On September 16, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced that he would seek a third consecutive term as governor in 2026. This makes him the second governor to do so after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who announced his plans back in June.

In July, Ballotpedia covered the number of governors eligible to run for a third consecutive term in 2026 and how it compared historically. Our analysis found that in 2026, six governors were eligible to run for a third term. In addition to Pritzker and Walz, the four other governors who are eligible for a third term were Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) and Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R), neither of whom has announced third-term plans, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Kim Reynolds (R), both of whom announced their retirements. The number of eligible governors is the highest since 1990, when seven governors were eligible, four of whom ran.

With Walz’s announcement, the number of governors seeking a third term is tied with 2014, when Idaho Gov. Butch Otter (R) and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) both ran for a third term. If Lamont and Little enter, the number of governors running would be tied with 1990. If only one were to enter, the number of governors running would be tied with 1994, the last time three governors sought a third term. If neither governor enters, the two running would be tied with 2002, 2008, and 2014.