Gubernatorial elections in the US involve a primary followed by a general election, with some states having gubernatorial elections in the same year as presidential elections. Louisiana has no primaries, and all candidates appear on the ballot in the fall. Spending on gubernatorial elections has increased, and candidates focus on issues that resonate with voters. Term limits vary by state, with most allowing governors to serve two to four years, except for Virginia, which allows only one term.
Gubernatorial elections in the United States typically involve two separate campaign seasons, usually a primary, followed by a general election in which the people of the state choose a governor. Elections can take place in years in which the president is elected or not, depending on the state. While most governors’ terms last four years, some serve only two years at a time, which significantly shortens the election cycle for the state’s top office.
For most states, the process of choosing a governor is very similar to choosing a president at the national level. Members of each party typically seek their party’s nomination, usually in a primary election. At this point, it is usually the party members who decide who to expose in the general election. Once the winner of the primary has been declared, the winning candidates generally face each other in the general election.
Louisiana is a state with no gubernatorial primaries. Instead, all candidates seeking office and qualify under state law appear on the ballot in the fall. If neither candidate gets a majority of votes, the top two results hold a runoff against each other. The winner of such an election is the individual who will serve as governor.
Spending on gubernatorial elections has generally increased each year in most states, especially since the turn of the 21st century. A study of the 2010 California gubernatorial primary showed that spending increased more than 20 percent from 2006 to 2010. Many states also experienced record spending in the last gubernatorial election. These numbers did not include other groups that have spent money trying to sway voters.
While campaigning for gubernatorial elections, candidates try to focus on the issue that will resonate the most with voters. In some cases, they may reflect national issues, but are generally more interior-focused. For example, the state economy can be a big deal for gubernatorial candidates no matter what the national economy is doing. Increasingly, some national issues, such as immigration, have also begun to gain the attention of gubernatorial candidates.
Another difference in gubernatorial elections is the terms of the term. Two states, New Hampshire and Vermont, have two-year terms for governors, making the time between election cycles extremely short. All but 14 states have term limits. All but one state with term limits designate that governors can serve only two to four years. The exception is Virginia, which allows governors to serve only one term.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
