CNN Data Guru Sounds Alarm For Democrats In Upcoming Governors’ Races In 2026

CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten warned Democrats on Wednesday that Republicans have a strong likelihood of holding onto the majority of governorships nationwide after the 2026 midterm elections.

While early polling suggests there will be a blue wave in the upcoming elections, aggregate polling found there will likely be 26 Republican governors and 20 Democratic governors in office after the midterms, Enten said. He added that Republicans are not expected to lose any gubernatorial races and may gain seats in the toss-up races.

“Look at this, a majority, a majority, 26. That is, at this point, thenumber of governors that are expected at least tilting towards the RepublicanParty at this point. Democrats come in at just 20. The rest of the races are toss-up.Of course, you sum up to 50. And I will note that the Republicans right now holda 26 to 24 gubernatorial seat advantage,” Enten said. 

“So at this point, it doesn’t look likeRepublicans on the net and the aggregate are actually going to lose anygovernorships. In fact, when you add in those toss-ups, they may gain,” Enten continued. “So thisshould stand as a major wake-up call to Democrats, because if there’s a wave building, it has not, at least at this point, hit the state level when it comesto governorships.” 

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Democrats have not held a majority of governorships since 2010, which marks the longest timeframe where Democrats have been in the minority of governorships in at least a century. Republicans have also held a majority of state legislatures since 2012.