2026 Governor's Races Take Shape in Kansas, Rhode Island and Montana

Several states are conducting 2026 gubernatorial elections, with primary and general election activity reported in Kansas, Rhode Island, and Montana. In Kansas, term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly's departure has drawn a crowded Republican field including Senate President Ty Masterson, who received President Trump's endorsement, and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, among seven total GOP candidates; three Democrats, including Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog, are seeking their party's nomination. In Rhode Island, incumbent Gov. Dan McKee is seeking reelection against a large field that included 19 candidates before signature-verification deadlines narrowed contenders to roughly five, with challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes among them; neither McKee nor Foulkes received the state Democratic Party's endorsement at its June convention. Rhode Island's general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, with a primary set for September 8, 2026; Republican primary candidates include Aaron Guckian, Elaine Pelino, and Robert Raimondo. Ken Block entered the Rhode Island race as an independent candidate, citing concerns about government competence, including payroll problems linked to the state's new $95 million payroll system. In Montana, lawmakers passed and Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 276, establishing a photo ID requirement for voter registration in place of a prior mail or form-based address verification system; Montana held its primary election on June 2, 2026, with its general election also set for November 3, 2026. In Kansas, a federal court ruled that a state law restricting advance voting ballots was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, according to one report. As of the most recent reporting, general election dates for Rhode Island and Montana are confirmed for November 3, 2026, while Kansas's primary and general election calendar was referenced but not detailed with specific dates across sources. Rhode Island's candidate field remained subject to change pending final certification following the signature-deadline review. Some details—such as the full outcome of the Kansas advance-ballot court ruling, the final certified candidate list in Rhode Island, and specific budget appropriation details from Gov. McKee's State of the State address—were reported by only single sources and could not be independently corroborated. The overall trajectory of each race, including primary winners, remained undetermined at the time of these reports.