Four Incumbents Could Set State Gubernatorial Service Records After 2026

Seven sitting governors could crack the nation’s Top 50 gubernatorial service list if reelected next cycle

Texas Governor Greg Abbott climbed into 58th place this week on the all-time statehood gubernatorial service list, passing up Montana Democrat Joseph Toole (1889-1893, 1901-1908) on Monday.

Abbott has now served 10 years, 4 months, and 23 days (3,796 days) and has stated he plans to run for a fourth term in 2026.

Should Abbott be successful and serve out the entirety of that term he would rise all the way to the fifth longest-serving statehood governor in U.S. history at 5,846 days – just a few days behind Alabama Democrat George Wallace (5,848 days), California Democrat Jerry Brown (5,849 days), and South Dakota Republican Bill Janklow (5,851 days).

Along the way he would pass his predecessor, Republican Rick Perry, who currently sits at #11 with 14 years, 1 month leading the Lone State State.

[Seemingly out of reach for all present and future governors is Iowa Republican Terry Branstad who served more than six years longer than any other statehood governor (8,169 days)].

This January saw the retirement of Washington Democrat Jay Inslee at 12 years of service (4,383 days) – tied with eight other governors for 34th place on the historical list.

A few days ago, two-term Connecticut Democratic Governor Ned Lamont stated he was now ‘more inclined’ to run for a third term which could ultimately land him at the top of his state’s list should he move forward with the campaign and win reelection.

Federalist Jonathan Trumball (1797-1809) is ranked #47 (11 years, 8 months, 7 days) and Democrat William O’Neill (1980-1991) is ranked #61 (10 years, 10 days) for the longest-serving governors in Connecticut history.

Iowa Republican Kim Reynolds has already announced she will not seek another term in 2026 and will end her gubernatorial career just shy of 10 years of service.

But Vermont Republican Phil Scott will hit the 10-year mark as he closes out his fifth two-year term in early January 2027. Consistently ranked as one of the nation’s most popular governors, Scott would be a shoo-in for a sixth term but has not yet announced his plans.

Scott will end this term as Vermont’s third longest-serving governor and completing a sixth term would place him at the top. Scott would pass up Federalist Isaac Tichenor (1797-1807, 1808-1809) who is ranked #52 (10 years, 11 months, 25 days) and Democrat Howard Dean (1991-2003) who is ranked #49 (11 years, 4 months, 27 days).

In the Midwest, Minnesota DFLer Tim Walz is considering a third term and could become just the second Gopher State governor to serve 10 years in office. Winning a third term would vault Walz ahead of DFLer Rudy Perpich (1976-1979, 1983-1991) who is ranked #60 (10 years, 12 days) in nonconsecutive stints.

Three other two-term governors up for reelection in 2026 also have not yet announced their electoral plans but would fall short of their state’s all-time gubernatorial service record should they serve another four-year term:

• Wisconsin Democrat Tony Evers would rank second behind Republican Tommy Thompson (1987-2001) who is ranked #12 (14 years, 28 days)
• Illinois Democrat J.B. Pritzker would rank second behind Republican Jim Thompson (1977-1991) who is ranked #15 (14 years, 5 days)
• Idaho Republican Brad Little would rank tied for third behind Democrat Cecil Andrus (1971-1977, 1987-1995) who is ranked #13 (14 years, 20 days) and Republican Butch Otter (2007-2019) who is ranked #24 (12 years, 7 days). Little would tie Republican Robert Smylie (1955-1967) at 12 years of service.

Just 13 states have no gubernatorial term limits – Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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