Gubernatorial elections, 2019
There were three gubernatorial seats on the ballot in 2019. These elections were in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Heading into the election, Kentucky and Mississippi had Republican governors, while Louisiana's governor was a Democrat. Republicans held Mississippi's governorship, Democrats held Louisiana's, and Kentucky's switched party hands from Republican to Democratic.
Out of all the state executive offices, only the governor is elected in all 50 states. As the chief executive officer, the governor is among the most powerful figures in state government.
Most states impose some form of term limits on governors; of those that do, all but Virginia limit a governor to two four-year terms or to eight years in office. Although most states' term limit laws allow a governor who has served two terms to be elected once again after time has elapsed, some states impose a lifetime term limit like that on the presidency.
On this page, you will find:
- An overview of how many governorships each party held heading into the 2019 elections.
- A table with details on the three gubernatorial elections which took place in 2019.
- A list of governorships which changed partisan control in 2018.
- An analysis of competitiveness in the 2019 gubernatorial elections.
- Overviews of all three elections taking place in 2019.
- Outside race ratings from The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections.
- An overview of poll results in all three elections.
- A look at state government trifectas.
- Presidential election results in all three states for the 2016 election.
- A list of important deadlines for candidates and voters in all three elections.
- A look at partisan winning streaks across gubernatorial races in the three states up.
- A comparison of the office of governor across all 50 states.
2019 election results
- See also: Election results, 2019
Kentucky
General election
General election for Governor of Kentucky
Andy Beshear defeated incumbent Matt Bevin and John Hicks in the general election for Governor of Kentucky on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Andy Beshear (D) | 49.2 | 709,890 |
![]() | Matt Bevin (R) | 48.8 | 704,754 | |
![]() | John Hicks (L) | 2.0 | 28,433 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 46 |
Total votes: 1,443,123 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Louisiana
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
General election
General election for Governor of Louisiana
Incumbent John Bel Edwards defeated Eddie Rispone in the general election for Governor of Louisiana on November 16, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | John Bel Edwards (D) | 51.3 | 774,498 |
![]() | Eddie Rispone (R) | 48.7 | 734,286 |
Total votes: 1,508,784 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Mississippi
General election
General election for Governor of Mississippi
Tate Reeves defeated Jim Hood, David Singletary, and Bob Hickingbottom in the general election for Governor of Mississippi on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Tate Reeves (R) | 51.9 | 459,396 |
![]() | Jim Hood (D) | 46.8 | 414,368 | |
![]() | David Singletary (Independent) ![]() | 1.0 | 8,522 | |
![]() | Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution Party) | 0.3 | 2,625 |
Total votes: 884,911 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Partisan breakdown
The following chart displays the number of governors' offices held by each party as of the 2019 elections and immediately after the elections took place.
U.S. Governors Partisan Breakdown | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | As of November 2019 | After the 2019 elections | |
Democratic Party | 23 | 24 | |
Republican Party | 27 | 26 | |
Total | 50 | 50 |
Historical control
Republicans led in governorships from 1994 until 2006, after which there were 28 Democratic governors to the Republicans' 22. Republicans regained their national majority in the 2010 midterm elections. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of Republican governors continued to increase, reaching a high point of 33 following West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's switch to the Republican Party in August 2017.[1] From 2017 to 2019, Democrats won Republican-held governorships in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. Republicans, meanwhile, gained a governorship in Alaska previously held by independent Bill Walker. These changes brought Republicans to 26 governorships and Democrats to 24.
List of gubernatorial elections
The table below shows gubernatorial elections which took place in 2019.
State | Trifecta status (before) | Trifecta status (after) | Triplex status (before) | Triplex status (after) | Incumbent | Incumbent ran? | Winner | Margin of victory |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kentucky | Republican trifecta | Divided trifecta control | Divided triplex status | Divided triplex status | ![]() Matt Bevin ![]() |
Yes | ![]() Andy Beshear ![]() |
D+0.4 |
Louisiana | Divided trifecta control | Divided trifecta control | Divided triplex status | Divided triplex status | ![]() John Bel Edwards ![]() |
Yes | ![]() John Bel Edwards ![]() |
D+2.6 |
Mississippi | Republican trifecta | Republican trifecta | Divided triplex status | Republican triplex | ![]() Phil Bryant ![]() |
No (termed-out) |
![]() Tate Reeves ![]() |
R+5.7 |
Seats that flipped in the 2018 elections
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2018
|
Thirty-six states held elections for governor in 2018. Democrats gained control of seven Republican-held governorships in the elections, while Republicans gained one previously-independent seat. As a result of the election, Republicans held 27 gubernatorial seats to Democrats' 23.
