Summary
Three U.S. Senators, including Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee, are running for governor roles in the current election cycle. Meanwhile, several current governors have decided not to pursue Senate positions. Historically, more governors have moved to the Senate, but now some senators prefer gubernatorial positions.
Key Facts
- Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee is running for governor.
- Senators Tommy Tuberville from Alabama and Michael Bennet from Colorado are also seeking governor roles.
- Four governors, Brian Kemp, Gretchen Whitmer, Andy Beshear, and Chris Sununu, declined to run for Senate next year.
- Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is running for Senate due to term limits in his state.
- Maine Governor Janet Mills has not decided whether to run for a Senate seat against Susan Collins.
- Historically, between 1986 to 2024, an average of nearly three governors per election cycle have run for Senate seats, based on Ballotpedia's analysis.
- Only 14 sitting or former senators have attempted to become governors during the same period.
