2026 State Primary Calendar

Alabama held its primary May 19, 2026 but did not settle its U.S. Senate race. Trump-endorsed Rep. Barry Moore led with 40 percent, sending him to a June 16 runoff against former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. State Attorney General Steve Marshall conceded after finishing third. Sen. Tommy Tuberville won the Republican primary for governor and faces former Sen. Doug Jones, who won the Democratic primary, in a 2020 Senate rematch reframed as a governor’s race. House Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 hold special primaries on August 11 after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the court-ordered congressional map. Full coverage at the Alabama state page.

Alaska’s top-four primary on August 18 puts all candidates from all parties on one ballot. The top four advance to a ranked-choice general election in November. The Senate race features Sen. Dan Sullivan running for a third term against a field that includes independent challengers; the system has historically rewarded candidates who can build cross-party appeal. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited, leaving an open seat that has drawn an unusually crowded GOP field. Rep. Nick Begich III faces a challenger from his right in the House race. Alaska state page.

Arizona’s July 21 primary fills out the ballot for one of the cycle’s marquee Senate races. Sen. Mark Kelly is on the ballot for a second full term and faces no serious Democratic primary opposition. The Republican primary field is crowded: 2024 Senate nominee Kari Lake declined a third statewide bid; Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb leads the early polling. The gubernatorial race is open after Gov. Katie Hobbs declined to seek a second term, with state Rep. Analise Ortiz the early Democratic favorite. Arizona state page.

Arkansas held its primary on March 3, 2026 with Sen. Tom Cotton renominated for a third term and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders renominated for a second. Both ran without serious primary opposition. The Democratic primaries for both statewide offices drew little attention given Arkansas’s strong Republican lean; Cotton won 2020 by 33 points and Sanders won 2022 by 28. All four U.S. House districts are held by Republicans and none drew competitive primaries. Arkansas state page.

California’s June 2 top-two primary puts all candidates on one ballot regardless of party. The top two finishers advance to November. The governor’s race is open after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s term-limited exit, and billionaire Tom Steyer leads the Democratic side; Republican former Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries leads the GOP. If Democrats split their vote across multiple candidates and Jeffries consolidates Republican support, the result could be a one-Democrat-one-Republican general. Otherwise, the November race is likely to be two Democrats. Sen. Alex Padilla is on the ballot for a full term after winning his 2022 special election. California state page.

Colorado’s June 30 primary opens late but matters: Sen. John Hickenlooper is seeking a second term and faces no major Democratic primary opposition, while the Republican field is led by El Paso County Commissioner Holly Williams. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Jared Polis term-limited; Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera and Attorney General Phil Weiser are the leading Democratic candidates. Colorado moved to semi-closed primaries in 2016 to allow unaffiliated voters, who now make up the state’s largest voter bloc, to participate. Colorado state page.

Connecticut combines a closed primary with a party convention threshold: candidates must win at least 15 percent of delegate support at the party convention to qualify for the primary ballot. The August 11 primary fills out the November ballot in races where multiple candidates clear that threshold. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is seeking a third term; the gubernatorial race is open after Gov. Ned Lamont declined to seek a third term. Connecticut state page.

Delaware is the last state to vote in 2026, on September 15. The Senate seat held by Lisa Blunt Rochester since 2025 is on the ballot for a full term following Sen. Tom Carper’s 2024 retirement. Delaware has no governor’s race in 2026, since the state uses a four-year cycle aligned with presidential years. Delaware state page.

D.C. adopted ranked-choice voting for primaries starting in 2026 after a 2024 ballot measure passed with 73 percent support. The non-voting delegate seat held by Eleanor Holmes Norton is on the ballot; Norton has filed for re-election to a 19th term but faces her first competitive Democratic primary in years. D.C. state page.

Florida’s August 18 primary includes the gubernatorial race opened by Gov. Ron DeSantis’s term limits and a special U.S. Senate primary following Marco Rubio’s appointment as Secretary of State. Rep. Byron Donalds leads the Republican gubernatorial field with Trump’s endorsement. Florida runs strict closed primaries: voters must be registered with a party at least 29 days before the primary to participate. Florida state page.

Georgia’s May 19 primary sent both the Republican gubernatorial and Senate races to runoffs on June 16. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones faces businessman Rick Jackson for governor, and Rep. Mike Collins faces Derek Dooley for Senate. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic gubernatorial primary outright; Sen. Jon Ossoff was unopposed. Georgia uses a unique 50-percent rule that applies to the general election as well, meaning if neither November candidate clears 50 percent, the race goes to a December 1 general-election runoff. Georgia state page.

