Secretary of State elections, 2026
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There are 26 secretary of state seats on the ballot in 2026. These elections are in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In 2024, voters decided who would control 11 of 47 state secretary of state offices. Seven offices were directly up for election, and four offices’ appointing authorities were on the ballot. Before the election, the nationwide partisan balance of secretaries of state was 26 Republicans and 21 Democrats. Republicans and Democrats retained control of 26 and 21 secretary of state offices, respectively, following the elections.
Election information
In 47 states—all except Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah—the secretary of state is among the top executive offices. 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.
A state government triplex describes when one political party holds the following three positions in a state's government: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
Six states impose some form of term limits on the office of the secretary of state.
Partisan balance
The table below highlights the partisan balance of all 47 secretaries of state before and after the 2024 elections.
| Secretaries of state partisan breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of the 2024 elections | After the 2024 elections | |
| Democratic Party | 21 | 21 | |
| Republican Party | 26 | 26 | |
| Uncalled races | |||
| Total | 47 | 47 | |
Historical control
Although the position of secretary of state is popularly elected in the majority of states, it is an appointed position in 12 states. Of those 12, the governor is given the power of appointment in nine, while the state Legislature appoints the secretary of state in the remaining three.
Partisan affiliation
In 37 states, the secretary of state is the chief elections officer with ultimate oversight over state elections and voter registration.[2]
Ballot measures
In 23 states, the secretary of state is responsible for receiving and certifying ballot measure petitions.[2]
Political party eligibility
In 36 states, the secretary of state is responsible for determining which parties qualify for major-party ballot access.[2]
Term limits
Sixteen states impose some form of term limits on the office of secretary of state.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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