Twenty-one state executive officials left office early in 2018, the third-highest number since Ballotpedia began tracking the figure in 2012.
They included one Democrat, 13 Republicans, and seven nonpartisan officials.
Nine resignations occurred for personal reasons, seven for political reasons, and two for professional reasons. Three officials did not specify their reasons for leaving office.
Nine resignations were from the top-level offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) resigned to accept his appointment as U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, while Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) left office to serve as his successor.
- Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R) resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct and was replaced by Lt. Gov. Mike Parson (R).
- Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray (R), Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler (R), and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D) each resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct.
- Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos (R) resigned for unspecified reasons.
- Nonpartisan Oklahoma Secretary of State Mike Lopez resigned for personal reasons and was succeeded by James Williamson (R), the only office change in 2018 which also resulted in a change in partisan control.
The months with the most officials leaving office were May and December with four resignations each. No state executive officials left office between August and November.
Previously, the two years with the most irregular office changes since 2012 have been those following a presidential election; Ballotpedia tracked 36 irregular office changes in 2013 and tracked 23 irregular office changes in 2017.
Click the link below for more information on early departures among state executive officials going back to 2012.