More than two dozen House members are contemplating runs for Senate or governor, which could complicate Republican and Democratic hopes of winning the majority.
Members who give up competitive seats could cause headaches for their parties, forcing them to find suitable candidates and spend resources diverted from other races. Vacancies in either safe or swing districts could sometimes be unwelcome news, especially if they lead to free-for-alls that prove divisive.
Of course, the stakes are low for tossing one’s name into the ring for higher office, and many of these lawmakers will ultimately shelve their ambitions. But if history is any indication, at least some will wind up on the ballot seeking a different role.
Below is a look at some of the House members, and a smattering of senators, who may land new titles after 2026.
Arizona
Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, is exploring a run for governor in 2026. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is up for a second term, remains a top Republican target in a purple state that swung toward Donald Trump in November.
Colorado
Rep. Joe Neguse, the No. 5 Democrat in the House, has been mentioned as a potential candidate in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, while Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet is also weighing a bid, The Colorado Sun reported last month.
Florida
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds announced a gubernatorial run in February and picked up Trump’s endorsement before he’d even announced. But the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis could grow more crowded. Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Cory Mills has said he could run in the special Senate election next year to complete the final two years of the term Marco Rubio was elected to in 2022. Appointed incumbent Ashley Moody has filed to run for election next year.
Georgia
The race to lead this battleground state has already generated interest from House members on both sides of the aisle. Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath formed an exploratory campaign earlier this month. Among Republicans, Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter and Marjorie Taylor Greene have signaled that they are considering runs for governor, or Senate if the state’s current term-limited governor, Brian Kemp, forgoes a run for Senate, while Reps. Rich McCormick and Mike Collins told Fox News Digital they have not ruled out Senate bids should Kemp pass on that race.
Illinois
The Senate race in this blue state could draw a crowd of House members if 80-year-old Democratic incumbent Richard J. Durbin opts to retire after five terms. Chief among them is Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents a suburban Chicago district and is sitting on a $17 million warchest. Other possible Democratic contenders include Reps. Robin Kelly, Lauren Underwood and Delia Ramirez. On the Republican side, Rep. Darin LaHood told NOTUS that he is open to a Senate run.
Kentucky
Republican Rep. Andy Barr announced in February that he was considering running for Senate, several weeks before the current occupant of the seat, Sen. Mitch McConnell, said he would not seek reelection.
Louisiana
Republican Rep. Clay Higgins is seen as a potential primary challenger to Sen. Bill Cassidy, who has drawn ire from the party base over his vote to convict Trump at his second impeachment trial.
Maine
Rep. Jared Golden, a Democratic Blue Dog who represents a rural district that Trump won in 2024, is considered a potential candidate for statewide office in 2026. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is term-limited and his onetime boss, GOP Sen. Susan Collins, is up for reelection.
Massachusetts
Rep. Jake Auchincloss, who was first elected to Congress in 2020 at age 32, has not ruled out a challenge to Sen. Edward J. Markey, 78, a fellow Democrat. Markey told The Boston Globe last year that he is committed to seeking a third term.
Michigan
Nearly a third of the state’s House delegation is weighing a bid to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters next year, including Democrats Haley Stevens and Hillary Scholten and Republican Bill Huizenga. The latest to earn Senate buzz is freshman Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who has received encouragement from former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, The Detroit News reported. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. John James is reportedly considering a gubernatorial run.
Minnesota
Democratic Sen. Tina Smith’s announcement that she wouldn’t seek reelection has sparked interest in her seat from several Democrats, including Reps. Angie Craig and Ilhan Omar.
New Hampshire
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas is strongly considering a run for Senate following Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s decision not to seek a fourth term. Freshman Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander is also mulling a bid.
New Jersey
The Garden State’s off-cycle gubernatorial race is already well underway, with Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill both among a crowded field for the June 10 Democratic primary.
New York
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul could face challenges from both Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who flipped a blue-leaning seat in the lower Hudson Valley in 2022, and Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx. Neither lawmaker has formally announced a bid.
Ohio
Democratic Reps. Greg Landsman and Emilia Sykes could run for governor if Republican-led redistricting carves out Democratic voters from their currently competitive seats, CQ Roll Call elections analyst Nathan L. Gonzales of Inside Elections wrote last month. Landsman has also been mentioned as a potential Senate candidate against Republican Jon Husted, who was appointed in January to fill the vacancy created when JD Vance became vice president.
Pennsylvania
Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican who represents a broad swath of north-central Pennsylvania, told WHTM in Harrisburg that he is considering a run against incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
South Carolina
Three-term Republican Rep. Nancy Mace told The Associated Press in January that she was “seriously considering” a run for governor. House Freedom Caucus member Ralph Norman also expressed interest in the position, telling Fox News Digital that “the governor’s race has some appeal to it.” The state’s current GOP governor, Henry McMaster, is precluded by state law from seeking a third consecutive term.
South Dakota
Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson said he is considering a run for governor, but the at-large congressman told DRG Radio last month that he does not expect to formally announce his campaign “anytime soon.” GOP Sen. Mike Rounds has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for governor, a post he held from 2003 to 2011.
Tennessee
Two Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation, Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Rep. John W. Rose, are weighing gubernatorial campaigns, according to the Nashville Banner.
Texas
Rep. Wesley Hunt told Politico he’s thinking about challenging Sen. John Cornyn, a fellow Republican, next year. The second-term congressman is running ads on conservative radio stations, and while they do not mention a specific office, they emphasize Hunt’s support for Trump’s agenda, the Houston Chronicle reported. Hunt, though, would face hurdles if he enters the race, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee backing the incumbent, according to Punchbowl News.
Wisconsin
Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany has been widely mentioned as a potential gubernatorial candidate. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in January that he’d make his decision after the April 1 state Supreme Court election.
Wyoming
At-large Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman has received “hundreds of calls” urging her to run for governor, her senior political adviser told Cowboy State Daily last month. There’s been speculation that Republican Gov. Mark Gordon could challenge state law to try to seek a third term.
Mary Ellen McIntire and Andrew Menezes contributed to this report.
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