What does a governor do?

What this office controls

• Signs or vetoes bills passed by the state legislature.
• Proposes the state budget, which typically dwarfs local budgets.
• Appoints agency heads, and in many states appoints judges to fill vacancies.
• Commands the state National Guard and declares states of emergency.
• Issues executive orders directing state agencies.
• Grants pardons and commutations in most states.

What it can’t do

Just as important, and the source of most misplaced expectations about the job:

• Cannot write law directly — the legislature passes bills.
• Vetoes can be overridden by the legislature, with thresholds that vary by state.
• Has no authority over federal law or federal agencies.
• In many states, shares executive power with separately elected officials like the attorney general.

Why this race matters

For most policy that touches daily life — schools, roads, Medicaid administration, professional licensing, state taxes — the governor has more direct influence than any federal official on your ballot. Governors also often decide how federal money sent to the state is actually spent.

What to look for in a candidate

• Executive experience and how they have managed a large organization.
• Specific budget priorities, and how they would pay for them.
• Record on the state agencies they would control.
• Approach to working with a legislature that may be controlled by the other party.
• Appointments they have made or say they would make.