Most thrilling gubernatorial election in your lifetime

[Tiger08]

Inspired by the equivalent congressional thread.

For me, VA-2021 has to take the cake. Youngkin is my kind of Republican, he ran the most well-executed campaign I have ever seen, he managed to spark huge rural turnout, win back a significant number of college educated white suburbanites that had fled the GOP, and made strong inroads with black, Hispanic, and Asian voters. McAuliffe's gaffe gave me hope that winning was possible, and momentum continued to steadily build until the win finally happened in a light blue state that had eluded the GOP for a long time.

If primaries count, GA-GOP 2022 was beautiful. Kemp dispatching Perdue by 50 was inspiring and a rare glimpse of good news in GOP primaries over the past several years. Kemp also went on to check every box I mentioned in the previous paragraph about Youngkin's coalition in the general election.

[Roll Roons]

100% yes to both of those. With Youngkin's victory it was nice to see Non Swing Voter taken down a peg after being so obnoxious about it.

I'd add NJ 2021 as well. Even though the pundits inexplicably all called it Safe D, I always had a feeling that a sneakily competitive race was brewing and I was glad to see my prediction come true, though even I didn't think Murphy would only win by 3.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Kentucky 2019

[Atlas Force]

Arizona 2022

[Bernie Derangement Syndrome Haver]

Washington 2004.

[GAinDC]

Louisiana 2015

[JGibson]

Illinois 2010

[ProgressiveModerate]

Arizona 2022

This, especially since I thought Lake was favored before the election and was still favored even after the first results came in - it wasn't until later the next day I realized Hobbs might actually have a shot. AZ taking so long to count made it quite dramatic.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

Arizona 2022

This, especially since I thought Lake was favored before the election and was still favored even after the first results came in - it wasn't until later the next day I realized Hobbs might actually have a shot. AZ taking so long to count made it quite dramatic.

I never believed Lake was favored

[Property Representative of the Harold Holt Swimming Centre]

During lifetime - Texas 1994, New York 1994, Texas 2006 (four-way involving Kinky and Perry), Washington 2004.

Ones I followed - Illinois 2010 (both the primary and the general election), Wisconsin 2018 (in fact most of those involving Scott Walker), Massachusetts 2014, New York 2010 (for.the eccentric field of candidates).

[Progressive Pessimist]

The 2021 New Jersey election was probably the first time I was ever biting my nails over an election in my state, at least in my time actually paying attention.

After that, maybe Arizona 2022. Hobbs winning was one of many pleasant surprises if that cycle, maybe even the biggest pleasant surprise.

[Del Tachi]

CA-2003 (recall) takes the cake for me.

[Open Source Intelligence]

CA-2003 (recall) takes the cake for me.

Probably the real answer. Got the full national cable news treatment for the whole process after Schwarzenegger entered.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Wisconsin 2018 (Evers over Walker) has to be up there.

[OSR stands with Israel]

VA 2021 for sure

[Spectator]

I remember bearing about the Governator as a 7 year old, so I assume that would take the cake? Other than those mentioned above, I think Kansas in 2018 is pretty underrated if you ask me.

[Pollster]

The 2004 Missouri race was a great one to work on (and was the first time I served as a lead pollster for a statewide client), and nicely set up the 2008 race as well.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

I concur with those saying AZ 2022. Watching Kari Puddle lose was one of the biggest rushes of serotonin I have ever experienced.

[ottermax]

Washington 2004.

I was super young, but this was a profound experience that really pulled me into politics.

[Mr. Smith]

Overall: California recall

As an adult: Louisiana 2015

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

For me I would say SC 2018 cause it’s the first campaign I was really involved with

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

For me Minnesota 2010, even if it was kind of a phyrric victory.

[Schiff for Senate]

Idk about my lifetime. If we limit timeframe to since when I've been following politics, maybe KY-GOV 2019, partly because it was the first election of any kind that I paid any attention at all to. I think I heard something on one of my dad's news podcasts on the ride to school about Beshear winning and did further investigation from there.

Arizona 2022

This, especially since I thought Lake was favored before the election and was still favored even after the first results came in - it wasn't until later the next day I realized Hobbs might actually have a shot. AZ taking so long to count made it quite dramatic.

I never believed Lake was favored

Nor I. I consistently had Hobbs favored for AZ-GOV.

[Emperor Kuvira]

Wisconsin recall 2012

[JMT]

Wisconsin 2018. I’m always happy to see Democrats flip governorships, but it was particularly satisfying to see Scott Walker go down.