2016 United States gubernatorial elections

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2016 United States gubernatorial elections
← 2015 November 8, 2016 2017 →
14 governorships
12 states; 2 territories[a][b]
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 31 18
Seats after 33 16
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Popular vote 9,688,153 9,288,363
Percentage 49.48% 47.44%
Seats up 4 8
Seats won 6 6
2016 Oregon gubernatorial election2016 Delaware gubernatorial election2016 Indiana gubernatorial election2016 Missouri gubernatorial election2016 Montana gubernatorial election2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election2016 Utah gubernatorial election2016 Vermont gubernatorial election2016 Washington gubernatorial election2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election2016 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election
Map of the results
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
     New Progressive gain      Nonpartisan politician
     No election

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2016, in 12 states and two territories. The last regular gubernatorial elections for nine of the 12 states took place in

federal, state, and local elections, including the presidential election, Senate, and House
elections.

The Republican Party won open Democrat-held governorships in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Missouri; and they also held their open seats in Indiana and North Dakota, increasing its total to 33. Democrats finished with 16 governorships, defeating incumbent Pat McCrory in North Carolina and holding open seats in Delaware and West Virginia, with one independent governor in Alaska accounting for the 50th gubernatorial seat.

However, Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia switched his party affiliation to Republican shortly after his inauguration, thereby increasing the number of Republican governors to 34, tying their record set in the 1921 United States gubernatorial elections. As of 2024, this is the last time that Democrats won gubernatorial elections in Montana and West Virginia.

Election predictions

Several sites and individuals publish predictions of competitive seats. These predictions look at factors such as the strength of the incumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state's Cook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assign ratings to each state, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat.

Most election predictors use:

  • "tossup": no advantage
  • "tilt" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
  • "lean": slight advantage
  • "likely": significant, but surmountable, advantage
  • "safe" or "solid": near-certain chance of victory
State PVI Incumbent[1] Last
race
Cook
Aug 12,
2016[2]
IE
Nov 3,
2016[3]
Sabato
Nov 7,
2016[4]
 RCP
Nov 6,
2016[5] 		DKE
Nov 8,
2016[6] 		Gov
Nov 7,
2016[7] 		Result
Delaware D+8 Jack Markell (term-limited) 69.3% D Solid D Solid D Safe D Safe D Safe D Safe D Carney
58.3% D
Indiana R+5 Mike Pence (withdrew) 49.6% R Tossup Tilt R Lean D (flip) Tossup Tossup Tossup Holcomb
51.4% R
Missouri R+5 Jay Nixon (term-limited) 54.6% D Tossup Tossup Lean R (flip) Tossup Tossup Tossup Greitens
51.1% R (flip)
Montana R+7 Steve Bullock 48.9% D Lean D Lean D Lean D Lean D Lean D Tossup Bullock
50.3% D
New Hampshire D+1 Maggie Hassan (retiring) 52.6% D Tossup Tossup Lean D Tossup Tossup Tossup Sununu
48.8% R (flip)
North Carolina R+3 Pat McCrory 54.7% R Tossup Tilt D (flip) Lean D (flip) Tossup Tossup Tossup Cooper
49.0% D (flip)
North Dakota R+10 Jack Dalrymple (retiring) 63.1% R Solid R Solid R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Burgum
76.5% R
Oregon (special) D+5 Kate Brown 49.5% D Likely D Solid D Safe D Likely D Safe D Safe D Brown
50.6% D
Utah R+22 Gary Herbert 68.3% R Solid R Solid R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe R Herbert
66.7% R
Vermont D+18 Peter Shumlin (retiring) 46.4% D Tossup Tilt R (flip) Lean R (flip) Tossup Tossup Tossup Scott
52.9% R (flip)
Washington D+5 Jay Inslee 51.4% D Solid D Solid D Safe D Lean D Safe D Likely D Inslee
54.2% D
West Virginia R+13 Earl Ray Tomblin (term-limited) 50.4% D Tossup Tilt D Lean D Lean R (flip) Tossup Tossup Justice
49.1% D

