2009 United States gubernatorial elections
November 3 and 7, 2009
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3 governorships 2 states; 1 territory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of the results Republican gain Covenant hold No election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2009, in the states of New Jersey and Virginia, as well as in the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on November 7, 2009. Both state governorships were previously held by Democrats elected in 2005, and both were won by Republicans in 2009; the local Covenant Party maintained control of the governorship of the Marianas. These elections formed part of the 2009 United States elections. As of 2026, this is the last election after which the Democratic party held a majority of governorships.
Due to the passage of Senate Legislative Initiative 16–11, this was the last year in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in which a gubernatorial election occurred on a pre-midterm, off-year election year, as the next gubernatorial election would be in 2014.
The Democrats held 28 governorships, while the Republicans held 22. In this election, both U.S. governorships up for election were held by Democrats, while the governorship of the Northern Mariana Islands was held by the Covenant Party. This is also the last election in which the Democrats held a majority of governorships nationwide. In New Jersey, incumbent governor Jon Corzine ran for re-election on a second term, but was lost by Republican challenger, former United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Chris Christie. In Virginia, incumbent Tim Kaine, who was term-limited and was succeeded by Bob McDonnell.