Gubernatorial offices that changed party hands, 2018 elections | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
State | Pre-election control | Post-election control | ||
Alaska | Bill Walker ![]() |
Mike Dunleavy ![]() | ||
Illinois | Bruce Rauner ![]() |
J.B. Pritzker ![]() | ||
Kansas | Jeff Colyer ![]() |
Laura Kelly ![]() | ||
Maine | Paul LePage ![]() |
Janet Mills ![]() | ||
Michigan | Rick Snyder ![]() |
Gretchen Whitmer ![]() | ||
Nevada | Brian Sandoval ![]() |
Steve Sisolak ![]() | ||
New Mexico | Susana Martinez ![]() |
Michelle Lujan Grisham ![]() | ||
Wisconsin | Scott Walker ![]() |
Tony Evers ![]() |
Competitiveness
An election is considered more competitive when the incumbent officeholder is not a candidate for re-election in the general election. This analysis examines both the degree of competitiveness, relative to past election years, and factors that may or may not have contributed to the degree of competitiveness in the current year.
The advantage an incumbent holds over a challenger in a given election is frequently cited in political theory and its impetus frequently debated. For example, data compiled by OpenSecrets.org shows the re-election rate for incumbents in the U.S. House of Representatives has been 85% or higher for each of the 27 two-year election cycles that occurred between 1964 and 2016; and that from 2006-2016 the re-election rate averaged 92.5%.
Across the three gubernatorial elections which took place in 2019:
- 28 candidates, including 14 Democrats, 10 Republicans, and four minor-party or independent candidates, filed to run.
- Two incumbents filed for re-election; Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) was prevented from doing so by term limits.
- Both incumbents running for re-election faced a challenger from their party in the primary.
- All three races featured at least one Democrat and one Republican in the general as well as contested primaries among each party.
Margin of victory analysis
The following analysis details the margin of victory for winning candidates from the previous three elections in states that held regularly-scheduled gubernatorial elections in 2019. Gubernatorial elections in all three states were decided by smaller margins than in any of the previous three cycles. Across the 2015, 2011, and 2007 cycles, the smallest margin of victory for a candidate of either party in any of the three states was Matt Bevin's (R) 8.7% margin in Kentucky's 2015 election. In the 2019 cycle, the widest margin was Tate Reeves' (R) 5.7% in Mississippi. Both Democratic winners had margins under 3%.
Margin of victory analysis, 2007-2019 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
State | 2019 margin of victory | 2015 margin of victory | 2011 margin of victory | 2007 margin of victory |
Kentucky | D+0.4 | R+8.7 | D+20.4 | D+17.4 |
Louisiana | D+2.6 | D+12.2 | R+47.9 | R+36.4 |
Mississippi | R+5.7 | R+34.1 | R+22.0 | R+15.8 |
Election overviews
Kentucky
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and John Hicks (L) in Kentucky's gubernatorial election on November 5, 2019.[2] Beshear's victory meant that Kentucky transitioned from a Republican state government trifecta to divided government. This election followed nearly four years of conflict between Bevin and Beshear, which began when each was elected in 2015. The main issues in the race were healthcare and education funding.
Daniel Desrochers of the Lexington Herald-Leader said of the relationship between Bevin and Beshear that "the two men found in each other a rival to battle in courtroom filings, newspaper headlines and social media posts."[3] The campaign elevated this conflict, with the candidates exchanging personal attacks. Bevin called Beshear’s family “crooked and corrupt,” while the Beshear campaign has called Bevin wild, a bully, and "an unhinged failure."[4][5] For more information on how and in what policy areas Bevin and Beshear have disagreed, click here.