Race summary

States

State Incumbent Party First
elected 		Result Candidates
Delaware Jack Markell Democratic 2008 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold
  • ▌Green tickY John Carney (Democratic) 58.3%
  • ▌Colin Bonini (Republican) 39.2%
  • ▌Andrew Groff (Green) 1.4%
  • ▌Sean Louis Goward (Libertarian) 1.1%
Indiana Mike Pence Republican 2012 Incumbent renominated but withdrew.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
Missouri Jay Nixon Democratic 2008 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican gain
  • ▌Green tickYEric Greitens (Republican) 51.1%
  • ▌Chris Koster (Democratic) 45.6%
  • ▌Cisse Spragins (Libertarian) 1.5%
  • ▌Don Fitz (Green) 0.75%
Montana Steve Bullock Democratic 2012 Incumbent re-lected.
New Hampshire Maggie Hassan Democratic 2012 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican Gain.
North Carolina Pat McCrory Republican 2012 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Democratic gain.
North Dakota Jack Dalrymple Republican 2010[c] Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Oregon Kate Brown Democratic 2015 Incumbent elected to finish term.
  • ▌Green tickYKate Brown (Democratic) 50.6%
  • ▌Bud Pierce (Republican) 43.6%
  • ▌James Foster (Libertarian) 2.3%
  • ▌Aaron Donald Auer (Constitution) 1.0%
Utah Gary Herbert Republican 2009[d] Incumbent re-elected.
  • ▌Green tickY Gary Herbert (Republican) 66.7%
  • ▌Mike Weinholtz (Democratic) 28.7%
  • ▌Brian Kamerath (Libertarian) 3.1%
  • ▌Superdell Schnaze (Independent American) 1.4%
Vermont Peter Shumlin Democratic 2010 Incumbent retired.
New governor elected.
Republican gain
Washington Jay Inslee Democratic 2012 Incumbent re-elected.
West Virginia Earl Ray Tomblin Democratic 2010[e] Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected.
Democratic hold
  • ▌Green tickY Jim Justice (Democratic) 49.1%
  • ▌Bill Cole (Republican) 42.3%
  • ▌Charlotte Pritt (Mountain) 5.9%
  • ▌David Moran (Libertarian) 2.2%
  • ▌Phil Hudok (Constitution) 0.6%

Territories

Territory Incumbent Party First
elected 		Result Candidates
American Samoa Lolo Matalasi Moliga Democratic
2012
 Incumbent re-elected.
Puerto Rico Alejandro García Padilla Popular Democratic
2012
 Incumbent retired.
New governor
elected
.
New Progressive gain.

Statistics

Closest races

States where the margin of victory was under 1%:

  1. North Carolina, 0.22%

States where the margin of victory was between 1% and 5%:

  1. New Hampshire, 2.27%
  2. Puerto Rico, 2.93%
  3. Montana, 3.90%

States where the margin of victory was between 5% and 10%:

  1. Missouri, 5.57%
  2. Indiana, 5.96%
  3. West Virginia, 6.79%
  4. Oregon, 7.17%
  5. Vermont, 8.73%
  6. Washington, 8.76%

Red denotes states won by Republicans. Blue denotes states won by Democrats. Dark Blue denotes race won by New Progressives

Delaware

2016 Delaware gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee John Carney Colin Bonini
Party
Democratic
Republican
Popular vote 248,404 166,852
Percentage 58.3% 39.2%
County results
Carney:      40–50%      60–70%
Bonini:      50–60%
Governor
before election

Jack Markell

Democratic

 Elected
Governor

John Carney

Democratic

Main article: 2016 Delaware gubernatorial election
See also: 2016 Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election

Two-term incumbent

in 2008, won the Democratic nomination.[11] State senator Colin Bonini
won the Republican nomination.

Carney won the election, taking 58.3% of the vote compared to Bonini's 39.2%.[12]

Delaware Republican primary[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Colin Bonini 21,150 69.88
Republican
 Lacey Lafferty 9,115 30.12
Total votes 30,265 100.00
Delaware general election[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		John Carney 248,404 58.34
Republican
 Colin Bonini 166,852 39.18
Green
 Andrew Groff 5,951 1.39
Libertarian
 Sean Louis Goward 4,577 1.09
Total votes 425,784 100.00
Democratic
hold

Indiana

2016 Indiana gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Eric Holcomb John R. Gregg
Party
Republican
Democratic
Running mate Suzanne Crouch Christina Hale
Popular vote 1,397,396 1,235,503
Percentage 51.4% 45.4%
County results
Holcomb:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Gregg:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Mike Pence

Republican

 Elected Governor

Eric Holcomb

Republican

Main article: 2016 Indiana gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

expressed interest in running for President of the United States in the 2016 presidential election, but declined. However, Pence withdrew his bid for a second term on July 15, 2016, to run for vice president as running mate to Donald Trump.[15][16] Pence was replaced as the gubernatorial nominee by Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb
.

