Fifty-seven state executives are term-limited in 2026, the most since 2018
Fifty-seven state executive incumbents, including 26 Democrats, 29 Republicans, and two nonpartisan officeholders, are unable to run for re-election in 2026 due to term limits. This is the most since Ballotpedia started collecting this data in 2018.
Overall, incumbents in 15 types of state executive offices are ineligible to run for re-election in 2026. There are more term-limited governors (15) than any other type of state executive office, and the most since 2018.
Six of the 15 term-limited governors are Democrats, and nine are Republicans. The majority of states (36) hold gubernatorial elections in midterm election years. In 2022, the last time this set of offices was up, there were seven term-limited governors (three Democrats and four Republicans). In 2018, there were 13 term-limited governors (two Democrats and 11 Republicans).
Colorado voters to decide on ballot measures on sex requirements for school sports teams and surgeries for transgender minors
On March 16 and 17, two measures related to sex and gender were certified for the Nov. 3 ballot in Colorado. One would require student athletes to participate on men's or women's school and collegiate athletic teams that match their sex, defined as biological reproductive systems.. The other would prohibit healthcare professionals from performing surgeries on persons under the age of 18 for the purpose of treatment in response to a minor's perception of sex or gender.
Colorado is the second state, along with Washington, to place a statewide measure on sex requirements for school sports eligibility before voters. Maine, Nebraska, and Nevada are in the process of qualifying similar measures for this year’s ballot that would require participation in school sports to be based on sex.
The measures in Colorado and Washington are the first related to sex requirements for eligibility in school sports to qualify for the ballot in U.S. history.
Voters in at least five jurisdictions will decide ballot measures related to data centers this year
Voters in multiple jurisdictions will decide on at least five local ballot measures related to data center development this year. One measure would allow data center development, and four would limit, prohibit, or create additional steps for data center development.
Additionally, Ohio voters may decide on a statewide measure to prohibit the construction of data centers for digital data processing with an aggregate power demand exceeding 25 megawatts.
A data center is a physical facility that houses computer systems and related equipment used to store, manage, process, and transmit digital information.
The five local measures that voters will decide on this year include:
- Boulder City, Nevada
- Monterey Park, California
- Augusta Township, Michigan
- Port Washington, Wisconsin
- Janesville, Wisconsin
Measures related to data centers have also been proposed in Marana, Arizona; Frederick County, Maryland; Festus, Joplin, and Independence, Missouri; and Wilmington, Ohio.