You probably spent most of 2024 glued to the presidential drama, right? It's okay. Most of us did. But while everyone was arguing over the White House, something kinda strange was happening in the background of the state governor elections 2024. For the first time since the year 2000, not a single governor’s seat flipped parties.
Zero. Zilch.
In a country that feels like it's constantly pulling itself apart at the seams, 11 states looked at their current leadership’s party and basically said, "Yeah, more of that, please." It’s rare. Honestly, it’s almost unheard of in modern politics to have a high-stakes election year where the partisan map for governors remains exactly the same as it was before the first ballot was cast.
The North Carolina Fireworks
If you want to talk about the most chaotic race of the year, you've gotta look at North Carolina. This was the big one. Josh Stein, the Democratic Attorney General, went up against Mark Robinson, the Republican Lieutenant Governor.
It wasn't even close.
Stein didn't just win; he crushed it, taking about 54.9% of the vote. Robinson’s campaign was basically a slow-motion car crash after reports surfaced about some pretty wild comments he supposedly made on a pornographic forum years ago. He denied it all, but the damage was done. Staffers quit. Donald Trump, who once called Robinson "Martin Luther King on steroids," suddenly had a very busy schedule and couldn't find time to campaign with him anymore.
Stein is now North Carolina’s first Jewish governor. He’s taking over for Roy Cooper, who was term-limited. While the state went for Trump at the top of the ticket, North Carolinians showed they have a very specific "type" when it comes to their governors: steady, relatively quiet Democrats who can act as a check on the Republican-led legislature.
Hold the Line: Stability or Stagnation?
New Hampshire was supposed to be a toss-up. People thought maybe, just maybe, Democrats could snatch it since popular Republican Chris Sununu was retiring. Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator, had other plans. She beat Joyce Craig by roughly nine points.
She kept the "Live Free or Die" state in the Republican column by focusing on things like universal school choice and keeping taxes low. It worked.
Over in Washington, the streak continues. Bob Ferguson, the state's Attorney General, won comfortably. This makes it 11 straight wins for Democrats in Washington gubernatorial races. Republicans haven't sat in that governor's mansion since 1985. Think about that. There are adults with mortgages and graying hair who have never lived under a Republican governor in Washington.
The Winners' Circle
- Indiana: Mike Braun (R) kept the GOP’s 20-year streak alive.
- Delaware: Matt Meyer (D) took the win as expected.
- West Virginia: Patrick Morrisey (R) is the new man in charge.
- Missouri: Mike Kehoe (R) won big.
- Montana: Greg Gianforte (R) cruised to re-election.
- Vermont: Phil Scott (R) proved again that he’s the most popular governor in America, winning over 73% of the vote in a state that loves Kamala Harris.
- Utah: Spencer Cox (R) survived a primary challenge from his right and a write-in campaign to win a second term.
- North Dakota: Kelly Armstrong (R) had a very easy night.
Why the Status Quo Won
You might be wondering why nothing changed. Usually, elections are about "change" or "throwing the bums out." Not this time.
Voters seem to be treating governors differently than they treat presidents. In Vermont, you have a deep-blue state that absolutely adores its Republican governor, Phil Scott, because he’s a moderate who focuses on the budget. In North Carolina, you have a red-leaning state that prefers Democratic governors to keep things balanced.
It’s about the "trifectas."
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A trifecta is when one party controls the governor’s office and both chambers of the state legislature. Heading into 2024, people thought we might see more of these. Instead, the balance held firm. We still have 27 Republican governors and 23 Democratic governors.
What These New Governors Are Actually Doing
Now that the dust has settled, what’s the plan? Education is the big one.
In Indiana, Mike Braun is pushing hard for more school choice and parental involvement. He wants more transparency in what’s being taught. Meanwhile, in Washington, Bob Ferguson is going the opposite direction—focusing on universal pre-K for four-year-olds and free school meals for all K-12 students.
It’s like two different Americas being built at the state level.
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One side is doubling down on private options and parental rights; the other is expanding the social safety net as wide as it can go. And because these governors are often working with legislatures of the same party, they’re actually going to get this stuff done. Unlike D.C., where everything gets stuck in a filibuster, state governors have a lot of power to move fast.
Common Ground?
Believe it or not, they do agree on some stuff. Almost every single one of these governors, regardless of their party, is obsessed with "workforce development." Basically, they’re all worried about the same thing: businesses can’t find enough skilled workers.
Whether it's Greg Gianforte in Montana or Matt Meyer in Delaware, they’re all pouring money into trades, apprenticeships, and technical colleges. They want people to be able to get a good job without necessarily needing a four-year degree that leaves them in debt for thirty years.
The Takeaway
If you only watched the news on TV, you’d think the state governor elections 2024 were just a sideshow. They weren't. These races determine who controls your state’s National Guard, who signs your tax bills, and who decides what your kids learn in school.
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The fact that the map didn't change tells us that voters are actually pretty satisfied with their state-level leadership, even if they're furious about what’s happening in Washington D.C.
To stay informed on how these new (and returning) leaders are spending your tax dollars, you should start by looking at your state’s proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. That’s where the real "boring" power lies. You can also sign up for the newsletter from the National Governors Association (NGA) to see how your governor is collaborating with others on bipartisan issues like infrastructure and mental health.
Check your local Secretary of State website to see the final, certified vote counts in your specific precinct. It’s a great way to see how your immediate neighbors actually voted versus the statewide narrative.