Ballotpedia's 2025 study of competitiveness in state executive official elections found that 50% of incumbents (4 incumbents across 8 seats) did not seek re-election, leaving those seats open. An average of 41.7% of state executive seats were open in odd-year elections from 2011-2023. An average of 58.3% state executive incumbents sought re-election in odd years from 2011-2023. An election is considered more competitive when there is no incumbent running for re-election.

Seven (53.8%) of a possible 13 primaries were contested, meaning six (46.2%) were uncontested. An average of 56.3% of state executive primaries were contested in odd-year elections from 2011-2023.

Of the four incumbents running for re-election in 2025, two (50%) advanced to the general election without a contested primary. No incumbents were defeated in primaries.

Of the four open state executive seats in 2025, two of them (25% of the eight total seats up for election) occurred because term limits prevented the incumbent from running again.

Of the various types of executive offices, only seven exist in all 50 states: governor, attorney general, superintendent of schools, insurance commissioner, agriculture commissioner, labor commissioner, and public service commissioner. Other state executive offices include lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, controller, auditor, public lands commissioner, tax commissioner, railroad commissioner, public education commissioner, mine inspector, executive council, state board of equalization, state board of education, and state board of regents. To read more about state executive official elections in 2025, click here.