Hawaii’s August 8 primary is the state’s only Saturday primary date on the 2026 calendar. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Josh Green facing the option of re-election or moving on; he has not yet committed. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke is the early favorite if Green declines. Both U.S. House seats are Democratic-held and not competitive. Hawaii’s open primary system lets any voter pick a party ballot without prior registration. Hawaii state page.

Idaho held its primary May 19, 2026. Sen. Jim Risch won renomination at 67 percent with Trump’s endorsement, Gov. Brad Little won the GOP primary for a third term, and David Roth won the Democratic Senate primary at 62 percent. Idaho Republicans closed their primary in 2011; Democrats remain semi-closed. The general election will not be competitive at the federal level. Idaho state page.

Illinois held its primary March 17, 2026. Gov. JB Pritzker won the Democratic primary for a third term, an unusual move for a sitting Illinois governor and one widely read as a signal that Pritzker intends to extend his political career before any 2028 presidential decision. The U.S. House delegation broke 14 Democrats to 3 Republicans. Illinois technically runs an open primary but requires voters to publicly request a party ballot, which functions as a soft form of party registration on primary day. Illinois state page.

Indiana held its primary May 5, 2026. Republicans won every statewide office; the Senate race featured Rep. Jim Banks winning the GOP primary to defend the seat opened by Sen. Mike Braun’s 2024 gubernatorial run. Indiana has no governor’s race in 2026, as Indiana uses a four-year cycle aligned with presidential years. The state runs a fully open primary in which voters declare a party only on the day of the election. Indiana state page.

Iowa’s June 2 primary fills out the ballot for a competitive Senate race: Sen. Joni Ernst is seeking a third term and faces a primary challenge from her right after she said she had not yet decided whether to support Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense. Democrats see Iowa as a stretch target and have recruited state Rep. JD Scholten. The gubernatorial race is open after Kim Reynolds declined a third term. Iowa state page.

Kansas’s August 4 primary fills out the open gubernatorial race after Gov. Laura Kelly’s term-limited exit. Kelly is the only Democrat to win statewide office in Kansas since 2002, and the Democratic primary to succeed her has drawn a crowded field led by state Sen. Cindy Holscher. Sen. Roger Marshall faces no significant primary challenge for his second term. Kansas state page.

Kentucky held its primary May 19, 2026 in what was the night’s biggest news. Rep. Andy Barr won the Republican Senate primary at 64 percent to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in the KY-4 GOP primary in the most expensive House primary in U.S. history at $32.6 million. Charles Booker won the Democratic Senate primary in a rematch with 2020 nominee Amy McGrath. Kentucky uses a closed primary in which only registered party members may participate. Kentucky state page.

Louisiana adopted a top-two primary system for congressional races starting in 2026, replacing the “jungle primary” in which all candidates appeared on the November ballot and a runoff in December decided close races. The state held its May 16 primary under the new system; Sen. Bill Cassidy is on the ballot for a third term. Louisiana’s gubernatorial races still run on an off-cycle schedule (next vote: 2027), so no governor race in 2026. Louisiana state page.

Maine’s June 9 primary is one of the cycle’s most-watched. Sen. Susan Collins faces serious Republican primary opposition for the first time in her career, and three Democrats are running for the right to challenge her in November: Gov. Janet Mills, oyster farmer Graham Platner, and former Lewiston city official David Costello. Maine uses ranked-choice voting in primaries and federal general elections; voters rank candidates and lowest finishers are dropped until someone wins a majority. Maine state page.

Maryland’s June 23 primary includes the gubernatorial race opened by Gov. Wes Moore’s expected 2028 presidential pivot; Moore has not yet committed to seeking a second term. Sen. Chris Van Hollen is seeking re-election. Maryland runs a fully closed primary in which only registered Democrats or Republicans may vote in those party’s primaries. Maryland state page.

Massachusetts opens September’s late-primary stretch on September 1. Sen. Ed Markey faces a serious progressive challenge from Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who has formed a Senate exploratory committee. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Maura Healey running for a second term but facing primary opposition from her left. Massachusetts uses a semi-closed system in which unaffiliated voters may pick any party ballot. Massachusetts state page.

Michigan’s August 4 primary fills out two major races. The Senate seat is open after Sen. Gary Peters’s 2024 retirement; the Democratic primary field includes Rep. Haley Stevens and former state Senate Majority Leader Mallory McMorrow. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer term-limited; Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are the leading Democratic candidates. Michigan state page.

