Split DECISION?

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 55 YEARS, THIS ELECTION SEASON could end with Democrats and Republicans heading an equal number of state governments. Fueled by voter concerns over abortion access and a slate of far-right Republican nominees, the odds are increasing that Democrats can retain or flip enough of the 36 governorships up for grabs on November 8 to prompt a 25-to-25-state tie between the two parties, versus the current 28-22 GOP lead. That even split has only happened one other time since Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959-back in 1967, in the thick of another painfully divisive era in American politics.

- STEVE FRIESS

Such a shift in power could have a powerful impact, since governors wield immense executive authority in their states, similar to the president on the federal level. Top presidential and vice-presidential prospects frequently come from their ranks, and states are often laboratories for new governing ideas and political arguments-Republican Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida, both leading advocates for sharp restrictions on abortion and immigration, are recent examples of the power of the office. If Democrats narrow the current lead or tie the number of Republican governors-the GOP has had the edge for more than a decade-they'd have more bully pulpits to advance their own agenda and provide a last line of defense against state efforts to curb reproductive and voting rights, since governors have veto power over new laws.

That part of the role has taken on greater significance in recent years as Congress has become increasingly gridlocked. "So much of the action happening legislatively is now at the state level," says Jessica Taylor, who analyzes gubernatorial races for the non-partisan Cook Political Report and argues that governors have perhaps become the most powerful politicians in America.

"Voters realize how much more important governors were to their everyday lives during COVID" when state leaders were able to issue lock down and mask mandate orders by fiat, she says. "It showed us that governors have a larger impact on average Americans' everyday lives than federal representatives or even the president."