There are 26 secretary of state elections in 2026. Of these, Democrats and Republicans each control 13. Heading into the 2026 elections, there are 25 Republican secretaries of state and 22 Democratic secretaries of state nationally.
Democrats would need to gain two offices to control a majority of secretary of state offices nationally. Republicans can lose no more than one.
In 47 states — all except Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah — the secretary of state is among the top executive offices. Although the duties and powers of the secretary of state vary from state to state, a common responsibility is the management and oversight of elections and voter rolls. In 37 states, the secretary of state is the chief elections officer with ultimate oversight over state elections and voter registration. Other common responsibilities include registration of businesses, maintenance of state records, and certification of official documents.
