In April, the filing deadline passed in five states, four of which are holding state executive elections in November: Virginia (April 2nd), Oklahoma (April 3rd), New York, North Dakota (April 6), and Michigan (April 21). Virginia is not holding state elections in 2026, while the rest of the states are.
According to Ballotpedia’s data, state executives are retiring in Michigan, New York, and Oklahoma. No state executives are retiring in North Dakota. Of the three states, Oklahoma has the most state executive retirements with eight, followed by Michigan with seven, and New York with one.
In Oklahoma:
- Six incumbents retired due to term limits: Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell (R), State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd (R), Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready (R), Commisioner of Labor Leslie Osborn (R), and Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett (R). Byrd is running for treasurer, while the others are retiring from public office.
- Two incumbents are retiring for other reasons: Attorney General Gentner Drummond (R) is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields (R) is not running for a full term after being appointed to complete the term of first-term superintendent Ryan Walters (R).
In Michigan:
- Four incumbents retired due to term-limits: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist (D), Attorney General Dana Nessel (D), and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D). Benson is running for governor, Gilchrist is running for secretary of state, while Whitmer and Nessel are retiring from public office.
- Two Wayne State University Board of Governors members are retiring from public office: Bryan Barnhill (D) and Anil Kumar (D)
- One University of Michigan Board of Regents member lost re-nomination at the Democratic Convention: Jordan Acker (D).
In New York:
- One incumbent retired to run for another office before retiring: Lt. Gov Antonio Delgado (D).
In total, 16 state executives announced their retirements in April. Eight of these officials are Democrats, and eight are Republicans. This brings the total partisan balance of retiring incumbents in the 2026 election cycle to 31 Democratic officials and 50 Republicans.
The total number of retirements by offices includes:
- 14 members of a state board of education
- 11 governors
- 11 lieutenant governors
- 10 attorney generals
- Six secretaries of state
- Six treasurers
- Five public utility commissioners
- Four auditors
- Three members of a board of equalization
- Two agriculture commissioners
- Two comptrollers
- Two insurance commissioners
- Two state superintendents
- One commissioner of corporations
- One commissioner of labor
- One commissioner of lands