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Jesse Ventura
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26 secretary of state offices | ||||||||||||||||
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 Democratic incumbent Term-limited Democrat Republican incumbent Term-limited or retiring Republican No election | ||||||||||||||||
The 2026 United States secretary of state elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the secretary of state of twenty-six U.S. states.
The previous secretary of state elections for this group of states took place in 2022. The secretary of state of Vermont serves two-year terms and was last elected in 2024.
These elections will take place concurrently with various other federal, state, and local elections.
Partisan composition
Going into these elections, this class of secretaries of state is made up of 13 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Democrats are defending four states won by Donald Trump in 2024 (Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin), while Republicans do not hold any states won by Kamala Harris.
Race summary
| State | Secretary of state |
Party | First elected |
Status | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Wes Allen | Republican | 2022 | Incumbent retiring to run for lieutenant governor[1] |
|
| Arizona | Adrian Fontes | Democratic | 2022 | Incumbent running |
|
| Arkansas | Cole Jester | Republican | 2025 (appointed) | Term-limited[a] |
|
| California | Shirley Weber | Democratic | 2021[b] | Incumbent running |
|
| Colorado | Jena Griswold | Democratic | 2018 | Term-limited |
|
| Connecticut | Stephanie Thomas | Democratic | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Georgia | Brad Raffensperger | Republican | 2018 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Idaho | Phil McGrane | Republican | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Illinois | Alexi Giannoulias | Democratic | 2022 | Incumbent running |
|
| Indiana | Diego Morales | Republican | 2022 | Incumbent running |
|
| Iowa | Paul Pate | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent's intent unknown |
|
| Kansas | Scott Schwab | Republican | 2018 | Incumbent retiring to run for governor[14] |
|
| Massachusetts | William F. Galvin | Democratic | 1994 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Michigan | Jocelyn Benson | Democratic | 2018 | Term-limited |
|
| Minnesota | Steve Simon | DFL | 2014 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Nebraska | Bob Evnen | Republican | 2018 | Incumbent running | |
| Nevada | Cisco Aguilar | Democratic | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown |
|
| New Mexico | Maggie Toulouse Oliver | Democratic | 2016 (special) | Term-limited | |
| North Dakota | Michael Howe | Republican | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Ohio | Frank LaRose | Republican | 2018 | Term-limited |
|
| Rhode Island | Gregg Amore | Democratic | 2022 | Incumbent running |
|
| South Carolina | Mark Hammond | Republican | 2002 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| South Dakota | Monae Johnson | Republican | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Vermont | Sarah Copeland-Hanzas | Democratic | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Wisconsin | Sarah Godlewski | Democratic | 2023 (appointed) | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD
|
| Wyoming | Chuck Gray | Republican | 2022 | Incumbent's intent unknown | TBD |
Alabama
Secretary of State Wes Allen was elected in 2022 with 65.9% of the vote. He is retiring to run for Lieutenant Governor.[1]
Arizona
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes was elected in 2022 with 52.4% of the vote. He is running for re-election to a second term in office.[3] Fontes hinted at a potential primary challenge to Arizona governor Katie Hobbs, but ultimately decided against it.[27] Alexander Kolodin, representative for District 3 in the Arizona House of Representatives, announced his campaign for the Republican nomination on March 31.[4]
Arkansas
Secretary of State John Thurston resigned after being elected as state treasurer in 2024. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Cole Jester to fill the remainder of his term. However, he is ineligible to run for a full term per the state constitution. Republican candidates include state senator Kim Hammer.[5]
California
Secretary of State Shirley Weber was elected in 2022 with 60.1% of the vote. She is running for re-election to a second term.[7]
Colorado
Secretary of State Jena Griswold was re-elected in 2022 with 55.1% of the vote. She will be term limited by the Colorado Constitution and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.[28] Democratic candidates include Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez.[8]
Connecticut
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas was elected in 2022 with 55.2% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Georgia
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was re-elected in 2022 with 53.2% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Idaho
Secretary of State Phil McGrane was elected in 2022 with 72.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Illinois
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias was elected in 2022 with 54.3% of the vote. He is running for re-election.[9]
Indiana
Secretary of State Diego Morales was elected in 2022 with 54.1% of the vote. He is running for re-election to a second term.[10] Beau Bayh, judicial law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and son of former Indiana governor Evan Bayh, is a potential Democratic candidate.[29]
Iowa
Secretary of State Paul Pate was re-elected in 2022 with 60.1% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Kansas
Secretary of State Scott Schwab was re-elected in 2022 with 58.4% of the vote. He is retiring to run for governor.[14]
Massachusetts
Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin was re-elected in 2022 with 67.7% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Michigan
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was re-elected in 2022 with 55.9% of the vote. She is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.
Aghogho Edevbie, the deputy secretary of state of Michigan, has announced that he will run for the seat as a Democrat. Ingham County clerk Barbara Byrum also joined the race in May 2025.[18][17]
Democratic state senator Jeremy Moss was viewed as a potential candidate before announcing his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.[18][30]
Minnesota
Secretary of State Steve Simon was re-elected in 2022 with 54.5% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Simon is rumored to be considering a gubernatorial bid if Minnesota Governor Tim Walz does not run for re-election. If Simon runs for governor or does not run for re-election, potential candidates to succeed him as secretary of state include state representative Emma Greenman and DFL official Ben Weisbuch.[31]
Nebraska
Secretary of State Bob Evnen was re-elected unopposed in 2022. He is running for re-election to a third term.[19]
New Mexico
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was re-elected in 2022 with 54.5% of the vote. She is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.
