State executive official elections, 2019

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State Executive Officials

State executive elections by position and year:
2020
2018



State executive offices up for election in 2019 included three gubernatorial seats, lieutenant gubernatorial seats, attorney general seats, and secretary of state seats. Kentucky and Mississippi held elections on November 5, 2019. Louisiana held elections October 12, and general elections for some races took place November 16. Including down-ballot races, there were 36 state executive offices up for election across three states in 2019.

Republicans gained two attorney general offices and one secretary of state's office, while Democrats gained one governorship.

Highlights:

  • Attorney general elections: Republicans won all three of 2019's attorney general races. The wins marked partisan changes in Kentucky and Mississippi, where the 2019 incumbents were Democrats. Both were open-seat races. In Louisiana, incumbent Jeff Landry (R) won re-election. This means Republicans gained a net two attorney general offices, giving the party control of an overall majority of attorney general offices nationwide.

A state government trifecta exists when one party controls the governorship and both state legislative chambers. Tate Reeves's (R) win in the Mississippi gubernatorial election maintained the state's Republican trifecta status. In Kentucky, Andy Beshear's (D) victory broke the state's Republican trifecta. Louisiana maintained a divided government with Gov. John Bel Edwards's (D) re-election.

A state government triplex is defined as one political party holding the offices of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. Mississippi became a Republican triplex as a result of 2019's elections; it had previously been under divided triplex control. Kentucky and Louisiana remained divided triplexes.

"Beyond the Headlines: Triplexes in the 2019 elections"

This page provides the following:

2019 election results

See also: Election results, 2019
Governors
Partisan control of governorships up in 2019
StateBeforeAfter
KentuckyRepublican Party Matt BevinDemocratic Party Andy Beshear
MississippiRepublican Party Phil BryantRepublican Party Tate Reeves
LouisianaDemocratic Party John Bel EdwardsDemocratic Party John Bel Edwards
Lieutenant governors
Partisan control of lieutenant governorships up in 2019
StateBeforeAfter
KentuckyRepublican Party Jenean M. HamptonDemocratic Party Jacqueline Coleman
MississippiRepublican Party Tate ReevesRepublican Party Delbert Hosemann
LouisianaRepublican Party Billy NungesserRepublican Party Billy Nungesser



Attorneys General
Partisan control of attorney general offices up in 2019
StateBeforeAfter
KentuckyDemocratic Party Andy BeshearRepublican Party Daniel Cameron
MississippiDemocratic Party Jim HoodRepublican Party Lynn Fitch
LouisianaRepublican Party Jeff LandryRepublican Party Jeff Landry
Secretaries of state
Partisan control of secretary of state offices up in 2019
StateBeforeAfter
KentuckyDemocratic Party Alison Lundergan GrimesRepublican Party Michael Adams
MississippiRepublican Party Delbert HosemannRepublican Party Michael Watson
LouisianaRepublican Party Kyle ArdoinRepublican Party Kyle Ardoin


Battleground elections

Ballotpedia designated certain 2019 elections as battleground races, due to those races being either particularly competitive, interesting, or meaningful to the future balance of power in that jurisdiction.

Of the 36 state executive official seats up for election in 2019, Ballotpedia identified four races as battlegrounds, including all three gubernatorial elections and one of the three attorney general elections:

Attorney General of Kentucky

General election

General election for Attorney General of Kentucky

Daniel Cameron defeated Gregory Stumbo in the general election for Attorney General of Kentucky on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/dcameron3.jpg
Daniel Cameron (R)
 
57.8
 
823,346
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Stumbo.jpg
Gregory Stumbo (D)
 
42.2
 
602,272

Total votes: 1,425,618
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Governor of 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
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/AndyBeshear.jpg
Andy Beshear (D)
 
49.2
 
709,890
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Matt_Bevin.jpg
Matt Bevin (R)
 
48.8
 
704,754
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JohnHicks-200x300.jpg
John Hicks (L)
 
2.0
 
28,433
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
46

Total votes: 1,443,123
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Governor of 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
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JohnBelEdwards.jpg
John Bel Edwards (D)
 
51.3
 
774,498
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Rispone-045-1.jpg
Eddie Rispone (R)
 
48.7
 
734,286

Total votes: 1,508,784
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Governor of 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
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/TateReevesOfficial.jpg
Tate Reeves (R)
 
51.9
 
459,396
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jim_Hood.jpg
Jim Hood (D)
 
46.8
 
414,368
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/big_dave_does_gospel_018-min.jpg
David Singletary (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
1.0
 
8,522
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Bob_Hickingbottom.jpg
Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution Party)
 
0.3
 
2,625

Total votes: 884,911
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Offices that changed party control

Beyond the Headlines - Title Banner.png
What happened in the 2019 gubernatorial elections? Click to watch
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Seven state executive offices changed partisan control. Republicans gained four offices from Democrats and Democrats gained three from Republicans.

