April 22, 2023 5:00am EDT
3 deep red state governors' races that could be surprisingly competitive in 2023 — and even expand Dem control
Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi will elect governors in 2023
By Fred Lucas | Fox News
Republicans have a chance to flip two governors' mansions in red states this November as Democrats try to hold the line and are hopeful for one upset.
Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi — all states that went double-digits in favor of Donald Trump against Joe Biden in the last two presidential elections — elect governors in 2023.
"Kentucky and Louisiana both present opportunities for the citizens to elect a Republican governor that better represents the values of those states," Daniel Scarpinato, a spokesman for the Republican Governors Association, told Fox News Digital.
Two states could have their first elected Black governor, while another state’s contest is reminding voters of celebrities Elvis Presley and Brett Favre.
"Kentucky is the most competitive of the three, which we rank as a toss-up," Jacob Rubashkin, an analyst with Inside Elections, told Fox News Digital. "The others either lean or are likely Republican. But all could develop into highly competitive contests."
After disappointing 2022 midterms, a strong showing in off-year governors’ races would be welcome news for the GOP, but there is a tendency to overhype off-year elections, he said.
"Republicans would love to go into 2024 with victories under their belt," Rubashkin added. "But after the Republican candidate for governor won in Virginia in 2021 and almost won in New Jersey, some people thought it was a harbinger for a big red wave in the midterms. That didn’t bear out in 2022,"
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/3-very-red-state-governors-races-could-be-surprisingly-competitive-in-2023