Bevin and Beshear had differing proposals for the state’s healthcare system. Bevin said that he would impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients, while Beshear said that he would enact consumer protections based on the Affordable Care Act.[6]
Education took center stage following a teacher walkout in spring 2018 that closed more than 20 schools across the state. Teachers were protesting changes to their pensions and to state education funding. Bevin and Beshear disagreed on the best formula for funding, vouchers, and cost sharing between state and local governments.[7]
Healthcare and education were evident as priorities in each candidates' selection of a lieutenant gubernatorial running mate.[8] Bevin chose state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a physician, as his running mate, becoming the third governor in a row to select a new running mate for their re-election bid.[9][10] Beshear chose assistant high school principal Jacqueline Coleman.[11]
This race decided the state's trifecta status until at least the 2020 state legislative elections. Prior to the election, Kentucky was a Republican trifecta. Before Bevin's 2015 victory, Democrats held the governorship for 16 of the previous 20 years. Beshear is the son of former Gov. Steve Beshear (D), who served from 2007 to 2015.
Prior elections
Click here to see the results of the 2015 and 2011 gubernatorial races. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Louisiana
Incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) defeated businessman Eddie Rispone (R) in the general election for governor of Louisiana on November 16, 2019.
Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
At the time of the election, Edwards was the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, and he was the only Democrat holding statewide office in Louisiana.[12] He defeated U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R) in 2015 and succeeded Bobby Jindal (R) in the governor's office, breaking a Republican trifecta in the state.
John Bel Edwards was the first incumbent Louisiana governor to run in a general election since the state adopted an all-party primary system in 1975.[13] Under that system, a candidate can win an election by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary; otherwise, the top two finishers advance to a general election. Of the 11 gubernatorial elections from 1975 to 2015, five were open and six featured incumbents seeking re-election. One incumbent advanced to a general election—Edwin Edwards (no known relation to John Bel) in 1987—but he conceded to his opponent before the election. Of the other five incumbents who ran for re-election, two lost in primaries and three won outright in primaries.[14][15][16]
The gubernatorial election coincided with elections for the state Senate and state House, meaning that all three trifecta components were on the ballot. Republicans maintained their majorities in the state House and Senate. They won a veto-proof supermajority in the Senate but fell two seats short of the threshold in the House. Edwards' win meant the state would remain under divided government. A win from Rispone would have made Louisiana a Republican trifecta.
Prior elections
Click here to see the results of the 2015 and 2011 gubernatorial races. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mississippi
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) defeated state Attorney General Jim Hood (D), Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution), and David Singletary (I) in the November 5, 2019, election for governor of Mississippi. Reeves received 52.2% of the vote to Hood's 46.5%.[17]
Term limits prevented incumbent Phil Bryant (R) from seeking re-election, leaving the seat open to a newcomer.
Reeves defeated former state Supreme Court Chief Justice William Waller (R) in an August 27 runoff after no candidate won a majority of the vote in the Republican primary.
In the Democratic primary, Hood won the nomination over seven other candidates.
Hood was first elected state attorney general in 2003 and served in that office through the 2019 election. Hood won election to each of his four terms as state attorney general by a margin of 10 percentage points or larger.[18] Hood said he was a moderate: "I reload guns. I'm pro-life. People have seen my record for 16 years, so it gives a comfort level to Republicans to cross over." Reeves said that Hood was no moderate: "He’s a liberal Democrat, he has been for 16 years, he continues to be, and that's okay...There are some people in Mississippi that are looking for a liberal Democrat to represent them in the governor's office. But if you are a conservative, I think that you only have one option."[19]
Reeves said that he cut taxes and lowered the state debt while in office, with a Reeves campaign ad saying that "Mississippi's got less debt today than when I got elected, first time in history. More of our people are working than ever before."[20] Hood says that Reeves' tax cuts did not benefit the average Mississippian: "Since 2012, Reeves has handed out $765 million in tax giveaways, mainly to benefit large, out-of-state corporations...When politicians crow about how many times they’ve cut taxes, look at your own pocketbook to see how much tax relief you’ve gotten."[21]
Both Reeves and Hood accused one another of ethics violations, with both saying that their opponent had identified policy priorities based on the interests of campaign donors.[22]
As of October 29, 2019, three race ratings agencies rated the race Leans Republican.
To win the general election, a candidate needed to receive a majority in the popular vote and win a majority of Mississippi's 122 state house districts. Had no candidate fulfilled both of these requirements, the Mississippi House of Representatives would have selected the winner.[23] As of November 2019, Republicans held a 74-44 majority in the state House.
On May 30, 2019, four voters, backed by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, sued to overturn the procedure for electing the governor, alleging it discriminated against black candidates. On November 1, 2019, Judge Daniel Jordan announced that he would not issue an injunction blocking the procedure.[24] Read more here.
