How many Republican Governors will there be by 2017?

[ElectionsGuy]

Republicans had a great cycle in 2014, but Democrats have had great luck in the 2012 and odd year cycles. There are currently 31 Republican governors. I predict there will be 34 Republican governors in 2017, with pickups in Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia. There's also a good chance Bullock could go down, and outside chances at New Hampshire, Washington, and Vermont. But there's also vulnerable Republicans in Indiana and North Carolina (Pence and McCrory).

[Xing]

Right now, I'm guessing 32. I think Republicans will pick up West Virginia, and either Kentucky or Missouri, while Democrats will pick up North Carolina.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I think Republicans pick up WV and VT, while Democrats pick up NC. So 32. But the Republicans have a good shot at KY, MO, and MT, and an outside chance at NH (assuming Hassan runs again, otherwise it's probably Tilt R to start), WA and OR. The only democratic seat that won't flip no matter what is DE.

Also, Republicans should hold IN, LA, and ND, but it's not a guarantee at this point. The only republican seats that are completely safe are MS and UT.

[ElectionsGuy]

I think Republicans pick up WV and VT, while Democrats pick up NC. So 32. But the Republicans have a good shot at KY, MO, and MT, and an outside chance at NH (assuming Hassan runs again, otherwise it's probably Tilt R to start), WA and OR. The only democratic seat that won't flip no matter what is DE.

Also, Republicans should hold IN, LA, and ND, but it's not a guarantee at this point. The only republican seats that are completely safe are MS and UT.

Lumping in IN with LA and ND is pretty far-fetched. Do you seriously think the D's stand any chance in ND and LA?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I think Republicans pick up WV and VT, while Democrats pick up NC. So 32. But the Republicans have a good shot at KY, MO, and MT, and an outside chance at NH (assuming Hassan runs again, otherwise it's probably Tilt R to start), WA and OR. The only democratic seat that won't flip no matter what is DE.

Also, Republicans should hold IN, LA, and ND, but it's not a guarantee at this point. The only republican seats that are completely safe are MS and UT.

Lumping in IN with LA and ND is pretty far-fetched. Do you seriously think the D's stand any chance in ND and LA?

I remain skeptical about IN - Pence has very successfully kept his name out of the news for months, and voters will likely forget/stop caring about the whole RFRA thing by this time next year. Gregg's going to have to win on some other issue. That being said, LA and ND are much less likely to flip, which is why I listed IN before them up there. With ND, Darlymple's retirement has blown things wide open, and someone like Earl Pomeroy or Joel Heitkamp might actually be able to win in the right political climate. With LA, I see Vitter as significantly damaged. Edwards will almost certainly lose a runoff against Dardenne or Angelle, but against Vitter I'm less sure of the outcome.

[Del Tachi]

GOP picks up KY in 2015 and picks up MO, WV, NH, VT and MT in 2016.  Total rises to 37. 

[Zioneer]

GOP picks up KY in 2015 and picks up MO, WV, NH, VT and MT in 2016.  Total rises to 37. 

You're an optimist, then.

[Mehmentum]

R+1

GOP picks up KY, WV, MO

Dems pick up NC and IN (which will be one of the biggest surprises of 2016).

[smoltchanov]

R+1-2. Let's count: in 2015 - 2016 season Republicans, IMHO, have 4-6 targets: obviously KY, WV, VT, MO, most likely - MT, NH and  may be - WA too (especially if Reichert runs, he will NOT be a favorite, but will present serious competition at least). Democrats - exactly 2: IN and NC. Hence the forecast...

[Maxwell]

R+1

GOP picks up KY, WV, MO

Dems pick up NC and IN (which will be one of the biggest surprises of 2016).

This is about where my head is that, though Missouri and Vermont are interchangeable.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

GOP picks up KY, MO, MT, WV, VT (DEM none).  So, 36.  Possibly OR and NH if 2016 is a GOP wave (which I am starting to think it might be).

VA in 2017 as well.

I would put this scenario (or better) for 2019 at at least 10%:
-GOP President
-Governors 40-10 GOP
-Senators- 62-38 GOP
-House- 250-185 GOP

[Suburbia]

Democrats retain Kentucky, Missouri, Montana. Democrats pick up North Carolina or Indiana. Republicans pick up West Virginia with Gov.-elect Bill Cole.

