The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its ratings Thursday for both the Texas and Iowa gubernatorial races, giving Democrats a higher chance at claiming the seat.

Jessica Taylor, Cook Political Report's Senate and governors editor, wrote in her analysis that Texas's Democratic nominee for governor, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D), is "surprisingly competitive" against incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott (R). The political analyst also labeled Senate races in both states "toss-ups" — a shift from "lean Republican."

Cook Political Reported shifted its Texas gubernatorial race predictions to "likely Republican" from "solid Republican" after Hinojosa launched ads attacking Abbott for accepting money from data centers. Though Cook's analysis also said Hinojosa needs to "substantially" up her fundraising efforts "to be truly competitive come November."

An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey, released in August, found that 49 percent of likely voters supported Abbott, while 45 percent backed Hinojosa.

If Abbott wins in November, he will become the longest serving governor in the state's history and continue a 30-year streak of Republicans holding the office.

The Iowa gubernatorial race was rated a "toss-up" in April but shifted to "lean Democrat" in the report's most recent analysis. Taylor added that the Democratic nominee, Iowa state auditor Rob Sand, has been opening a "consistent lead outside of the margin of error in both public and private polling" against GOP nominee Zach Lahn.

Another August Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media survey of Iowa voters found 48 percent supported Sand while 43 percent supported Lahn. The survey had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

Sand is currently the only member of his party to hold a statewide office in Iowa, and the state has not had a Democratic governor for two decades. 

While running for state auditor, Sand catered to Republican and independent voters — emphasizing his bowhunter past and saying he'd be willing to stand up against his party if he opposed an issue. In this year's election, Lahn has campaigned on his background as a six-generation Iowan and positioned himself as an antiestablishment Republican candidate.

Cook does not expect the gubernatorial race "to be a blowout" for Democrats due to the state's voting history, according to its most recent report, though it still sees "an edge" for the party in some of its prominent races.

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