State executive offices that changed party hands, 2019 elections
Office Pre-election incumbent Election winner
Governor of Kentucky Republican Party Matt Bevin Democratic Party Andy Beshear
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky Republican Party Jenean M. Hampton Democratic Party Jacqueline Coleman
Attorney General of Kentucky Democratic Party Andy Beshear Republican Party Daniel Cameron
Attorney General of Mississippi Democratic Party Jim Hood Republican Party Lynn Fitch
Secretary of State of Kentucky Democratic Party Alison Lundergan Grimes Republican Party Michael Adams
Mississippi Public Service Commission Central District Democratic Party Cecil Brown Republican Party Brent Bailey
Mississippi Transportation Commission Central District Republican Party Dick Hall Democratic Party Willie Simmons

Incumbents defeated

One state executive lost re-election in 2019: Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) lost to Andy Beshear (D).

Offices up for election

Governor

There were three gubernatorial seats on the ballot in 2019.

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. Other executive offices ordinarily report to him or her.

Lieutenant Governor

There were three lieutenant gubernatorial seats on the ballot in 2019.

In 45 states, the lieutenant governor is the second-highest executive office, behind the governor. Although the powers and duties of the lieutenant governor vary from state to state, lieutenant governors are responsible for filling vacancies in the office of governor. In many states, lieutenant governors often sit on boards or commissions, and they are often involved in the proceedings of the state Senate.

Attorney General

There were three attorney general seats on the ballot in 2019.

As the state's chief legal officer, the attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process.

Secretary of State

There were three secretary of state seats on the ballot in 2019.

Although the duties and powers of the secretary of state vary from state to state, a common responsibility is management and oversight of elections and voter rolls, which are assigned to the secretary of state in 41 states. Other common responsibilities include registration of businesses, maintenance of state records, and certification of official documents.

Down-ballot

There were 24 down-ballot state executive seats on the ballot in 2019.

Agriculture Commissioner

Auditor

Insurance Commissioner

Public Service Commissioner

State Board of Education

Transportation Commissioner

Treasurer

Total executive officials by party

Of the 36 state executive positions up in 2019, eight were held by Democrats and 28 were held by Republicans. The chart below shows how many officials of both parties were serving in each position.

Competitiveness

Races with one major party candidate

See also: State executive official elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate, 2019

Ballotpedia tracked state executive races without a Democratic or Republican candidate in the 2019 elections. Eight state executive races did not have a Democratic candidate, and three state executive races did not have a Republican candidate.

Races without Democratic candidates

Races without Republican candidates


Primary competitiveness

See also: 2019 primary election competitiveness in state and federal government

A contested primary is one in which voters have a choice on the ballot. Most commonly, this means that there is more than one candidate from the same political party in the race. Exceptions to this include states with multi-member state legislative districts and states featuring a top-two primary system, such as California and Washington.

The following chart compares the number of open seats, incumbents with primary competition, contested partisan primaries, total seats, and total candidates in 2019 versus 2015 and 2017:

2019 state government trifecta results summary

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 Democratic Party 14 15 +1
Republican trifectas Republican Party 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[1] 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[2] 120,174,273 132,912,112 73,378,594
Proportion (%) 100% 36.8% 40.7% 22.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

2019 state government triplex results summary

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 Democratic Party 17 17 --
Republican triplexes Republican Party 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.


Outside ratings

The following table compared gubernatorial race ratings from The Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections prior to the November 2020 elections.

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

Historical election data

Ballotpedia covers America's 748 state executive seats across all 50 states. The following sections look at incumbency and partisanship in state executive elections from 2011 to 2018.

