The 2020 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of Missouri, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Parson ran for and was elected to a full term in office. Parson was elected as lieutenant governor in 2016 but became governor on June 1, 2018, after incumbent Eric Greitens resigned under threat of impeachment by the state legislature. Parson declared his bid for a full term on September 8, 2019. State Auditor Nicole Galloway, Missouri's only Democratic statewide officer and only female statewide officer, was the Democratic nominee and if elected, would have become Missouri's first female governor.

In October 2020, The Washington Post identified this state election as one of eight whose outcomes could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.

Despite most news agencies characterizing the race as only leaning Republican, Mike Parson went on to win the election by a landslide of 16.4%, widely outperforming all election polling as well as justifying the former swing state's trend towards the GOP. He even exceeded Donald Trump's statewide victory margin in the concurrent presidential election, which was actually greater than that in neighboring Kansas for the first time in 104 years. Galloway suffered the largest margin of defeat for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Missouri since Betty Hearnes' 29-point loss in 1988. The 1988 election was also the last election until this one in which Missouri elected a Republican for governor by double digits.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Parson, incumbent governor of Missouri and former state senator

Eliminated in primary Saundra McDowell, U.S. Air Force veteran and Republican nominee for Missouri state auditor in 2018 Jim Neely, state representative from the 8th district Raleigh Ritter, rancher and businessman

Declined Jay Ashcroft, Missouri Secretary of State Eric Greitens, former governor of Missouri Tony Monetti, retired bomber pilot, assistant dean of aviation at University of Central Missouri, and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2018

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin MikeParson EricGreitens Other /Undecided March 31, 2020 Filing deadline, by which Greitens had not declared his candidacyRemington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri Scout Jan 29–30, 2020 1,155 (LV) ± 2.9%52% 22% 26%American Viewpoint/Uniting MissouriAmerican Viewpoint/Uniting Missouri Jan 20–22, 2020 1,200 (LV) –56% 30% 11%

Results

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Nicole Galloway, Missouri state auditor

Eliminated in primary Eric Morrison, community leader and pastor Antoin Johnson Jimmie Matthews Robin Quaethem

Declined Sly James, former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri Jason Kander, former Missouri Secretary of State, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2016, former candidate for Mayor of Kansas City in 2019 Claire McCaskill, former U.S. senator Scott Sifton, state senator from the 1st district and former state representative from the 96th district (endorsed Galloway)

Endorsements

Results

Other candidates Libertarian Party

Nominee Rik Combs, U.S. Air Force veteran

Results

Green Party Nominee Jerome Bauer

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 23, 2020Inside ElectionsOctober 28, 2020Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily KosOctober 28, 2020RCPNovember 2, 2020270towinNovember 2, 2020

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeParson (R) NicoleGalloway (D) Other /UndecidedRemington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri ScoutOctober 28–29, 20201,010 (LV)± 3%50%44%5%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)October 18–20, 2020600 (LV)± 4%48%42%10%Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri ScoutOctober 14–15, 20201,010 (LV)± 3%51%43%6%YouGovYouGovSeptember 24 – October 7, 2020931 (LV)± 3.9%50%44%7%Garin-Hart-Yang Research (D)Garin-Hart-Yang Research (D)September 28 – October 2, 2020600 (LV)± 4.1%50%48% –Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri ScoutSeptember 30 – October 1, 2020980 (LV)± 3%51%44%5%Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri ScoutSeptember 16–17, 20201,046 (LV)± 3%52%43%5%We Ask AmericaWe Ask America September 1–3, 2020500 (LV)± 4.38%54%41%5%Trafalgar Group (R)Trafalgar Group (R)August 26–28, 20201,015 (LV)± 2.99%51%36%13%Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri Scout August 12–13, 2020 1,112 (LV) ± 3.0%50% 43% 7%Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis University June 23 – July 1, 2020 900 (LV) ± 4.0%41% 39% 20%Garin-Hart-Yang/Missouri Scout (D)Garin-Hart-Yang/Missouri Scout (D) June 16–22, 2020 800 (LV) ± 3.5%47% 40% –Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri Scout June 10–11, 2020 1,152 (LV) ± 2.9%50% 41% 9%We Ask AmericaWe Ask America May 26–27, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4%47% 39% 15%Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri Scout April 28–29, 2020 1,356 (LV) ± 2.6%52%39%9%Remington Research Group/Missouri ScoutRemington Research Group/Missouri Scout March 11–12, 2020 1,241 (LV) –52% 39% 7%American Viewpoint (R)American Viewpoint (R) January 20–22, 2020 1,200 (LV) –54% 36% 7%Human Agency/Missouri ScoutHuman Agency/Missouri Scout December 20–24, 2019 415 (RV) ± 5%51% 36% 13%Missouri Scout/Human Agency (D)Missouri Scout/Human Agency (D) November 17–20, 2019 400 (RV) ± 5.0% 51% 35% 14%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D) November 14–15, 2019 921 (LV) – 45% 36% 19%Missouri Scout/Human Agency (D)Missouri Scout/Human Agency (D) October 18–20, 2019 550 (RV) ± 4.0% 50% 34% 16%Remington/Missouri Scout (R)Remington/Missouri Scout (R) October 9–10, 2019 1,451 (LV) ± 2.5% 53% 41% 6%Missouri Scout/Human Agency (D)Missouri Scout/Human Agency (D) September 16–18, 2019 825 (RV) ± 4.0% 45% 36% 19%Remington/Missouri Scout (R)Remington/Missouri Scout (R) August 14–15, 2019 855 (LV) ± 3.3% 50% 39% 11%Remington/Missouri Scout (R)Remington/Missouri Scout (R) June 26–27, 2019 960 (LV) ± 3.2% 50% 37% 13%Remington/Missouri Scout (R)Remington/Missouri Scout (R) February 27, 2019 893 (LV) ± 3.4% 51% 40% 9%

Eric Greitens vs Nicole Galloway Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error EricGreitens (R) NicoleGalloway (D) Other /UndecidedAmerican Viewpoint (R) January 20–22, 2020 1,200 (LV) – 44%45% 7% Mike Parson vs Jason Kander Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeParson (R) JasonKander (D) Other /UndecidedRemington/Missouri Scout (R) February 27, 2019 893 (LV) ± 3.4% 51% 36% 13% Mike Parson vs. Scott Sifton Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeParson (R) ScottSifton (D) Other /UndecidedRemington/Missouri Scout (R) February 27, 2019 893 (LV) ± 3.4% 52% 32% 16%

Endorsements

Results

By county