Gubernatorial Two states held regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections in 2021, and one more state held a
recall election: •
California: A recall petition was launched against first-term
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, mainly for his handling of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis scheduled the recall election for September 14, 2021; voters began receiving their mail ballots in August. The election featured two questions: whether to recall Newsom, and who would replace him if he were recalled. A large number of candidates were listed on the replacement ballot, with major candidates including talk show host
Larry Elder, financial analyst
Kevin Paffrath, businessman
John H. Cox, former
mayor of San Diego Kevin Faulconer,
state assemblyman Kevin Kiley, media personality
Caitlyn Jenner, and former
U.S. Representative Doug Ose, among others. The recall was unsuccessful and Newsom stayed in office. •
New Jersey: One-term Democratic
governor Phil Murphy was eligible for re-election, and sought a second term. Former state assemblyman
Jack Ciattarelli won the Republican primary. The Libertarian Party nominated Gregg Mele, the Green Party Madelyn Hoffman, and the Socialist Workers Party Joanne Kuniansky. Major media sources, including the
Associated Press projected that Murphy has won re-election. •
Virginia: Virginia's
term limit laws do not allow sitting governors to serve consecutive terms, so incumbent Democratic
governor Ralph Northam is precluded from running again for the office until the next gubernatorial election in 2025. Former governor
Terry McAuliffe won the Democratic primary and former co-CEO of
The Carlyle Group Glenn Youngkin was nominated at the Republican convention. Liberation Party candidate Princess Blanding ran unsuccessfully in the race as well. Major media sources, including
DDHQ projected the Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin to have won the election.
Lieutenant gubernatorial One state held a lieutenant gubernatorial election in 2021: •
Virginia: One-term Democratic lieutenant governor
Justin Fairfax was eligible to run for a second term, but instead ran unsuccessfully for governor. State delegate
Hala Ayala won the Democratic primary and former state delegate
Winsome Sears was nominated at the Republican convention. On November 2, 2021,
Republican candidate Sears prevailed and was elected lieutenant governor of Virginia.
Attorney general One state held an attorney general election in 2021: •
Virginia: Two-term Democratic attorney general
Mark Herring initially ran for governor but withdrew to run for a third term. He defeated state delegate
Jay Jones in the Democratic primary. State delegate
Jason Miyares was nominated at the Republican convention. On November 3, Miyares defeated Herring, and became the next attorney general of Virginia.
Legislative Legislative elections were held for both houses of the
New Jersey Legislature and the
lower house of the
Virginia General Assembly. Democrats maintained majority control of the
New Jersey Senate and the
General Assembly. Republicans regained control of the Virginia House of Delegates, which had been held by Democrats since 2019.
Judicial • Pennsylvania: Republican
Kevin Brobson held an open-seat for Republicans. ==Local elections==