North Dakota
Secretary of State Michael Howe was re-elected in 2022 with 63.3% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Ohio
Secretary of State Frank LaRose was re-elected in 2022 with 59.3% of the vote. He is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. Ohio State Treasurer Robert Sprague has launched a bid for the Republican nomination,[25] while Ohio Senate Majority Leader Theresa Gavarone has expressed interest in the seat.[32]
Rhode Island
Secretary of State Gregg Amore was re-elected in 2022 with 59.5% of the vote. He is running for re-election to a second term in office.[26]
South Carolina
Secretary of State Mark Hammond was re-elected in 2022 with 63.3% of the vote. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
South Dakota
Secretary of State Monae Johnson was elected in 2022 with 63.9% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election and has stated her intent to do so.[33]
Vermont
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas was re-elected in 2024 with 59.6% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Wisconsin
Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski was appointed in 2023 after Doug La Follette resigned. She is eligible to run for election but has not yet stated if she will do so.
Wyoming
Secretary of State Chuck Gray was elected in 2022 with 91.6% of the vote, without major party opposition. He is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Notes
- ^ The Arkansas State Constitution prohibits appointees from running for election.
- ^ Weber took office after her predecessor (Alex Padilla) resigned.
References
- ^ a b Chapoco, Ralph (February 18, 2025). "Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen announces bid for lieutenant governor". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ Monger, Craig (February 24, 2025). "State Auditor Andrew Sorrell running for Secretary of State". 1819 News. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Wingett Sanchez, Yvonne; Marley, Patrick (December 17, 2024). "Top Arizona election official accuses predecessors of ignoring proof-of-citizenship problem". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
Fontes told The Post this week that he is running for reelection and is no longer considering challenging Hobbs in the Democratic primary for governor.
- ^ a b Sievers, Caitlin (March 31, 2025). "Arizona Freedom Caucus member Kolodin running for secretary of state in 2026". Arizona Mirror. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ a b Earley, Neal (January 6, 2025). "Kim Hammer announces Secretary of State run". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ Earley, Neal (April 2, 2025). "Miller County Judge announces candidacy for Arkansas secretary of state | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Nixon, Nicole (May 22, 2025). "Shirley Weber to seek reelection as California Secretary of State". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Porter, Jessica (January 6, 2025). "Jeffco Clerk Amanda Gonzalez announces campaign for Colorado Secretary of State". KMGH-TV. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Miller, Rich (May 30, 2025). "Sizzling hot campaign season forecast for Chicago and Illinois". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
"I'm running for reelection," Giannoulias bluntly replied.
- ^ a b Carden, Dan (May 1, 2025). "Morales running for second term as Indiana secretary of state". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ Colombo, Hayleigh; Carloni, Brittany (May 1, 2025). "Secretary of State Diego Morales announces 2026 reelection bid. Will he see challengers?". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ Muñiz, Leslie Bonilla (May 6, 2025). "Libertarian to explore challenge to Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales". Indiana Capital Chronicle. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (May 20, 2025). "Navy veteran Ryan Peterman launches campaign for Iowa secretary of state as a Democrat". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Scammahorn, Julia (January 8, 2025). "Republican Scott Schwab running for Kansas Governor". KCTV. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ Carpenter, Tim (April 4, 2025). "Leavenworth House member first Republican to declare as 2026 candidate for secretary of state". Kansas Reflector. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ Resnick, Matt (May 1, 2025). "Agra Republican Ken Rahjes announces bid for Kansas secretary of state". State Affairs. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Lobo, Arpan (May 21, 2025). "Democrat Barb Byrum launches campaign to become Michigan Secretary of State". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c LeBlanc, Beth (January 27, 2025). "Democrat Aghogho Edevbie, Deputy Secretary of State, to run for top job". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ a b Bovaird, Susie (June 2, 2025). "Nebraska Secretary of State Evnen to run for third term in 2026". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Mueller, Tabitha; Neugeboren, Eric (April 29, 2025). "Are Lombardo's bills being introduced unusually late?". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ Prokop, Danielle (April 16, 2025). "Doña Ana County Clerk announces campaign for NM Secretary of State". Source New Mexico. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Prokop, Danielle (May 27, 2025). "Santa Fe County clerk discusses her bid to be New Mexico's next secretary of state". Source New Mexico. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ Prokop, Danielle (June 2, 2025). "Former NM Veteran's Department cabinet secretary seeks Secretary of State seat • Source New Mexico". Source New Mexico. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ Moorwood, Victoria (January 3, 2025). "UC Health doctor running for Ohio secretary of state". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Staff, Ohio Capital Journal (February 5, 2025). "Republican Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague enters 2026 GOP primary for Secretary of State". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Anderson, Patrick (January 13, 2025). "How Shekarchi's shadow looms large in the 2026 RI governor's race". The Providence Journal. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
- ^ Barchenger, Stacy (November 19, 2024). "Adrian Fontes says gubernatorial buzz is 'a real conversation', but focuses on reelection". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Birkeland ·, Bente (November 8, 2022). "Democrat Jena Griswold wins second term as Colorado's top election official". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Howey, Brian (November 15, 2024). "HOWEY: Indiana Democrats didn't fully embrace McCormick". WTHR. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ Spangler, Todd. "Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Moss announces run for US House". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Kashiwagi, Sydney (May 7, 2025). "Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon won't run for U.S. Senate". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
DFL sources say Simon is interested in a gubernatorial bid, but only if Walz doesn't run for re-election
- ^ Glynn, Erin. "Former Ohio lawmaker Niraj Antani announces run for secretary of state". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ Strubinger, Lee (January 10, 2025). "Johnson to seek Secretary of State reelection". SDPB. Retrieved May 29, 2025.