2022 Gubernatorial Elections

The governor is the chief executive officer of a state or territory in the United States, similar to the role of the president on the federal level. The governor is responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive…   branch. As state leaders, governors advance and pursue new and revised policies and programs using a variety of tools, among them executive orders, executive budgets, and legislative proposals and vetoes.<br /><br />Governors are elected by the citizens of their respective states and serve as the state government's top leaders. The term of office and term limits for governors vary from state to state. In most states, governors are elected to four-year terms, and they can serve two consecutive terms. However, some states have no term limits, while others limit governors to a single term or to a certain number of terms, consecutive or otherwise.<br /><br />The governor's office is typically located in the state capital, often in a historic building known as the governor's mansion. The office is staffed by a variety of professionals who assist the governor in carrying out their duties. These may include policy advisors, communications staff, legal counsel, and administrative support staff.<br /><br />The governor's responsibilities include signing bills into law, serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, convening special sessions of the state legislature, delivering a "state of the state" address to citizens, granting pardons, and appointing state officials, judges, and board and commission members. <br /><br />In addition to these duties, governors often play key roles in their political parties, endorsing candidates, campaigning on behalf of others, and raising money. They may also serve on the executive committee of the National Governors Association, a bipartisan organization of the nation's governors, where they work collectively on top public policy issues and negotiate with the federal government on behalf of the&nbsp;states.Read more