When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade three years ago, one of the most hotly debated issues in my lifetime was banished from federal jurisdiction. No longer were abortion clinics available in every state.

In anticipation of the historic Dobbs ruling on June 24, 2022, 14 states had already passed laws allowing abortion bans to take effect immediately (or soon after review by the state’s attorney general). Alternatively, 16 states and the District of Columbia either enshrined abortion into state law or expanded abortion access. Recently, 14 states took up legislation to criminalize abortion pills. As you can see, the pro-life battle continues in full force. The way abortion battles have evolved across state lines since Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization gives us an urgent picture of what’s at stake in state elections.

Most voters focus on evaluating and supporting candidates at the national level. Those candidates also receive far more media coverage, so it can be easy to overlook candidates closer to home. But state and local offices can have far greater impact on our daily lives. Below are some examples of powers and responsibilities held by state officials and legislators. (I’ve also included some links to previous iVoterGuide articles that provide even more information on certain offices, if you’re interested in exploring further.)

The names of some of the statewide offices may vary from state to state.  For instance, the executive in charge of financial management might be called a “controller,” “auditor,” or “treasurer” depending on your state.  However, seven state offices exist in all 50 states. To give you an idea of which offices most states will see on a ballot, here’s a sampling of offices that are typically elected.

Governor – The chief executive represents the state politically and ceremoniously, with functions varying from state to state. Elected in all 50 states, governors sign or veto legislation, appoint state judges, and may also have the power to command the National Guard on behalf of the state when necessary and pardon or commute criminal sentences.

Lieutenant Governor – Seen in 45 states, this position is second only to the governor. This office typically succeeds the governor if his or her term cannot be completed for any reason, similar to the vice president of the United States. The office also serves as “acting governor,” if needed. Some say that the lieutenant governor's office in my home state of Texas is even more powerful than governor because it’s responsible for setting the agenda in the state senate and has other statutory duties. Depending on the state, the lieutenant governor may be elected on his own or may run on the gubernatorial ticket.

Attorney General – In all 50 states, this office serves as chief legal advisor and law enforcement officer and typically has significant influence on the state’s approach to law enforcement. In most states, this office is an elected position.  To read more about the Attorney General, click here. 

Secretary of State – Responsibilities vary from state to state but often involve recordkeeping that ranges from business registrations to recording official acts of the governor. In recent years we’ve seen the importance of secretaries of state as they play a critical role in administering elections and certifying results. This office is seen in 47 states . . . . elected separately in most, but appointed by the governor in some. To read more about the Secretary of State, click here. 

Treasurer/Controller/Comptroller – Though sometimes broken into separate offices, these executives typically share similar duties. Responsibilities can include overseeing state budget and revenue; managing debt, debt policy, and fraud prevention; handling investment portfolios for public funds; and administering state employee payroll.

Other key state offices may include the superintendent of schools (or education); insurance commissioner; agriculture commissioner; labor commissioner; public service commissioner; and natural resources commissioner.

Many of these offices rarely hit our radars as the electorate, but they’re leading our states in fundamental ways. Keep in mind, local and state government roles also serve as a training ground for many politicians with national ambitions.

In light of this, iVoterGuide expanded our candidate evaluations last year to cover statewide elections in 40 states. We want to help voters get a clear picture of what their state candidates believe before stepping into the voting booth.*

Another excellent way to get familiar with your local and state officials is to subscribe to our Pray for Leaders email. When you fill out the contact form provided, we’ll send you a daily email inviting you to pray for your elected officials by name. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

As we pray for our leaders, “so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life,” who knows what wisdom and insight God will give us . . . or them? When our Founding Fathers called upon God’s wisdom, they came to envision a groundbreaking concept of government officials viewing leadership as selfless public service instead of titles to be held to further one’s own goals or fortunes. Fueled by prayer, the founders dared to dream of government officials who would act upon the values, needs, and desires of their closest neighbors and be held accountable by them. By YOU.