# The 2026 Governor races **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 3, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125 "2026-08-03T19:24:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/81 "2026-09-06T22:38:51Z")
I would vote for whichever Ohio candidate didn’t make a fortune doing a pump and dump on a failed dementia drug. Thanks to his mommy co authoring a study that said the drug was viable in time for him to offload the stock. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/82 "2026-09-06T23:10:36Z")
His latest blood work showed a high number of white blood cells and he demanded a recount. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/83 "2026-09-06T23:18:50Z")
No surprises in New York. Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul is running for a second/third term and is widely favored to win. The Republican candidate, Bruce Blakeman, hardly even gets talked about. I don’t like Hochul but I’ll hold my nose and vote for her. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/84 "2026-09-06T23:20:01Z")
That’s more important to you than protecting our democratic system, protecting non-whites from government thugs, protecting women’s rights and LGBTQ rights, and sending a message that your state opposes the dangerous warmongering clown in the White House who is destroying our country’s future?? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/85 "2026-09-07T00:46:11Z")
It’s a tighter race here in Oregon than I would like or want to believe. State Senator Republican Christine Drazan has massive Republican money at her back and the support of Trump. Plus she is quite happy to lie about our current Governor, Tina Kotek’s, record. Drazan never mentions she’s a Republican in her ads. She paints Kotek as a rabid supporter of data centers. (Not true.) The polls are disturbingly close. I hope Kotek can keep her governorship. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/86 "2026-09-07T00:50:09Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I dislike Acton and Ramaswamy. They are running neck and neck, and all other things being equal, I pick the Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/87 "2026-09-07T13:04:32Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I dislike Acton and Ramaswamy. But if made to choose, I will go with whoever is less likely to support a lockdown. “Less likely to support a lockdown”? I mean, you do you, but if I were going to be a single-issue voter, I’d make it a single issue that was actually likely to _be_ an issue in the next four years, rather than something that is only relevant in the once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime event of a major pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/88 "2026-09-08T00:56:44Z")
Today DJT proclaimed that Canadian aircraft company Bombardier can no longer sell in the US unless it moves its manufacturing here. Wichita is the US headquarters for Bombardier. It has 1500 employees and is one of the top employers in the city. Kansas GOP gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson has strongly touted his endorsement by the president. I’m guessing those ads will quickly be pulled. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/89 "2026-09-13T18:04:15Z")
Last night, a small plane carrying Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany lost power while approaching the Wausau airport, and the pilot was forced to make an emergency water landing in a nearby lake. Tiffany and the pilot were both rescued, and were released from a local hospital after treatment. > **[Tom Tiffany's plane forced to make emergency water landing after campaign event](https://www.wisn.com/article/rep-tom-tiffany-in-hospital-after-emergency-plane-landing/73705005)** > > Rep. Tom Tiffany has minor injuries after a small plane made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/90 "2026-09-13T23:09:31Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > She paints Kotek as a rabid supporter of data centers. The two clowns in Nevada are running nearly identical attack ads about one another. Both claim that the other gives big incentives and breaks to Data Centers and thereby deny you and your children money for schools, affordable groceries.. blah blah blah… (and I can’t rule out both of them factual) Neither of them bothers telling us what the hell they would **DO** for us. I got no idea what the polls say about either of them. Side Note: I watched Ohio State play yesterday, and got to see all kind of political ads that I normally wouldn’t, and I gotta say, you Folks in Ohio are _vicious!_ 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/91 "2026-09-13T23:11:15Z")
Yeah, it’s the same here. But since I’ll never vote for anything but a Democrat for the rest of my life, I can easily tune out all of that shit. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/92 "2026-09-14T00:26:28Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I can easily tune out all of that shit. I can’t. Both sides are running rather vicious attack ads here in Kansas. When the Dems air one, I respond with “Hell, yeah!” But when the pubbies do the same, I have to yell “Fuck you!” at the TV. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/93 "2026-09-14T01:44:15Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > But since I’ll never vote for anything but a Democrat for the rest of my life, I can easily tune out all of that shit. I voted for _Schwarzenegger_ vs a litany of Dem wannabes. But I have had Republicans insist Arnie was a RINO. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/94 "2026-09-19T07:20:26Z")
New poll shows Hinojosa with a 4 point lead over Gov. Abbott in Texas. Talarico has a 6 point lead; the races for Lt Governor and Attorney General are essentially tied. > **[ReconMR-Texas-Poll-September-Release-Final.pdf](https://www.kxan.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2026/09/ReconMR-Texas-Poll-September-Release-Final.pdf)** > > 421.81 KB > [@](#): > > US Senate: Talarico (D) 49% Paxton (R) 43% (from 47-43% in July) > Governor: Hinojosa (D) 49% Abbott (R) 45% (from Abbott 46-45% in July) > Attorney General: Middleton (R) 45% Johnson (D) 44% (from 46-44% in July) > Lt. Governor: Goodwin (D) 47% Patrick (R) 46% (from 48-46% in July) [Note: I added the parties of the candidates to the above text. The original used colored text (red and blue) which didn’t copy and paste.] ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/95 "2026-09-19T15:00:14Z")
If Dems flip multiple statewide seats in TX, the collective despair from the GOP will be apocalyptic. The Talarico beating Paxton is one thing, but if the 3 term incumbent governor loses… hoo boy. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/96 "2026-09-19T15:01:35Z")
As elated as I would be to see these results in November I can only view this poll as an outlier. If subsequent polls support these findings then we may have something. But not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/97 "2026-09-19T15:04:28Z")
I don’t seriously believe that Hinojosa will beat Abbott. But if that race is close enough that you can see a poll, even an outlier one, at D+4, that’s great news for other races in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/98 "2026-09-19T15:04:31Z")
The odds of an honest vote and honest vote counting in frothing red-controlled Texas is approximately zero. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/99 "2026-09-19T15:07:13Z")
Serious question–can you point to specific evidence of dishonest vote counting in Texas? I am not aware of any evidence, but haven’t spent much time looking. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125/100 "2026-09-19T16:41:17Z")
I personally don’t expect shenanigans in the actual counting in the sense of “just count it for Abbott” no matter what it says. What’s MUCH more likely to me is voter suppression/intimidation during the polling and vote/voter challenges post-polling. Whether you think these constitute dishonest vote counting is up to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2026-governor-races/1032125.md?page=6)