Which Republican members of Congress are running for governor in 2026 and how might that change state-level politics?
Executive summary
A historically large wave of Republican members of Congress have abandoned bids for House or Senate seats to run for governor in 2026, including high‑profile House members such as Andy Biggs (AZ), Byron Donalds (FL), David Schweikert (AZ), Nancy Mace (SC) and John James (MI), and at least one sitting senator, Marsha Blackburn (TN) [1] [2] [3] [4]. That exodus creates immediate risks for GOP control in Washington while promising to reshape state‑level politics through more ideologically driven governorships, tougher state executive agendas on elections, taxes and social policy, and deeper control over redistricting and administrative levers [1] [4] [5].
1. Who from the Republican congressional ranks is running for governor in 2026 — and how many left Washington to do it?
Reporting shows an unusual tally: NPR and Ballotpedia count roughly a dozen congressional members running for governor in 2026, with 11 House members and three senators among those pursuing gubernatorial bids overall, and 10 Republicans from the House specifically seeking governor’s offices as of early January 2026 [4] [6]. Politico identifies a core cohort of House Republicans who have already jumped into key gubernatorial contests — Arizona’s Andy Biggs was an early entrant and is joined in that state by Rep. David Schweikert; Florida’s Byron Donalds announced his gubernatorial bid in February 2025; South Carolina’s Nancy Mace and Michigan’s John James are also named among House Republicans turning to gubernatorial races [1] [2] [3].
2. Where the congressional candidacies matter most — the battleground states and marquee matchups
The congressional migrants are not evenly distributed; they are concentrated in swing or competitive states where a governor can decisively shape policy and national politics — Arizona, Florida, Michigan and New York are all examples where House members have become major players in gubernatorial contests [1] [3] [7]. In Arizona the Republican primary has become a three‑way fight that includes two sitting members of Congress and poses a direct threat to the incumbent Democratic governor in a state that remains a national battleground [7]. New York’s Republican field includes Rep. Elise Stefanik in a rare example of a House member contesting a high‑profile gubernatorial race in a solidly blue state [3].
3. Why lawmakers are trading Capitol Hill for the governor’s mansion
Politico outlines both grievance and strategic logic: lawmakers cite frustration with Congress’ gridlock and an appetite for executive power where policy can be implemented directly, while others view governorships as more secure platforms for advancing national profiles or staging presidential ambitions [1]. Political incentives also play a role — some members are responding to redistricting or deteriorating reelection prospects in recent maps, or calculating that running statewide is a better path than defending vulnerable seats back home [4] [8].
4. What state politics will look like if these GOP lawmakers win
If these Republican members win governor’s offices, state politics would likely tilt toward sharper partisan governance: aggressive use of executive power on elections and administrative oversight, prioritized tax and regulatory cuts, conservative education and social‑policy initiatives, and more aggressive legal strategies against federal policies, as governors control litigation choices and state agencies [5] [1]. Moreover, a wave of former federal legislators occupying governors’ mansions increases the odds of unified Republican trifectas in some states, enabling faster policy shifts and durable changes to state institutions including redistricting rules and court appointments [5] [6].
5. The political tradeoffs — national risk, local reward
The mass movement of House Republicans into gubernatorial races has a twofold effect: it weakens the GOP’s incumbency advantage in House contests — raising the possibility of losses that could flip control of chambers — while potentially concentrating experienced national conservatives in state capitals where they can enact long‑term policy agendas [4] [1]. Analysts note this cycle’s scale is historically unusual and could cost the party federally even as it strengthens state governments; the precise balance depends on outcomes in toss‑up states and how quickly newly elected governors convert federal‑style agendas into state law [4] [5].
6. Limits of the record and what remains unclear
Available reporting catalogs many prominent Republican congressional candidates but does not provide a fully exhaustive, up‑to‑the‑minute roster of every member who has filed or considered a bid; Ballotpedia and 270toWin maintain ongoing lists and competitiveness ratings but the totals and names shift as candidates enter, exit or change party status [9] [5]. Until final ballots are set and primary winners emerge, the scale of state‑level change described here is a projection grounded in current entrants and patterns observed by Politico, NPR and election trackers [1] [4] [6].