Incumbency

From 2011 to 2018, 63.6% of incumbents sought re-election. Of the incumbents who sought re-election during that period, 85.9% were successful. The first chart below shows the number of incumbents who sought election each year compared to the number of seats up for election. The second chart shows the number of incumbents who were re-elected compared to the number of incumbents who ran for re-election.

The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of offices up for election, the number and percentage of incumbents who sought re-election, and the number and percentage of incumbents who won another term.

State executive incumbents who sought re-election, 2011-2018
Year Total seats Incumbents who
sought re-election
% incumbents who
sought re-election
Incumbents who
were re-elected
% incumbents who
were re-elected
2018
303
186
61.4%
151
81.2%
2017
8
3
37.5%
2
66.7%
2016
93
51
54.8%
40
78.4%
2015
25
16
64.0%
15
93.8%
2014
226
152
67.3%
139
91.4%
2013
6
3
50.0%
3
100.0%
2012
94
67
71.3%
59
88.1%
2011
26
19
73.1%
18
94.7%
Total
781
497
63.6%
427
85.9%

Partisanship

The table below details how many state executive seats changed parties from 2011 to 2018. The largest single-year gain by a party was in 2018, when Democrats gained 41 net seats. That year also had the highest number of seats up for election, with 303. The lowest net change was in 2011, when no parties gained or lost any seats. Twenty-six seats were on the ballot that year. The table is organized by year and shows the number of seats held by each party before the election and after the election and the net change each party saw.

State executive partisanship, 2011-2018
Year Total seats Before election After election Net change
Democratic Party
Democrats
Republican Party
Republicans
Grey.png
Other
Democratic Party
Democrats
Republican Party
Republicans
Grey.png
Other
Democratic Party
Democrats
Republican Party
Republicans
Grey.png
Other
2018
303
81
184
38
122
143
38
+41
-41
0
2017
8
3
4
1
5
2
1
+2
-2
0
2016
93
50
39
3
37
53
2
-13
+14
-1
2015
25
8
16
1
6
19
0
-2
+3
-1
2014
226
79
144
3
67
156
3
-12
+12
0
2013
6
0
5
1
3
2
1
+3
-3
0
2012
94
50
38
6
49
42
3
-1
+4
-3
2011
26
9
17
0
9
17
0
0
0
0

Partisan control of governorships

The chart below looks at the number of governorships held by the Democratic and Republican parties between 1977 and 2018. The biggest difference between the number of seats held by Democrats compared to those held by Republicans was in 1977 and 1978, when Democrats held 37 seats and Republicans held 12. The lowest difference between the number of seats held by Democrats compared to those held by Republicans was in both 1987 and 2003. In 1987, Democrats held 26 governorships and Republicans held 24; in 2003, Democrats held 24 governorships and Republicans held 26.

The offices

State executives act in many capacities according to the powers granted to them by their state's constitution. They are also charged with implementing and enforcing laws made by state legislatures. There are 748 executive seats spread across 13 distinct types of offices in the United States.[3] Of the 13 executive offices, only seven exist in all 50 states: governor, attorney general, superintendent of schools, insurance commissioner, agriculture commissioner, labor commissioner, and public service commissioner.

Other common offices include lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, controller, auditor, and natural resources commissioner.

Analysis of state elections

See also: Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2019


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.

All state elections:
2019 election analysis: State government trifectas
Trifecta vulnerability in the 2019 elections
2019 primary election competitiveness in state government
State executive elections:
State executive official elections, 2019
Gubernatorial elections, 2019
Secretary of State elections, 2019
Attorney General elections, 2019
2019 election analysis: State government triplexes
State executive official elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate, 2019
List of candidates in state executive elections, 2019
State legislative elections:
State legislative elections, 2019
State legislative special elections, 2019
Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 9, 2019
State legislative elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate, 2019
Open seats in the 2019 state legislative elections
Impact of term limits on state legislative elections in 2019
2019 primary election competitiveness in state and federal government
Incumbents defeated in 2019's state legislative elections
List of candidates in state legislative elections, 2019
Other state elections:
State judicial elections, 2019
2019 ballot measures


See also

2019 elections:

Previous elections:

Ballotpedia exclusives:

Footnotes

  1. Excludes the 702,455 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
  2. Excludes the 702,455 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
  3. There are 13 state executive offices as Ballotpedia defines the term; however, there are other executive offices in some states that are not covered by Ballotpedia.