There’s been 6 GOP Governors, 3 during Reconstruction, 1 from 1897-1901, and then not again until 1972 (Jim Holshouser) and then Jim Martin. It will have been 20 years since Martin was elected to a 2nd term this year.
Also, until Cherie Berry was elected Labor Commissioner, there hadn’t been a republican elected to the council of state since reconstruction.