Minnesota’s August 11 primary includes the Senate seat opened by Sen. Tina Smith’s 2024 retirement. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig lead the Democratic field; the GOP primary is more contested. Gov. Tim Walz is seeking a third term after returning to Minnesota politics following the 2024 Harris loss. Minnesota state page.

Mississippi held its primary on March 10, 2026 with no Senate or gubernatorial race on the ballot. All four U.S. House seats were on the ballot; three remain in Republican hands and one (Bennie Thompson, MS-2) in Democratic hands. None of the four primaries was competitive. Mississippi state page.

Missouri’s August 4 primary fills out the U.S. Senate ballot. Sen. Josh Hawley is seeking a second term and faces no major Republican primary opposition. The Democratic primary is contested between former state Sen. Lucas Kunce and Northwestern University law professor Karla May. Missouri state page.

Montana’s June 2 primary includes a Senate race with Sen. Steve Daines on the ballot for a third term. The Republican primary has drawn a challenge from the populist right, and Democrats see the 2024 Tester loss as an indicator that the state remains structurally Republican. Montana state page.

Nebraska held its primary May 12, 2026. Sen. Pete Ricketts won renomination at over 80 percent; the marquee race was NE-2, where Don Bacon’s retirement opened the Omaha-area swing district. Republican Brinker Harding faces Democrat Denise Powell, who narrowly defeated state Sen. John Cavanaugh in a six-way primary. Gov. Jim Pillen won the GOP primary for a second term. Nebraska state page.

Nevada’s June 9 primary fills out the gubernatorial race opened by Gov. Joe Lombardo’s decision to seek a second term but facing primary opposition from his right. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is seeking re-election. Nevada moved from caucuses to a primary system in 2024 after voters approved Question 3 on the 2022 ballot. Nevada state page.

New Hampshire’s September 8 primary fills out the open Senate race after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement. Rep. Chris Pappas leads the Democratic field; former Sen. Scott Brown is the GOP frontrunner. The race is rated a toss-up, making this one of the few September primaries that actually matters for Senate control. New Hampshire state page.

New Jersey’s June 2 primary fills out the U.S. House ballot only; no Senate or gubernatorial race in 2026, as both are on different cycles (Senate next in 2030, Governor next in 2027 odd-year cycle that just happened). The state changed its primary ballot design in 2025 after a federal court struck down the “county line” system that had given party-endorsed candidates an enormous structural advantage. New Jersey state page.

New Mexico’s June 2 primary fills out the gubernatorial race opened by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s term-limited exit. Lt. Gov. Howie Morales leads the Democratic field. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan is seeking a second term. The state opened its primaries to unaffiliated voters in 2025. New Mexico state page.

New York’s June 23 primary fills out the gubernatorial race. Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking a second full term and faces a serious primary challenge from Rep. Ritchie Torres. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is also running, splitting the Democratic-aligned Hispanic electorate. New York runs strict closed primaries and one of the longest party-registration deadlines in the country. New York state page.

North Carolina held its primary March 3, 2026, with former Gov. Roy Cooper winning the Democratic Senate primary at 92 percent and Michael Whatley winning the Republican Senate primary at 64.6 percent for the seat opened by Sen. Thom Tillis’s retirement. NC-1 went to a runoff on May 12 because no Republican cleared the state’s 30-percent threshold; Laurie Buckhout won the runoff to face Rep. Don Davis in November. North Carolina has one of the country’s most-watched Senate races; Cooper leads early polling. North Carolina state page.

North Dakota’s June 9 primary includes the Senate seat held by Sen. Kevin Cramer, seeking a second term. The state has no governor’s race in 2026. Both U.S. House seats are at-large statewide races, with Rep. Julie Fedorchak (the at-large representative) seeking a second term. North Dakota state page.

Ohio held its primary May 5, 2026. The marquee race was the open Republican gubernatorial primary after Gov. Mike DeWine’s term-limited exit; Vivek Ramaswamy won the GOP nomination after Trump’s endorsement in February 2026. The Democratic primary went to former state Health Director Amy Acton. Ohio state page.

Oklahoma’s June 16 primary, which doubles as runoff day for May states, includes the open gubernatorial race after Gov. Kevin Stitt’s term-limited exit. Sen. James Lankford is seeking a second full term. Oklahoma uses semi-closed primaries with a 50-percent runoff threshold that frequently fires in crowded fields. Oklahoma state page.