The 2012 Democratic nominee, former State House Speaker

U.S. Senate in 2016.[26]

Holcomb won election with 51.4% of the vote, while Gregg took 45.4%.[12]

Indiana Republican primary[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Mike Pence (incumbent) 815,699 100.00
Total votes 815,699 100.00
Indiana Democratic primary[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		John R. Gregg 547,375 100.00
Total votes 547,375 100.00
Indiana general election[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Eric Holcomb 1,397,396 51.38
Democratic
 John R. Gregg 1,235,503 45.42
Libertarian
 Rex Bell 87,025 3.20
Write-in 44 0.00
Total votes 2,719,968 100.00
Republican
hold

Missouri

2016 Missouri gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Eric Greitens Chris Koster
Party
Republican
Democratic
Popular vote 1,433,397 1,277,360
Percentage 51.1% 45.6%
County Results
Greitens:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Koster:      50–60%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor
before election

Jay Nixon

Democratic

 Elected
Governor

Eric Greitens

Republican

Main article: 2016 Missouri gubernatorial election
See also: 2016 Missouri lieutenant gubernatorial election

Two-term incumbent

2004 gubernatorial nominee Claire McCaskill[30] and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel declined to run for governor.[31] On August 3, 2016, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster won the nomination with a dominating 79% of the primary vote.[32]

Former

Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Catherine Hanaway, businessman John Brunner, State Senator Bob Dixon, former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, and Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder ran for the Republican nomination.[33] State Representative Bart Korman and U.S. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer[34][35][36] declined to run for governor. Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich had been a candidate for governor before he committed suicide in February 2015.[37] On August 3, 2016, Greitens won the nomination with 35% of the vote.[32]

Greitens won the election, taking 51.3% of the vote compared to Koster's 45.4%.[12]

Missouri Democratic primary[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Chris Koster 256,272 78.75
Democratic
 Eric Morrison 31,474 9.67
Democratic
 Charles Wheeler 25,756 7.92
Democratic
 Leonard Steinman 11,911 3.66
Total votes 325,413 100.00
Missouri Republican primary[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Eric Greitens 236,481 34.56
Republican
 John Brunner 169,620 24.79
Republican
 Peter Kinder 141,629 20.70
Republican
 Catherine Hanaway 136,521 19.95
Total votes 684,251 100.00
Missouri general election[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Eric Greitens 1,433,397 51.14
Democratic
 Chris Koster 1,277,360 45.57
Libertarian
 Cisse Spragins 41,154 1.47
Independent
 Lester Benton Turilli Jr. 30,019 1.07
Green
 Don Fitz 21,088 0.75
Write-in 28 0.00
Total votes 2,803,046 100.00
Democratic

Montana

2016 Montana gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Steve Bullock Greg Gianforte
Party
Democratic
Republican
Running mate Mike Cooney Lesley Robinson
Popular vote 255,933 236,115
Percentage 50.2% 46.4%
County results
Bullock:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Gianforte:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor
before election

Steve Bullock

Democratic

 Elected
Governor

Steve Bullock

Democratic

Main article: 2016 Montana gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

Attorney General of Montana
from 2009 to 2013.

