking on their traditional strongholds, it may just be a grand opportunity for conservatives to remind America why they belong in the driver’s seat. After all, with Trump back in the mix, it’s looking like the Democrats may again become the party of perpetual struggle.