Prior elections
Click here to see the results of the 2015 and 2011 gubernatorial races. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Outside race ratings
The following table compared gubernatorial race ratings from The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections prior to the November 2019 elections.
Polls
Kentucky
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Governor of Kentucky, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Andy Beshear (D) | Matt Bevin (R)* | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
Targoz Market Research October 13-20, 2019 | 50% | 32% | 15% | +/-4.2 | 548 | ||||||||||||||
Mason-Dixon October 16, 2019 | 46% | 46% | 7% | +/-4.0 | 625 | ||||||||||||||
Gravis Marketing June 11-12, 2019 | 42% | 48% | 10% | +/-3.6 | 741 | ||||||||||||||
AVERAGES | 46% | 42% | 10.67% | +/-3.93 | 638 | ||||||||||||||
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]. |
Click "show" to the right to see polls conducted before the May 21, 2019, primary election. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Louisiana
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Poll sponsor | Edwards (D) | Rispone (R) | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||||
Cygnal November 7-9, 2019 | N/A | 50% | 48% | 2% | +/-3.5 | 800 | |||||||||||||
Mason-Dixon Polling & Research November 5-7, 2019 | Gray Television | 48% | 46% | 6% | +/-4 | 625 | |||||||||||||
JMC Analytics October 24-26, 2019 | Nexstar Communications | 48% | 46% | 6% | +/-4.0 | 600 | |||||||||||||
We Ask America October 14-16, 2019 | N/A | 47% | 47% | 6% | +/-4.0 | 600 | |||||||||||||
AVERAGES | 48.25% | 46.75% | 5% | +/-3.88 | 656.25 | ||||||||||||||
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]. |
Click here to see polls conducted ahead of the October 12 primary election. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mississippi
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Mississippi gubernatorial election, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Jim Hood (D) | Tate Reeves (R) | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy October 17-19, 2019 | 43% | 46% | 11% | +/-4 | 625 | ||||||||||||||
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]. |
Click [show] to view hypothetical polls conducted before the general election. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term to describe single party government, when one political party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government.
Updated November 18, 2019
This content is part of Ballotpedia's analysis of the 2019 elections. For comprehensive election results, click here.
As a result of the 2019 elections, Democrats gained one state government trifecta in Virginia. A state government trifecta exists when one political party controls the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government. Republicans also lost a trifecta following incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin's (R) defeat in Kentucky. The new trifecta count stands at 15 Democratic trifectas, 21 Republican trifectas, and 14 divided governments.
Prior to the 2019 elections, Republicans had eight more state government trifectas than Democrats: of 36 states with trifectas, 22 were Republican and 14 were Democratic. Democrats saw a net gain of one trifecta and Republicans lost one trifecta. The number of states with divided government (i.e. no trifecta for either major party) remained at 14.
For comparison, following the 2017 elections, Republicans controlled 26 trifectas to Democrats' eight, leaving 16 states without a trifecta. Following the 2014 midterm election, Republicans had 24 trifectas, Democrats had 13, and 13 states had no trifecta advantage for either major party. After the 2010 midterms, 25 states had no trifectas, Republicans had nine, and Democrats had 16.
The new Democratic trifecta in Virginia was formed after the party won majorities in the state Senate and state House. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 20-19 majority with one vacancy in the Senate and a 51-48 majority with one vacancy in the House. Democrats won a 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 55-45 majority in the state House.
The total number of trifectas—36—is the highest number since 2014, when there were 37 trifectas.
Change in state government trifectas, 2019 elections | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Trifecta status | Before | After | Net | |
Democratic trifectas ![]() |
14 | 15 | +1 | |
Republican trifectas ![]() |
22 | 21 | -1 | |
Divided government | 14 | 14 | -- |
The maps and charts below show the pre- and post-2019 election state government trifectas and the percentage of the population living under trifecta control.
Percent of the U.S. population living under trifectas as of Election Day 2019 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Democratic trifectas | Republican trifectas | Divided governments | ||
Population | 326,464,979[25] | 111,656,588 | 137,380,514 | 77,427,877 | |
Proportion (%) | 100% | 34.2% | 42.1% | 23.7% | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
Percent of the U.S. population living under trifectas following the 2019 elections | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Democratic trifectas | Republican trifectas | Divided governments | ||
Population | 326,464,979[26] | 120,174,273 | 132,912,112 | 73,378,594 | |
Proportion (%) | 100% | 36.8% | 40.7% | 22.5% | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
Triplexes
A state government triplex is a term to describe when a state's governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are all members of the same political party.
