United States gubernatorial elections were held on 3 November 1970, in 35 states and two territories. During this election, the Democrats won a number of the governorships up for re-election via many ways, such as retirement of incumbent, term limits, or defeat of incumbent. In 1970, Arizona, New Mexico and Wisconsin elected their governors to four-year terms for the first time, having previously elected them to two-year terms. This election coincided with the Senate and the House elections.