1996 United States gubernatorial elections
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 1996 in 11 states and two territories. Going into the elections, seven of the seats were held by Democrats and four by Republicans. Democrats picked up the open seat in New Hampshire, and Republicans picked up the open seat in West Virginia, for no net change in the partisan balance of power. These elections coincided with the presidential election.
Election results
A bolded state name features an article about the specific election.| State | Incumbent | Party | Status | Opposing candidates |
| Delaware | Tom Carper | Democratic | Re-elected, 69.5% | Janet Rzewnicki 30.5% |
| Indiana | Evan Bayh | Democratic | Term-limited, Democratic victory | Frank O'Bannon 51.5% Stephen Goldsmith 46.8% Steve Dillon 1.7% |
| Missouri | Mel Carnahan | Democratic | Re-elected, 57.2% | Margaret B. Kelly 40.4% Mark Oglesby 2.4% |
| Montana | Marc Racicot | Republican | Re-elected, 79.2% | Judy Jacobson 20.8% |
| New Hampshire | Steve Merrill | Republican | Retired, Democratic victory | Jeanne Shaheen 57.2% Ovide Lamontagne 39.5% Fred Bramante 2.1% Robert Kingsbury 1.2% |
| North Carolina | Jim Hunt | Democratic | Re-elected, 56.0% | Robin Hayes 42.8% Scott Yost 0.7% Julia Van Witt 0.6% |
| North Dakota | Ed Schafer | Republican | Re-elected, 66.2% | Lee Kaldor 33.8% |
| Utah | Mike Leavitt | Republican | Re-elected, 75.0% | E. James Bradley 23.3% Ken Larsen 0.7% Dub Richards 0.6% Robert Lesh 0.4% |
| Vermont | Howard Dean | Democratic | Re-elected, 70.5% | John Gropper 22.5% Mal Herbert 1.6% Dennis Lane 1.4% Bill Brunelle 1.3% August St. John 1.3% Neil Randall 1.2% |
| Washington | Mike Lowry | Democratic | Retired, Democratic victory | Gary Locke 58.0% Ellen Craswell 42.0% |
| West Virginia | Gaston Caperton | Democratic | Term-limited, Republican victory | Cecil H. Underwood 51.6% Charlotte Pritt 45.8% Wallace Johnson 2.6% |
Note: Candidates' vote percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. Candidates who earned 0.05% or more of the vote are included.