Former Secretary of State Brad Johnson and businessman Mark Perea ran for the Republican nomination,

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox had been speculated as a potential candidate, but instead chose to run for re-election.[41]

Bullock won re-election, taking 50.2% of the vote. Gianforte won 46.4% of the vote.[12]

Montana Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Steve Bullock (incumbent) 109,450 91.26
Democratic
 Bill McChesney 10,486 8.74
Total votes 119,936 100.00
Montana Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Greg Gianforte 109,882 76.38
Republican
 Terry Nelson 33,987 23.62
Total votes 143,869 100.00
Montana general election[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Steve Bullock (incumbent) 255,933 50.25
Republican
 Greg Gianforte 236,115 46.35
Libertarian
 Ted Dunlap 17,312 3.40
Total votes 509,360 100.00
Democratic
hold

New Hampshire

2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election
← 2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018 →
 
Nominee Chris Sununu Colin Van Ostern
Party
Republican
Democratic
Popular vote 354,040 337,589
Percentage 48.8% 46.6%
County results
Sununu:      40–50%      50–60%
Van Ostern:      50–60%
Governor before election

Maggie Hassan

Democratic

 Elected Governor

Chris Sununu

Republican

Main article: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

Two-term Democratic incumbent

2014 with 53% of the vote against Republican businessman Walt Havenstein. Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern defeated Deputy Secretary of State and Director of Securities Regulation Mark Connolly
for the Democratic nomination.

Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, state representative and entrepreneur Frank Edelblut, and Jon Lavoie ran for the Republican nomination.[43] Sununu defeated his challengers for the Republican nomination.

Despite most pre-election polling suggesting a Democratic win, Sununu narrowly won election with 49% of the vote. Van Ostern won 46.7% and Libertarian Max Abramson won 4.3% of the vote.[12]

New Hampshire Democratic primary[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Colin Van Ostern 37,696 51.99
Democratic
 Steve Marchand 18,338 25.29
Democratic
 Mark Connolly 14,840 20.47
Democratic
 Ian Freeman 1,069 1.47
Democratic
 Derek Dextraze 557 0.77
Total votes 72,500 100.00
New Hampshire Republican primary[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Chris Sununu 34,137 30.68
Republican
 Frank Edelblut 33,149 29.79
Republican
 Ted Gatsas 22,840 20.53
Republican
 Jeanie Forrester 19,716 17.72
Republican
 John Lavoie 1,429 1.28
Total votes 111,271 100.00
New Hampshire general election[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Chris Sununu 354,040 48.84
Democratic
 Colin Van Ostern 337,589 46.57
Libertarian
 Max Abramson 31,243 4.31
Write-in 1,991 0.28
Total votes 724,863 100.00
Democratic

North Carolina

2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Roy Cooper Pat McCrory
Party
Democratic
Republican
Popular vote 2,309,157 2,298,880
Percentage 49.0% 48.8%
County results
Cooper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
McCrory:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Pat McCrory

Republican

 Elected Governor

Roy Cooper

Democratic

Main article: 2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election
See also: 2016 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

Mayor of Charlotte
from 1995 to 2009.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper[47] defeated former State Representative Kenneth Spaulding to win the Democratic nomination for governor.[48] James Protzman, a former Chapel Hill town council member, had declared his candidacy, but later withdrew from the race.[48][49] United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx declined to run for governor.

After a

dispute in results, Cooper won the election. Cooper won 49% of the vote, while McCrory won 48.9%.[12]

North Carolina Republican primary[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Pat McCrory (incumbent) 869,114 81.76
Republican
 Robert Brawley 112,624 10.59
Republican
 Charles Moss 81,315 7.65
Total votes 1,063,053 100.00
North Carolina Democratic primary[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Roy Cooper 710,658 68.70
Democratic
 Kenneth Spaulding 323,774 31.30
Total votes 1,034,432 100.00
North Carolina general election[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Roy Cooper 2,309,162 49.02
Republican
 Pat McCrory (incumbent) 2,298,881 48.80
Libertarian
 Lon Cecil 102,978 2.19
Total votes 4,711,021 100.00
Republican

North Dakota

2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Doug Burgum Marvin Nelson
Party
Republican
 Democratic–NPL
Running mate Brent Sanford Joan Heckaman
Popular vote 259,863 65,855
Percentage 76.5% 19.4%
County results
Burgum:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Nelson:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Jack Dalrymple

Republican

 Elected Governor

Doug Burgum

Republican

Main article: 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

2012, after first taking the seat in 2010 after John Hoeven resigned to become a U.S. Senator. Dalrymple was previously Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
from 2000 to 2010.

Republican candidates included Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem,[53] businessman Doug Burgum,[54] and State Representative and plastic surgeon Rick Becker. Burgum won the nomination.