Updated 1:00 p.m. EST, November 18, 2019
This content is part of Ballotpedia's analysis of the 2019 elections. For comprehensive election results, click here.
As a result of the 2019 elections, Republicans gained one state government triplex in Mississippi while Kentucky and Louisiana remained divided triplexes. Heading into the election, the triplex count stood at 18 Republican, 17 Democratic, and 15 divided triplexes. The new triplex count will be 19 Republican, 17 Democratic, and 14 divided triplexes.
The states holding triplex office elections on November 5, 2019, were:
- Kentucky: Kentucky remained a divided triplex. Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) in the gubernatorial election. Daniel Cameron (R) won the attorney general election for the position held by Andy Beshear (D), while Michael Adams (R) won the secretary of state election for the position held by Alison Lundergan Grimes (D). Kentucky was most recently a triplex in 2015 when Democrats held all three positions.
- Mississippi: The state became a Republican triplex as a result of the election. Tate Reeves (R) won the race for term-limited Gov. Phil Bryant's (R) position. Lynn Fitch (R) won the attorney general position held by Jim Hood (D), and Michael Watson (R) won the secretary of state position held by Delbert Hosemann (R). Mississippi was most recently a triplex in 2004 when Democrats held all three positions.
One other state held elections for triplex offices on November 16, 2019:
- Louisiana: Louisiana remained a divided triplex. In the gubernatorial election, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) defeated Eddie Rispone (R). In the secretary of state election, incumbent Kyle Ardoin (R) defeated Gwen Collins-Greenup (D). State Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) won re-election in the primary election. Louisiana was most recently a triplex in 2015 when Republicans held all three positions.
Change in state government triplexes, 2019 elections | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Triplex status | Before | After | Net | |
Democratic triplexes ![]() |
17 | 17 | -- | |
Republican triplexes ![]() |
18 | 19 | +1 | |
Divided triplexes | 15 | 14 | -1 |
In 2015, when all three states last held elections for triplex offices, two states lost triplexes while one remained under a divided triplex. Democrats lost their triplex in Kentucky when Bevin defeated Jack Conway (D) in the gubernatorial election. Republicans lost their triplex in Louisiana when Edwards picked up the seat held by term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal (R). Mississippi remained a divided triplex because all three incumbents (Bryant, Hood, and Hosemann) each won re-election.
Presidential data
- See also: Presidential election, 2016
Donald Trump (R) carried all three states holding 2019 gubernatorial elections in the 2016 presidential election. His largest margin of victory was 29.8% in Kentucky while his narrowest was 17.8% in Mississippi.
Kentucky
- See also: Presidential election in Kentucky, 2016
U.S. presidential election, Kentucky, 2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 32.7% | 628,854 | 0 | |
Republican | ![]() |
62.5% | 1,202,971 | 8 | |
Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.8% | 53,752 | 0 | |
Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.7% | 13,913 | 0 | |
American Delta | Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.1% | 1,128 | 0 | |
Independent | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 1.2% | 22,780 | 0 | |
- | Write-in votes | 0% | 751 | 0 | |
Total Votes | 1,924,149 | 8 | |||
Election results via: Kentucky Secretary of State |
Louisiana
- See also: Presidential election in Louisiana, 2016
U.S. presidential election, Louisiana, 2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 38.4% | 780,154 | 0 | |
Republican | ![]() |
58.1% | 1,178,638 | 8 | |
Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 1.9% | 37,978 | 0 | |
Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.7% | 14,031 | 0 | |
Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.2% | 3,129 | 0 | |
Courage Character Service | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 0.4% | 8,547 | 0 | |
It's Our Children | Laurence Kotlikoff/Edward Lea | 0.1% | 1,048 | 0 | |
Life Family Constitution | Tom Hoefling/Steve Schulin | 0.1% | 1,581 | 0 | |
Loyal Trustworthy Compasion | Princes Jacob/Milton Fambro | 0% | 749 | 0 | |
Socialism and Liberation | Gloria Estela La Riva/Eugene Puryear | 0% | 446 | 0 | |
Socialism Equality Anti-War | Jerry White/Niles Niemuth | 0% | 370 | 0 | |
Socialist Workers Party | Alyson Kennedy/Osborne Hart | 0% | 480 | 0 | |
Socialist Workers Party | Chris Keniston/Deacon Taylor | 0.1% | 1,881 | 0 | |
Total Votes | 2,029,032 | 8 | |||
Election results via: Louisiana Secretary of State |
Mississippi
U.S. presidential election, Mississippi, 2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 40.1% | 485,131 | 0 | |
Republican | ![]() |
57.9% | 700,714 | 6 | |
Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 1.2% | 14,435 | 0 | |
Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.3% | 3,731 | 0 | |
Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.3% | 3,987 | 0 | |
American Delta | Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.1% | 644 | 0 | |
Prohibition | Jim Hedges/Bill Bayes | 0.1% | 715 | 0 | |
Total Votes | 1,209,357 | 6 | |||
Election results via: Mississippi Secretary of State |
Important dates and deadlines
This section will provide important dates throughout the 2019 election cycle, including filing deadlines, primaries, and campaign finance reporting deadlines, when available. These dates are divided by state.
