Democratic governors in four states easily won another term on Tuesday, fending off Republican challengers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Massachusetts as voters opted to keep their incumbent leaders in office.
The four races were the first gubernatorial races called on Tuesday night, with others to be decided later in the evening.
The races in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois have national implications because the winning governors have been widely discussed as potential Democratic presidential candidates in 2028.
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Gov. Wes Moore won decisively in Maryland against Republican Dan Cox in a rematch of their 2022 contest, which Mr. Moore won easily. Mr. Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, campaigned on emphasizing public safety, education and increasing economic opportunity.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, won a second term against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in a closely watched battleground state. Mr. Shapiro emphasized his record on economic development and willingness to reach across the aisle, while Ms. Garrity challenged his handling of state spending.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, won a third term against Republican Darren Bailey, whom he defeated by nearly 13 percentage points in 2022. Mr. Pritzker campaigned on abortion rights and his opposition to President Trump, while Mr. Bailey focused on lowering taxes and decreasing crime.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, won a second term against Republican Michael Minogue and independent Andrea James. Ms. Healey centered her campaign on housing affordability and opposition to Mr. Trump’s tax policies. Ms. Healey was expected to win easily, as polls showed her with a nearly 20-percentage-point lead over Mr. Minogue.
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