Potential Democratic candidates included former Congressman Earl Pomeroy, state Senator George B. Sinner and state Senate Minority Leader Mac Schneider.[53] Former Agriculture Commissioner Sarah Vogel formed an exploratory a campaign but announced on Jan. 28, 2016 that she will not run for governor. Senator Heidi Heitkamp declined to run for governor.[55] State representative Marvin Nelson won his party's nomination.

Burgum won the election, taking 76.7% of the vote, while Nelson won 19.4%.[12]

North Dakota Republican primary[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Doug Burgum 68,042 59.47
Republican
 Wayne Stenehjem 44,158 38.59
Republican
 Paul Sorum 2,164 1.89
Write-in 51 0.04
Total votes 114,415 100.00
North Dakota Democratic-NPL primary[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic–NPL Marvin Nelson 17,278 99.66
Write-in 59 0.34
Total votes 17,337 100.00
North Dakota general election[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Doug Burgum 259,863 76.52
Democratic–NPL Marvin Nelson 65,855 19.39
Libertarian
 Marty Riske 13,230 3.90
Write-in 653 0.19
Total votes 339,601 100.00
Republican
hold

Oregon (special)

2016 Oregon gubernatorial special election
← 2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018 →
 
Nominee Kate Brown Bud Pierce
Party
Democratic
Republican
Alliance Working Families
Popular vote 985,027 845,609
Percentage 50.6% 43.5%
County Results
Brown:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Pierce:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Kate Brown

Democratic

 Elected Governor

Kate Brown

Democratic

Main article: 2016 Oregon gubernatorial special election

2014. Brown ran against Republican Bud Pierce, an Oncologist from Salem.[59]

Brown won the election, taking 50.5% of the vote compared to Pierce's 43.8%.

LGBTQ Governor elected in the United States.[60]

Oregon Democratic primary[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Kate Brown (incumbent) 494,890 83.03
Democratic
 Julian Bell 49,313 8.27
Democratic
 Dave Stauffer 16,108 2.70
Democratic
 Steve Johnson 13,363 2.24
Democratic
 Kevin M. Forsythe 10,147 1.70
Democratic
 Chet Chance 5,636 0.95
Write-in 6,595 1.11
Total votes 596,052 100.00
Oregon Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Bud Pierce 171,158 47.66
Republican
 Allen Alley 103,388 28.79
Republican
 Bruce Cuff 41,598 11.58
Republican
 Bob Niemeyer 35,669 9.93
Republican
 Bob Forthan 4,290 1.19
Write-in 3,020 0.84
Total votes 359,123 100.00
Oregon general election[62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Kate Brown (incumbent) 985,027 50.62
Republican
 Bud Pierce 845,609 43.45
Independent
 Cliff Thomason 47,481 2.44
Libertarian
 James Foster 45,191 2.32
Constitution
 Aaron Donald Auer 19,400 1.00
Write-in 3,338 0.17
Total votes 1,946,046 100.00
Democratic
hold

Utah

2016 Utah gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Gary Herbert Mike Weinholtz
Party
Republican
Democratic
Running mate Spencer Cox Kim Bowman
Popular vote 750,850 323,349
Percentage 66.7% 28.7%
County Results
Herbert:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Weinholtz:      40–50%
Governor
before election

Gary Herbert

Republican

 Elected
Governor

Gary Herbert

Republican

Main article: 2016 Utah gubernatorial election

Incumbent

2012. Herbert defeated businessman Jonathan Johnson to win the nomination.[63]

Businessman Michael Weinholtz won the Democratic nomination. Former Congressman Jim Matheson declined to run.[64]

Herbert won re-election, taking 66.6% of the vote compared to Weinholtz's 28.9%.[12]

Utah Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Gary Herbert (incumbent) 176,866 71.75
Republican
 Jonathan E. Johnson 69,663 28.25
Total votes 246,529 100.00
Utah general election[65]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Gary Herbert (incumbent) 750,850 66.74
Democratic
 Mike Weinholtz 323,349 28.74
Libertarian
 Brian Kamerath 34,827 3.10
Independent American Superdell Schanze 15,912 1.41
Write-in 97 0.01
Total votes 1,125,035 100.00
Republican
hold

Vermont

2016 Vermont gubernatorial election
← 2014 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2018 →
 
Nominee Phil Scott Sue Minter
Party
Republican
Democratic
Popular vote 166,817 139,253
Percentage 52.9% 44.2%
County results
Scott:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Minter:      40–50%      50–60%
Governor before election