Kentucky
Primary election
- January 29, 2019: Filing deadline in Kentucky
- April 22, 2019: Voter registration deadline
- May 14, 2019: Absentee application deadline
- May 21, 2019: Primary election in Kentucky
General election
- October 7, 2019: Voter registration deadline
- October 29, 2019: Absentee application deadline
- November 5, 2019: General election in Kentucky
Louisiana
Primary election
- August 8, 2019: Filing deadline in Louisiana
- September 11, 2019: In-person voter registration deadline
- September 21, 2019: Online voter registration deadline
- September 28, 2019: Early voting begins
- October 5, 2019: Early voting ends
- October 8, 2019: Deadline to request a mail ballot
- October 12, 2019: Primary election in Louisiana
General election
- October 16, 2019: In-person voter registration deadline
- October 26, 2019: Online voter registration deadline
- November 2, 2019: Early voting begins
- November 9, 2019: Early voting ends
- November 12, 2019: Deadline to request a mail ballot
- November 16, 2019: General election in Louisiana
Mississippi
Primary election
- March 1, 2019: Filing deadline in Mississippi
- July 8, 2019: Voter registration deadline (primary)
- July 29, 2019: Voter registration deadline (primary runoff)
- August 5, 2019: Absentee ballot return deadline (primary)
- August 6, 2019: Primary election in Mississippi
- August 26, 2019: Absentee ballot return deadline (primary runoff)
- August 27, 2019: Primary runoff election in Mississippi
General election
- October 7, 2019: Voter registration deadline
- November 4, 2019: Absentee ballot return deadline
- November 5, 2019: General election in Mississippi
About the office
- See also: Governor (state executive office)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state. The governor is not directly subordinate to the federal authorities but is the political and ceremonial head of the state. The governor may also assume additional roles, such as the commander-in-chief of the National Guard when the role is not federalized. The governor may also have the ability to commute or pardon a criminal sentence.
In all states, the governor is directly elected and, in most cases, has considerable practical powers. Notable exceptions with weak governorships include the office of the governor in Texas, though this may be moderated by the state legislature and, in some cases, by other elected executive officials. Governors can veto state bills. The specific duties and powers vary widely between states.
Compensation
According to compensation figures for 2023 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the highest salary for a governor was $250,000 in New York while the lowest was $70,000 in Maine. To view the compensation of a particular governor, hover your mouse over the state.[27]
Staff size
According to figures for 2022 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, gubernatorial offices range in size from 9 staffers in Nebraska to 277 staffers in Texas.[28]
Involvement in budget proposals
Although all governors have some involvement in the process of developing a state budget, the specific level of involvement differs from state to state. According to information published in the 2022 Book of the States, 24 governors share responsibility for developing a budget proposal, while 11 governors have full responsibility for developing an initial budget proposal and the remaining 15 have full responsibility for developing a budget.[29]
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
Most states impose some form of term limits on governors; of those that do, all but Virginia limit a governor to two four-year terms or to eight years in office. Although most states' term limit laws allow a governor who has served two terms to be elected once again after time has elapsed, some states impose a lifetime term limit like that on the presidency. Although Vermont and New Hampshire do not have term limit laws, they are the only states whose governors serve two-year terms rather than four-year terms.
