There have been 91 gubernatorial elections in the state of New York since 1777, with the most recent being held on November 8, 2022. The next election is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026.

Overview

Originally the term for governor of New York was three years long and began on July 1, with the election being held in the last week of April or May 1. In 1817, following the resignation of Daniel D. Tompkins after serving only eight months of his term, there was a new election, since the 1777 Constitution did not give the lieutenant governor the right to succeed to the governor's office, and DeWitt Clinton was elected for a whole three-year-term. The New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821 reduced the term to two years – beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 – and moved the election to the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Due to this measure, DeWitt Clinton's own second term was cut short by half a year. Beginning with the election in 1876, the term was increased to three years again, beginning with the election in 1894, it was reduced to two years, and since the election in 1938, it has had its present duration of four years.

Although the candidates for lieutenant governor have always run on tickets with the governor's candidates, until the election of 1950 they were elected on separate ballots, so on several occasions (1826, 1846, 1850, 1906, and 1924) the governor and his lieutenant were elected on opposing tickets. After a bill passed in 2025, governor candidates also pick their choice for lieutenant governor and primary with them.

Of the 91 total elections, the incumbent has only lost re-election in 15 of them.

Recent elections 2022

2018

2014

2010

2006

2002

Older elections 1966-1998 Gubernatorial elections under the State Constitution of 1938. The term is four years.

1998

1994

1990

1986

1982

1978

1974

1970

1966

1938-1962 1962

1958

1954

1950

1946

1942

1938

1894-1936 Gubernatorial elections under the State Constitution of 1894. The term was two years.

+ 1936 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesHerbert H. LehmanM. William BrayDemocratic, American Labor 2,970,575 53.45%William F. BleakleyRalph K. RobertsonRepublican 2,450,104 44.09%Harry W. LaidlerHerman J. HahnSocialist 96,233 1.73%Robert MinorJulian S. SawyerCommunist 40,406 0.73%

+ 1934 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesHerbert H. LehmanM. William BrayDemocratic 2,201,729 58.01%Robert MosesFred James DouglasRepublican 1,393,638 36.72%Charles SolomonHerman KobbeSocialist 126,580 3.34%Israel AmterWilliam J. BurroughsCommunist 45,878 1.21%William F. VarneyJames F. LuckeyLaw Preservation 20,449 0.54%Aaron M. OrangeEmil F. TeichertSocialist Labor 7,225 0.19%

+ 1932 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesHerbert H. LehmanM. William BrayDemocratic 2,659,519 56.69%William J. DonovanF. Trubee DavisonRepublican 1,812,080 38.62%Louis WaldmanCharles W. NoonanSocialist 102,959 2.19%John F. VichertH. Westlake CoonLaw Preservation 83,452 1.78%Israel AmterHenry ShepardCommunist 26,407 0.56%Aaron M. OrangeEmil F. TeichertSocialist Labor 7,233 0.15%

+ 1930 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesFranklin D. RooseveltHerbert H. LehmanDemocratic 1,770,342 56.49%Charles H. TuttleCaleb Howard BaumesRepublican 1,045,341 33.36%Robert Paris Carroll(none)Law Preservation 190,666 6.08%Louis WaldmanElizabeth C. RothSocialist 100,444 3.21%William Z. FosterJ. Louis EngdahlCommunist 18,034 0.58%Jeremiah D. CrowleyCharles M. CarlsonSocialist Labor 9,096 0.29%

+ 1928 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesFranklin D. RooseveltHerbert H. LehmanDemocratic 2,130,193 48.96%Albert OttingerCharles C. LockwoodRepublican 2,104,129 48.36%Louis WaldmanHerman J. HahnSocialist 101,859 2.34%William F. DunneFranklin P. BrillWorkers 10,741 0.25%Charles H. CorreganJohn E. DeLeeSocialist Labor 4,213 0.10%

+ 1926 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesAlfred E. SmithEdwin CorningDemocratic 1,523,813 52.13%Ogden L. MillsSeymour LowmanRepublican 1,276,137 43.80%Jacob PankenAugust ClaessensSocialist 83,481 2.87%Charles E. ManierreElla L. McCarthyProhibition 21,285 0.73%Benjamin GitlowFranklin P. BrillWorkers 5,507 0.19%Jeremiah D. CrowleyJohn E. DeLeeSocialist Labor 3,553 0.12%

+ 1924 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesAlfred E. SmithGeorge R. LunnDemocratic 1,627,111 49.96%Theodore Roosevelt Jr.Seymour LowmanRepublican 1,518,552 46.63%Norman Mattoon ThomasCharles SolomonSocialist 99,854 3.07%James P. CannonFranklin P. BrillWorkers 6,395 0.20%Frank E. PassannoMilton WeinbergerSocialist Labor 4,931 0.15% Note: This was the last time the running mate of the elected governor was defeated, Democrat Smith having Republican Lowman as lieutenant for the duration of this term.

