In 2012, 11 states face governor’s races

All 50 states will vote for president this year, but voters in 11 states also need to pick a governor.

The most closely watched contest is in North Carolina, where Democrats could lose the governor’s mansion for the first time in two decades. Tainted by an ethics investigation, Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) opted not to seek reelection, and Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton (D) is trailing Republican Pat McCrory, the former mayor of Charlotte, according to statewide polls.

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Explore the 2012 House, Senate and Governors map and view unemployment and demographics

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Three former House members are hoping to become governors. In Indiana, ex-congressman Mike Pence (R) is running against Democrat John R. Gregg to succeed Gov. Mitch Daniels (R). In Washington state, ex-congressman Jay Inslee (D) narrowly leads state Attorney General Rob McKenna (R), and in Montana, ex-congressman Rick Hill (R) faces state Attorney General Steve Bullock (D) in a contest to succeed the term-limited governor, Brian Schweitzer (D).

West Virginia voters face a rematch between Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) and Republican Bill Maloney. The pair faced each other last year in a race to succeed former governor Joe Manchin (D), who is now a U.S. senator.

In New Hampshire, Republican lawyer Ovide Lamontagne is running against former state Senate majority leader Maggie Hassan (D) in a race to replace retiring Gov. John Lynch (D). Meanwhile, Democratic governors in Delaware and Missouri appear headed for easy reelection, as do incumbent Republicans in North Dakota, Utah and Vermont.