Marquee gubernatorial match-ups of every cycle

[Tekken_Guy]

What was every election cycle’s marquee gubernatorial match-up?

[wesmoorenerd]

For 2018, maybe Georgia?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

AZ 22 can Hobbs beat Lake
NC 20 Cooper
FL 18 DeSantis
NH 16 SUNUNU

[Progressive Pessimist]

I'm only going to go back one decade, and exclude off-years, but to me:

-2022: Pennsylvania.
-2020: Utah.
-2018: Georgia.
-2016: North Carolina.
-2014: Massachusetts maybe?
-2012: Wisconsin recall.
-2010: Wisconsin again?

[Tekken_Guy]

2022: If 2021 races are counted, Virginia. Otherwise maybe Georgia.
2020: If 2019 races are counted, Kentucky. Otherwise Montana?
2018: Georgia and Florida
2016: North Carolina
2014: Florida
2012: Wisconsin recall if that counts, otherwise Washington?
2010: Florida

[Penn_Quaker_Girl]

2022: If 2021 races are counted, Virginia. Otherwise maybe Georgia.
2020: If 2019 races are counted, Kentucky. Otherwise Montana?

Both KY-GOV 2019 and VA-GOV 2022 were absolutely fascinating races.  Both, IMO, demonstrated that tried-and-true tactics are never completely guaranteed to succeed.  

For instance, the Republicans tried hard to make Beshear into a Berniecrat-goose-stepping-socialist, but they couldn't overcome the gross unpopularity of Mr. Bevin.  (Also A.B. might be my politician-crush, but that's for another topic...)

And in VA circa 2021, Democrats employed the "tie-to-Trump" tactic, but it just wasn't enough to overcome Republican headwinds and a relatively poor campaign by McAuliffe. 

--

These two races really exemplify why I love gubernatorial races.  Since governors, well, govern the state and are not involved with federal politics, this allows for so much more nuance.  This nuance leads to a grab-bag of surprises, anti-trends, and other goodies.