+ 1922 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesAlfred E. SmithGeorge R. LunnDemocratic 1,397,670 55.22%Nathan L. MillerWilliam J. DonovanRepublican 1,011,725 39.98%Edward F. CassidyTheresa B. WileySocialist, Farmer–Labor 108,136 4.27%George K. HindsWilliam C. RamsdellProhibition 9,561 0.38%Jeremiah D. CrowleyJohn E. DeLeeSocialist Labor 3,799 0.15%

+ 1920 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesNathan L. MillerJeremiah WoodRepublican 1,335,878 46.58%Alfred E. SmithGeorge R. FittsDemocratic 1,261,812 44.00%Joseph D. CannonJessie Wallace HughanSocialist 159,804 5.57%Dudley Field MaloneRobert E. HaffeyFarmer–Labor 69,908 2.44%George F. ThompsonEdward G. DietrichProhibition 35,509 1.24%John P. QuinnJeremiah D. CrowleySocial Labor 5,015 0.17% Notes: List of candidates, in NYT on September 13, 1920 List of candidates, in NYT on October 27, 1920

+ 1918 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesAlfred E. SmithHarry C. WalkerDemocratic 1,009,936 47.37%Charles S. WhitmanEdward Schoeneck (Republican), Mamie W. Colvin (Prohibition)Republican, Prohibition 995,094 46.68%Charles Wesley ErvinElla Reeve BloorSocialist 121,705 5.71%Olive M. JohnsonAugust GillhausSocialist Labor 5,183 0.24% Notes: This was the first time women voted for governor of New York, and Alfred E. Smith was the first governor elected with more than 1 million votes. Election result in NYT on December 31, 1918

+ 1916 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesCharles S. WhitmanEdward Schoeneck (Republican), L. Bradley Dorr (Progressive), Thomas J. Kreuzer (American)Republican, Progressive, American 850,020 52.63%Samuel SeaburyThomas J. KreuzerDemocratic 686.862 42.53%Algernon LeeStephen J. MahoneySocialist 52,560 3.25%Charles E. WelchClarence Z. SpriggsProhibition 21,773 1.35%Jeremiah D. CrowleyBoris ReinsteinSocialist Labor 3,847 0.24%

+ 1914 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesCharles S. WhitmanEdward SchoeneckRepublican 686,701 47.69%Martin H. GlynnThomas B. LockwoodDemocratic, Independence League 541,269 37.59%William SulzerCharles E. WelchAmerican, Prohibition 126,270 8.77%Frederick Morgan DavenportChauncey J. HamlinProgressive 45,586 3.17%Gustave Adolph StrebelStephen J. MahoneySocialist 37,793 2.62%James F. HunterJeremiah D. CrowleySocialist Labor 2,350 0.16% Note: William Sulzer had been elected governor as a Democrat at the previous election, but was impeached. Martin Glynn had been elected Lt. Gov and succeeded to the governorship upon Sulzer's impeachment.

+ 1912 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesWilliam SulzerMartin H. GlynnDemocratic 649,559 41.46%Job E. HedgesJames W. Wadsworth Jr.Republican 444,105 28.35%Oscar Solomon StrausFrederick Morgan DavenportIndependence League, Progressive 393,183 25.10%Charles Edward RussellGustave A. StrebelSocialist 56,917 3.63%T. Alexander MacNichollClark AllisProhibition 18,990 1.21%John HallJeremiah D. CrowleySocialist Labor 3,792 0.24%

