Secretaries of State 101: How Are They Elected and Who's Up This Year?

On Election Day 2024, voters will choose new secretaries of state in seven states. The secretary of state is a statewide office in 47 states and, although duties vary by state, a primary responsibility in most states includes managing and overseeing a state’s elections. This once low-profile statewide office was thrust into the spotlight after the 2020 election. 

How Are Secretaries of State Selected?

Secretary of state is an elected office in 38 states, and the position is appointed in 12 states. Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah do not have a secretary of state position. Technically, in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, the position is called the “secretary of the commonwealth.”

What is the Current Partisan Breakdown of Secretaries of State?

Currently, there are 26 Republican secretaries of state and 21 Democratic secretaries of state. Of the seven secretary of state seats up for election this year, four seats are currently held by Democrats and three seats are currently held by Republicans. The last major election cycle in 2022 saw a major battle for secretary of state elections as 27 states elected new secretaries. But only one state saw political control of the secretary of state office flip in 2022 when Cisco Aguilar (D) replaced term-limited Barbara Cegavske (R) in Nevada. 

Which States Have Secretary of State Elections This Year?

Incumbents are running for reelection in four of the seven races with open seats in Missouri, Oregon, and West Virginia. This year, the most interesting race for secretary of state might be in North Carolina, where incumbent Elaine Marshall (D) is running for her eighth term (she has held the office since 1996). Marshall narrowly won reelection in 2020 (51.2% to 48.8% of the vote). Her challenger this year is county commissioner Chad Brown (R). 

Notably, the secretary of state in North Carolina is not responsible for overseeing elections in the state. That power belongs to the state board of elections, but the board itself is in flux. In 2023, the Republican supermajority passed a bill (NC SB 749) that would shift the appointment of election board members from the governor’s office to the legislature. Gov. Cooper (D) vetoed the bill and the legislature subsequently overturned his veto, but the law is currently temporarily blocked by a court injunction. Nonetheless, this year’s gubernatorial election to replace term-limited Cooper and state legislative elections where Democrats are attempting to break up the GOP supermajority will play the key role in elections oversight in the Tar Heel State.

2024 State Election Coverage

This year will feature major elections for statewide officials and state lawmakers, and the results will have significant impacts on the concentration of political power across the states. We're here to help you keep track and make sense of it all.  Click here to access our 2024 State Elections Toolkit, with in-depth analysis and maps on every major state election category, including governors, legislatures, trifectas, and more. 

Plus, bookmark these useful tools: 

• Downloadable Slide Deck. Need to brief internal or external stakeholders on the 2024 state elections? We've got you covered. Download our pre-made 2024 State Elections Slide Deck (image-heavy; may take a few moments to open).
• Comprehensive Data Dashboard. Track every state race with our 2024 State Elections Dashboard. Toggle between the tabs at the top for governors, legislatures, ballot measures, and more.