Peter Shumlin

Democratic

 Elected Governor

Phil Scott

Republican

Main article: 2016 Vermont gubernatorial election

Three-term incumbent

2014. As he did not receive a majority of the vote, the Vermont General Assembly was required to choose the winner. The Vermont Assembly chose Shumlin over Republican nominee Scott Milne by 110 votes to 69.[67]

Sue Minter defeated former state senator Matt Dunne for the Democratic nomination for governor.[68] House Speaker Shap Smith withdrew from the race. Former lieutenant governor Doug Racine declined to run for governor.[69][70]

Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott won the Republican nomination.[68] Former state senator and former Vermont Auditor of Accounts Randy Brock and 2014 Republican nominee Scott Milne declined to run for governor. Former Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Dan Feliciano was a potential candidate.[69][70]

Scott won the election, taking 52.9% compared to Minter's 44.2%.[12]

Vermont Democratic primary[71]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Sue Minter 35,979 51.20
Democratic
 Matt Dunne 26,699 38.00
Democratic
Peter W. Galbraith
 6,616 9.40
Democratic
 Cris Ericson 538 0.80
Democratic
 H. Brooke Paige 387 0.60
Write-in 579 1.84
Total votes 70,798 100.00
Vermont Republican primary[71]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Phil Scott 27,669 60.50
Republican
 Bruce Lisman 18,055 39.50
Write-in 48 0.22
Total votes 45,772 100.00
Vermont general election[72]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Phil Scott 166,817 52.90
Democratic
 Sue Minter 139,253 44.17
Liberty Union
 Bill Lee 8,912 2.83
Write-in 313 0.10
Total votes 315,295 100.00
Democratic

Washington

2016 Washington gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Jay Inslee Bill Bryant
Party
Democratic
Republican
Popular vote 1,760,520 1,476,346
Percentage 54.2% 45.5%
County results
Inslee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Bryant:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor
before election

Jay Inslee

Democratic

 Elected
Governor

Jay Inslee

Democratic

Main article: 2016 Washington gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

Governor Jay Inslee ran for re-election. Inslee was elected in 2012 with 51.4% of the vote against Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna. Inslee previously served as a U.S. Representative from 1993 to 1995 and from 1999 to 2012. Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant[73] advanced to the November general election. Potential Republican candidates include U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, State Senator Michael Baumgartner, and former State Representative Cathy Dahlquist.[73][74][75]

Inslee won re-election, taking 54.2% of the vote. Bryant won 45.5%.[76]

Washington blanket primary[77]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Jay Inslee (incumbent) 687,412 49.30
Republican
 		Bill Bryant 534,519 38.33
Republican
 Bill Hirt 48,382 3.47
Democratic
 Patrick O'Rourke 40,572 2.91
Independent
 Steve Rubenstein 22,582 1.62
Democratic
 James Robert Deal 14,623 1.05
Democratic
 Johnathan Dodds 14,152 1.01
Republican
 Goodspaceguy 13,191 0.95
Socialist Workers
 Mary Martin 10,374 0.74
Independent
 David Blomstrom 4,512 0.32
Independent
 Christian Joubert 4,103 0.29
Total votes 1,394,422 100.00
2016 Washington gubernatorial election[78]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Inslee (incumbent) 1,760,520 54.25% +2.85%
Republican Bill Bryant 1,476,346 45.49% -2.84%
Write-in 8,416 0.26% -0.02%
Total votes 3,245,282 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

West Virginia

2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Jim Justice Bill Cole
Party
Democratic
Republican
Popular vote 350,408 301,987
Percentage 49.1% 42.3%
 
Nominee Charlotte Pritt
Party Mountain
Popular vote 42,068
Percentage 5.9%
County results
Justice:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Cole:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor
before election

Earl Ray Tomblin

Democratic

 Elected
Governor

Jim Justice

Democratic

Main article: 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election

2012
.

Democratic candidates included former U.S. Attorney

West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant declined to seek the nomination. On May 10, 2016, Justice won the Democratic primary and became the nominee.[80]

President of the Senate

Erikka Storch and Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton.[81]
Cole won the Republican nomination.