+ 1910 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesJohn Alden DixThomas F. ConwayDemocratic 689,700 48.00%Henry L. StimsonEdward SchoeneckRepublican 622,299 43.31%Charles Edward RussellGustave A. StrebelSocialist 48,529 3.38%John J. HopperWilliam Randolph HearstIndependence League 48,470 3.37%T. Alexander MacNichollCalvin McCarthyProhibition 22,295 1.55%Frank E. PassannoJames F. HunterSocialist Labor 5,717 0.40% Note: election result, in NYT on December 16, 1910

+ 1908 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesCharles Evans HughesHorace WhiteRepublican 804,651 49.08%Lewis S. ChanlerJohn Alden DixDemocratic 735,189 44.84%Clarence J. ShearnDaniel W. FinnimoreIndependence League 43,212 2.64%Joshua WanhopeGustave A. StrebelSocialist 33,994 2.07%George E. StockwellMarshall A. HudsonProhibition 18,802 1.15%Leander A. ArmstrongFrank E. PassannoSocialist Labor 3,655 0.22%

+ 1906 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesCharles Evans HughesM. Linn BruceRepublican 749,002 50.52%William Randolph HearstLewis S. ChanlerDemocratic, Independence League 691,105 46.62%John C. ChaseGustave A. StrebelSocialist 21,751 1.47%Henry M. RandallFreeman H. BettysProhibition 15,985 1.08%Thomas H. JacksonFrank E. PassannoSocialist Labor 4,624 0.31%

+ 1904 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesFrank W. HigginsM. Linn BruceRepublican 813,264 50.27%D. Cady HerrickFrancis B. HarrisonDemocratic 732,704 45.29%Thomas PendergastCharles R. BachSocial Democratic 36,259 2.24%John McKeeAlden W. YoungProhibition 20,568 1.27%Daniel De LeonBoris ReinsteinSocialist Labor 8,976 0.55%Alfred J. BoultonCharles SpauldingPeople's Party 6,015 0.37%

+ 1902 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesBenjamin B. Odell Jr.Frank W. HigginsRepublican 665,150 48.09%Bird Sim ColerCharles N. BulgerDemocratic 656,347 47.45%Benjamin HanfordWilliam Thurston BrownSocial Democratic 23,400 1.69%Alfred Lee ManierreJohn A. HartmanProhibition 20,490 1.48%Daniel De LeonSocialist Labor 15,886 1.15%Edgar Lee RyderJ. C. CorbinLiberal Democratic 1,894 0.14%

+ 1900 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesBenjamin B. Odell Jr.Timothy L. WoodruffRepublican 804,859 51.97%John B. StanchfieldWilliam F. MackeyDemocratic 693,733 44.80%William T. WardwellAlbert J. RumseyProhibition 22,704 1.47%Charles H. CorreganLeander A. ArmstrongSocialist Labor 13,762 0.89%Benjamin HanfordWilliam ButscherSocial Democratic 13,493 0.87%

+ 1898 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesTheodore RooseveltTimothy L. WoodruffRepublican 661,707 49.02%Augustus Van WyckElliott DanforthDemocratic 643,921 47.70%Benjamin HanfordLeander A. ArmstrongSocialist Labor 23,860 1.77%John KlineJohn A. SaylesProhibition 18,383 1.36%Theodore BaconThomas M. OsborneCitizens Union 2,103 0.16%

+ 1896 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesFrank S. BlackTimothy L. WoodruffRepublican 787,516 52.63%Wilbur F. PorterFrederick C. SchraubDemocratic, People's 574,524 40.33%Daniel G. GriffinFrederick W. HinrichsNational Democratic 26,698 1.87%Howard BalkamFrederick BennetsSocialist Labor 18,362 1.29%William W. SmithCharles E. LatimerProhibition 17,419 1.22% Note: The majority faction of the Democratic Party were then known as "Silver Democrats", and the "National Democrats" were the "Gold Democrats".The candidates for state offices, in NYT on November 1, 1896

+ 1894 general election results Governor candidate Running mate Party VotesLevi P. MortonCharles T. SaxtonRepublican 673,818 47.69%David B. HillDaniel N. LockwoodDemocratic 517,710 40.79%Everett P. WheelerDaniel N. LockwoodDemocratic Reform 27,202 2.14%Francis E. BaldwinJustus MillerProhibition 23,525 1.85%Charles H. MatchettWilliam F. SteerSocialist Labor 15,868 1.25%Charles B. MatthewsRobert C. HewsonPeople's 11,049 0.87% Notes: