MULTIPLE U.S. STATES — Twenty-six states are scheduled to hold elections for secretary of state in November 2026. The secretary of state office is directly elected in 35 U.S. states. The office does not exist in three states.

The governor or state legislature appoints the secretary of state in 12 states. Nine of these 12 states are holding gubernatorial or state legislative elections in 2026. The responsibilities of the secretary of state vary by state; some serve as top election officials, while others maintain records or document gubernatorial acts.

Governors appoint the next secretary of state in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Florida and Texas currently have Republican governors, while Pennsylvania has a Democratic governor. Governor Ron DeSantis, who appointed Cord Byrd as the state's secretary of state in 2022, is term-limited. The state Senate confirmed Byrd in 2023. Sixteen candidates are running in the state Republican gubernatorial primary, including Jay Collins, Byron Donalds, and James Fishback. Fourteen candidates are running in the state Democratic gubernatorial primary, including Jerry Demings and David Jolly.

In Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro appointed Al Schmidt as secretary of state. The state Senate confirmed Schmidt in 2023, at which time it held a 28-22 Republican majority. Schmidt is the only currently appointed secretary of state whose political party differs from both the appointing governor and the confirming legislature. Shapiro and Stacy Garrity are candidates for governor. Greg Abbott appointed Jane Nelson as the state secretary of state in 2023. Abbott, Gina Hinojosa, and two other candidates are running for governor.

In Maine and New Hampshire, the state legislature appoints the secretary of state. Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature, with a 75-72-3 seat majority and one vacancy in the House of Representatives, and a 20-14-1 seat majority in the Senate. Shenna Bellows, the current state Secretary of State, was first appointed in 2021. Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state General Court, with a 216-176-1 seat majority and seven vacancies in the House of Representatives, and a 16-8 seat majority in the Senate. David Scanlan, the current state Secretary of State, was first appointed in 2022.