Oregon held its primary May 19, 2026. Gov. Tina Kotek won the Democratic primary at 84 percent, and Christine Drazan won the Republican primary at 42 percent, setting up a 2022 rematch four years after Drazan lost by 3.4 points. Sen. Jeff Merkley won the Democratic Senate primary at 93 percent against Republican nominee Jo Rae Perkins. Oregon state page.

Pennsylvania held its primary May 19, 2026. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity were both uncontested for their primaries and will face off in November. The bigger story was downballot: Shapiro-endorsed Democrats won every contested swing-district House primary, including Bob Harvie in PA-1, Bob Brooks in PA-7, Paige Cognetti in PA-8, and Janelle Stelson in PA-10. Pennsylvania state page.

Rhode Island’s September 9 primary falls on a Wednesday to avoid Labor Day conflicts. Sen. Jack Reed is seeking a fifth term. The gubernatorial race is competitive: Gov. Dan McKee’s approval ratings have lagged and former CVS executive Helena Foulkes is mounting a serious primary challenge for the second cycle in a row. Rhode Island state page.

South Carolina’s June 9 primary includes Sen. Lindsey Graham’s bid for a fifth term against challengers from his right. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Henry McMaster term-limited; Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is the early Republican favorite. South Carolina uses an open primary with a 50-percent runoff threshold on June 23. South Carolina state page.

South Dakota’s June 2 primary fills out the open Senate seat after Sen. Mike Rounds’s 2024 retirement; former Gov. Kristi Noem is the GOP frontrunner after stepping down from Homeland Security. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Noem in 2025, seeking a first full term. South Dakota state page.

Tennessee’s August 6 primary fills out the gubernatorial race opened by Gov. Bill Lee’s term-limited exit; Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and former state Sen. Brian Kelsey lead the early Republican field. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is seeking a third term against minor primary opposition. Tennessee state page.

Texas held its primary on March 3, 2026, and its runoff on May 26. Attorney General Ken Paxton won the GOP Senate runoff against Sen. John Cornyn, ending Cornyn’s 22-year Senate tenure in one of the cycle’s biggest upsets. Gov. Greg Abbott won the GOP primary for a fourth term. Texas runs an open primary with a 50-percent runoff threshold and historically produces the most-watched March primary races each cycle. Texas state page.

Utah’s June 23 primary uses a hybrid system: candidates can qualify for the primary ballot either by winning at least 40 percent at the party convention or by collecting signatures directly. Sen. Mike Lee is seeking a third term and faces a convention challenge from his right; the system has occasionally produced surprise outcomes. Utah state page.

Vermont’s August 11 primary fills out the Senate race opened by Sen. Bernie Sanders’s decision to seek a fourth full term as an independent. Gov. Phil Scott, the Republican, is seeking a sixth term. Vermont’s open primary lets any voter pick a party ballot at the polls. Vermont state page.

Virginia’s August 4 primary includes the Senate race with Sen. Mark Warner seeking a fourth term. Virginia allows parties to opt for a convention-based nomination process in place of a primary; the Republican Party of Virginia chose primaries for 2026, which was not the case in some recent cycles. Virginia state page.

Washington’s August 4 top-two primary puts all candidates on one ballot regardless of party; the top two advance to November. The state has no Senate or gubernatorial race in 2026. Washington’s 10 House seats break 8-2 Democratic, with WA-3 and WA-8 the only competitive districts. Washington state page.

West Virginia held its primary May 12, 2026. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito won renomination at 66.5 percent for a third term. The Democratic primary produced an upset: Morgantown attorney Rachel Anderson won with 33 percent, defeating heavy favorite Jeffrey Kessler (27 percent) in one of the cycle’s most striking divergences between prediction-market consensus and actual outcome. West Virginia state page.

Wisconsin’s August 11 primary fills out the Senate race with Sen. Tammy Baldwin seeking a third term; Republicans see her seat as a stretch target after her narrow 2024 win over Eric Hovde. The gubernatorial race is open with Gov. Tony Evers declining a third term; Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez leads the Democratic field. Wisconsin state page.

Wyoming’s August 18 primary includes the Senate seat held by Sen. Cynthia Lummis, seeking a second term, and the open gubernatorial race after Gov. Mark Gordon’s term-limited exit. Both races are dominated by their Republican primaries, since Wyoming has not elected a Democrat to either office since 1990. Wyoming state page.