Line-item veto powers
The term line-item veto refers to the ability of a governor or other chief executive to veto specific parts of a bill while signing the rest of the bill into law. Currently, 44 states grant their governors line-item veto powers.[29]
Comparison to all-time best state party performances
Winning gubernatorial candidates compared to state party all-time records, 2019 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Winning candidate | Winning candidate votes | State party all-time winner[30] | State party all-time winner votes | ||
Kentucky | ![]() |
49.2% | ![]() |
81.3% | ||
Louisiana | ![]() |
51.3% | ![]() |
99.4% | ||
Mississippi | ![]() |
52.2% | ![]() |
66.7% |
Winning streaks
- See also: Gubernatorial winning streaks
Gubernatorial elections and same-party winning streaks, 2019 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Winning party | Winning streak continued or broken? | Longest Democratic winning streak | Longest Republican winning streak | ||
Kentucky | ![]() |
No winning streak | Eight[31] | Two[32] | ||
Louisiana | ![]() |
Democratic streak started | 21[33] | Four[34] | ||
Mississippi | ![]() |
Four-election Republican streak continued | 28[35] | Five[36] |
Analysis of state elections
In 2019, eight states held elections for executive, legislative, or judicial seats, including elections for seven of the nation's 99 state legislative chambers and for three gubernatorial seats.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Because Justice switched his registration more than halfway through the year, he was counted as a Democrat in 2017 for the purposes of the chart.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Andy Beshear has beaten Matt Bevin in the courtroom. But can he win in a campaign?" May 16, 2019
- ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "Andy Beshear and Matt Bevin get nasty in fight over who's better for public schools," September 9, 2019
- ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "Anti-Beshear ad claims Kentucky boys are changing gender to beat girls in sports," September 24, 2019
- ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "New GOP ad slams Democrat Andy Beshear for 'radical views' on health care," September 7, 2019
- ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, " A scare tactic.’ Bevin blasts Beshear for ad that claims school lights might go out." September 9, 2019
- ↑ Smart Politics, "Bevin Brings In New Blood," January 29, 2019
- ↑ Courier Journal, "Matt Bevin will make announcement about the governor's race today," January 25, 2019
- ↑ Lexington Herald-Leader, "Bevin dumps Hampton, announces Ralph Alvarado as his lieutenant governor running mate," January 26, 2019
- ↑ Louisville Courier-Journal, "So who is Andy Beshear's running mate, Jacqueline Coleman?" July 9, 2018
- ↑ The Advocate, "Gov. John Bel Edwards officially receives Louisiana Democratic Party endorsement for re-election," March 9, 2019
- ↑ The Center Square, "Democratic Gov. Edwards faces tough re-election fight in heavily Republican Louisiana," October 14, 2019
- ↑ Incumbent David Treen lost in the 1983 primary, which Edwin Edwards won outright. Buddy Roemer (who Edwin Edwards conceded to in 1987) lost his re-election bid in 1991, placing third in the primary.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Graphical election results," accessed October 15, 2019
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Morning Digest: Louisiana suburb votes to form its own city—and a mostly white school district," October 15, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, "Live Election Results: Mississippi Governor," November 6, 2019
- ↑ Governing, "The Democrat Who Could Be Mississippi's Next Governor," March 2019
- ↑ The Washington Post, "The Trailer: Mississippi has a surprisingly competitive gubernatorial race," September 3, 2019
- ↑ Youtube, "Tate Reeves: Tough Calls," September 10, 2019
- ↑ Hood for Governor, "Grocery Tax," accessed September 30, 2019
- ↑ Mississippi Clarion Ledger, "Hood, Reeves call each other unethical. Here's what to know about their claims," October 25, 2019
- ↑ The Constitution of the State of Mississippi," accessed February 7, 2019
- ↑ Mississippi Clarion Ledger, "Judge won't block Mississippi election law: Lawmakers could still choose next governor," November 1, 2019
- ↑ Excludes the 702,455 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
- ↑ Excludes the 702,455 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
- ↑ Book of the States, "2023 edition: Chapter 4 - Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 18, 2024
- ↑ Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2022 Table 4.3: The Governors: Compensation, Staff, Travel and Residence provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2022 Table 4.4: The Governors: Powers provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Excluding unopposed candidates.
- ↑ 1867-1891 and 1971-1999
- ↑ 1895-1899
- ↑ 1896-1975
- ↑ 1864-1872
- ↑ 1877-1987
- ↑ 2003-2019
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