State chief information officers (CIOs) are preparing for growing disruption from artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity threats, workforce shortages, and rising demand for digital services, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ 2026 State CIO Survey.

While the smoke is still clearing after last week’s midterm elections which have featured an array of nail-biter contests on the Federal level, the lack of much of a “wave” of election-driven change through state houses may end up leaving the ranks of state chief information officers (CIO) relatively stable in the months to come.