[Penelope]

The GOP gains KY in 2015; MO, VT, WV in 2016; and in 2017, Virginia goes Republican and New Jersey goes Democratic.

So, 35 GOP governors going into 2018.

[Bojack Horseman]

Dems retain Kentucky, Montana, and pick up North Carolina. NJ will return to its Democratic awesomeness in 2017, and Virginia will depend on who the President is.

[smoltchanov]

Dems retain Kentucky, Montana, and pick up North Carolina. NJ will return to its Democratic awesomeness in 2017, and Virginia will depend on who the President is.

So, Democrats will not lose a single governorship? Nonsense...

[Mister Mets]

I expect gains of two.  That may have been conservative.

The party likely leads in Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia.

Montana, New Hampshire and Vermont seem competitive.

The Democrats' best shot of flipping a state with a Republican executive is Indiana and North Carolina.

[Bismarck]

I think Pence narrowly survives with presidential coattail es

[Bojack Horseman]

Dems retain Kentucky, Montana, and pick up North Carolina. NJ will return to its Democratic awesomeness in 2017, and Virginia will depend on who the President is.

So, Democrats will not lose a single governorship? Nonsense...

Missouri will go red though.

[smoltchanov]

Dems retain Kentucky, Montana, and pick up North Carolina. NJ will return to its Democratic awesomeness in 2017, and Virginia will depend on who the President is.

So, Democrats will not lose a single governorship? Nonsense...

Missouri will go red though.

So, Democrats will win ALL following: VT, NH, WV, WA? Honestly - i doubt that...

[Cryptic]

My prediction is 32.

Republicans pick up MO and WV.

Democrats pick up NC.

[smoltchanov]

My prediction is 32.

Republicans pick up MO and WV.

Democrats pick up NC.

Don't underestimate Phil Scott))). Especially (as completely possible) Vermont's Progressive party will run it's own candidate)))

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

GOP wins VT; WVa and MO
DEMS win NC, IN & KY.  Pence who almost lost in 2012 wont survive.

[libertpaulian]

Republicans pick up KY this fall and hold onto LA and MS.

Republicans pick up WV, MT, and MO in 2016.

VT in 2016 is a tossup.

IN will barely stay red in 2016.  If Pence is successfully primaried, it stays solid red.

Democrats retain WA, OR, DE, and NH (unless Hassan decides to run for Senate, in which case NH becomes a tossup) in 2016.

Democrats' best hope of a pickup in 2016 is NC.  If the Presidential race in NC either becomes a tossup or starts to lean Dem in mid-to-late October, McCrory had better start packing his bags and allowing Cooper's wife into the governor's mansion to start measuring for drapes.  I honestly think McCrory's fate WILL depend on the Presidential race in NC.

Republicans retain UT and ND in 2016.

[libertpaulian]

Republicans pick up KY this fall and hold onto LA and MS.

Republicans pick up WV, MT, and MO in 2016.

VT in 2016 is a tossup.

IN will barely stay red in 2016.  If Pence is successfully primaried, it stays solid red.

Democrats retain WA, OR, DE, and NH (unless Hassan decides to run for Senate, in which case NH becomes a tossup) in 2016.

Democrats' best hope of a pickup in 2016 is NC.  If the Presidential race in NC either becomes a tossup or starts to lean Dem in mid-to-late October, McCrory had better start packing his bags and allowing Cooper's wife into the governor's mansion to start measuring for drapes.  I honestly think McCrory's fate WILL depend on the Presidential race in NC.

Republicans retain UT and ND in 2016.

Wow...the only one I got wrong was Montana.  Scary.

[Rjjr77]

Republicans pick up KY this fall and hold onto LA and MS.

Republicans pick up WV, MT, and MO in 2016.

VT in 2016 is a tossup.

IN will barely stay red in 2016.  If Pence is successfully primaried, it stays solid red.

Democrats retain WA, OR, DE, and NH (unless Hassan decides to run for Senate, in which case NH becomes a tossup) in 2016.

Democrats' best hope of a pickup in 2016 is NC.  If the Presidential race in NC either becomes a tossup or starts to lean Dem in mid-to-late October, McCrory had better start packing his bags and allowing Cooper's wife into the governor's mansion to start measuring for drapes.  I honestly think McCrory's fate WILL depend on the Presidential race in NC.

Republicans retain UT and ND in 2016.

Wow...the only one I got wrong was Montana.  Scary.

and LA