Justice won the election, taking 49.1% of the vote. Cole won 42.3%, while Charlotte Pritt of the Mountain Party won 5.9% of the vote.[12] Just months after assuming office, Justice switched to the Republican Party.[82]

West Virginia Democratic primary[83]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Jim Justice 132,704 51.39
Democratic
 Booth Goodwin 65,416 25.32
Democratic
 Jeff Kessler 60,230 23.31
Total votes 258,350 100.00
West Virginia Republican primary[83]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican
 		Bill Cole 161,127 100.00
Total votes 161,127 100.00
West Virginia general election[84]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic
 		Jim Justice 350,408 49.09
Republican
 Bill Cole 301,987 42.30
Mountain Charlotte Pritt 42,068 5.89
Libertarian
 David Moran 15,354 2.15
Constitution
 Phil Hudok 4,041 0.57
Total votes 713,858 100.00
Democratic
hold

Territories

Puerto Rico

2016 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election
← 
2012
 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08)
2020
 →
 
Nominee Ricardo Rosselló David Bernier
Party New Progressive Popular Democratic
Alliance
Democratic
Democratic
Popular vote 655,626 610,956
Percentage 41.8% 38.9%
 
Nominee Alexandra Lúgaro Manuel Cidre
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 174,529 89,890
Percentage 11.1% 5.7%
Municipality map
Governor before election

Alejandro García Padilla
Popular Democratic

Elected Governor

Ricardo Rosselló
New Progressive

Main article:
2016 Puerto Rico gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

Popular Democratic Party (PDP).[86]

David Bernier, former Secretary of State of Puerto Rico and former President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, won the PDP nomination for governor.[87]

Ricky Rosselló
sought the PNP nomination for governor, and Rosselló won the nomination.

Rosselló won the election.

Puerto Rico New Progressive primary[89]
Party Candidate Votes %
New Progressive Ricardo Rosselló 236,524 51.09
New Progressive Pedro Pierluisi 226,449 48.91
Total votes 462,973 100.00
Puerto Rico general election
Party Candidate Votes %
New Progressive Ricardo Rosselló 660,510 41.80
Popular Democratic David Bernier 614,190 38.87
Independent Alexandra Lúgaro 175,831 11.13
Independent Manuel Cidre 90,494 5.73
Independence
 María de Lourdes Santiago 33,729 2.13
Worker's People Party of Puerto Rico
 Rafael Bernabe Riefkohl 5,430 0.34
Total votes 1,589,991 100.00
New Progressive gain from Popular Democratic
Democratic
hold

American Samoa

2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election
← 
2012
 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020 →
 
Nominee Lolo Matalasi Moliga Faoa Aitofele Sunia
Party
Nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
Running mate Lemanu Peleti Mauga Larry Sanitoa
Popular vote 7,235 4,305
Percentage 60.2% 35.8%
Results by voting district:
Lolo Matalasi Moliga :      50–55%      55–60%      60–65%      65–70%      70–75%      75–80%
Faoa Aitofele Sunia:      55–60%
Governor
before election

Lolo Matalasi Moliga

Democratic

 Elected
Governor

Lolo Matalasi Moliga

Democratic

Main article: 2016 American Samoa gubernatorial election

One-term incumbent

2012
with 52.9% of the vote in the second round, after taking 33.5% of the vote in the first round. American Samoa requires a second round of voting if no candidate takes a majority of the vote in the first round.

Moliga won re-election.

American Samoa general election[91]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan
 		Lolo Matalasi Moliga (incumbent) 7,235 60.17
Nonpartisan
 Faoa Aitofele Sunia 4,305 35.80
Nonpartisan
 Tuika Tuika 484 4.03
Total votes 12,024 100.00
Democratic
hold

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Including a special election in Oregon
  2. ^ Alaska's governorship was held by an independent, so the number of seats held by Democrats and Republicans added up to only 49.
  3. ^ Dalrymple took office after his predecessor (John Hoeven) resigned.
  4. ^ Herbert took office after his predecessor (Jon Huntsman Jr.) resigned. He was subsequently elected in the 2010 Utah gubernatorial special election.
  5. ^ Tomblin took office after his predecessor (Joe Manchin) resigned. He was subsequently elected in the 2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election.

References

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