has there ever been an incumbent governor who lost an election and
then went on to win an election to a higher office

Hello,

Yes. Bill Clinton won the governorship of Arkansas in 1978, lost it in
1980, regained it in 1982 and was re-elected four times thereafter. He
won the 1992 presidential election.

I hope this answer meets your needs. If not, pelase request clarification.

Source: U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, "President Clinton's Biography,"
http://usembassy.state.gov/nigeria/wwwhcbio.html.

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