2026 Primary Election Calendar

One of the most closely watched Democratic contests of the cycle ended early, when Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race against Graham Platner in a primary representing different ideological wings of the party. The winner of the Democratic nomination is set to face incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.

With Gov. Henry McMaster term-limited from running again in this deep-red state, the Republican primary is a crowded one.

Gov. Kevin Stitt is term-limited from seeking re-election in a state Trump won by more than 30 points, leaving an open race.

Gov. Jared Polis is term-limited from seeking re-election, leaving an open seat that has attracted at least two prominent Democrats and even more Republican candidates.

With Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly term-limited from running for re-election, Republicans are crowding into the primary to try and flip a seat in a state where Trump won by double digits. Democrats also have choices.

An open seat in a presidential swing state Trump won narrowly in 2024 has attracted a number of major Democratic candidates. Republicans are expected to nominate former Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost a Senate race to Elissa Slotkin, the Democratic candidate, in 2024.

Prominent candidates include Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on the Democratic side and Rep. John James on the Republican side, though this closely watched race already has a complicating factor: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent.

Another open-seat race in a state where Republicans are heavily favored, with the G.O.P. primary featuring prominent candidates like Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Trump ally.

There are competitive primaries on both sides as Democrats defend the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Tina Smith, who decided not to seek re-election.

With Gov. Tim Walz's unexpected decision not to seek re-election, the race is wide open. Democrats got a top contender for the primary in Sen. Amy Klobuchar, while the Republican field has at least nine candidates.

Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat with a track record of winning tight races in a presidential battleground, decided not to seek a third term. A big field of Democrats are hoping to take his place, while Trump has endorsed Rep. Tom Tiffany on the Republican side.

Democrats landed their top recruit in Mary Peltola, the former representative for the state's at-large district. She'll likely go up against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican.

With Gov. Mike Dunleavy term-limited from running for re-election, the open seat has attracted a crowd. It's considered safely Republican in November, however.

Republicans are favored to keep this seat, which is open because Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited from running for re-election. There's a crowded field of G.O.P. candidates vying to replace him, while the Democratic primary also has a number of candidates.

Though there's at least one other candidate on the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman is the one with Trump's endorsement. There are no declared Democratic candidates yet in a state where Trump won by 46 points.

The Republican primary for the open seat (the current governor is term-limited) consists of multiple declared candidates.

Sen. Ed Markey, the Democratic incumbent, has a high-profile challenger in Rep. Seth Moulton. While the state is heavily Democratic, Republicans have at least one candidate in John Deaton,

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Democratic incumbent, is not seeking re-election, leaving the seat open. Rep. Chris Pappas has emerged as the Democratic front-runner, while John E. Sununu has the benefit of strong statewide name recognition on the Republican side.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democrat, is prevented by term limits from running again, giving way to a crowded contest featuring more than a dozen Democrats, including billionaire Tom Steyer. The state has a top-two primary system, meaning that the top-two candidates will advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Trump has already endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson to replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, making her a top contender in the Republican field. Democrats are eager to make this race competitive, and voters have a choice of candidates.

In this red state, the Republican primary has attracted a number of candidates.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville decided to run for Alabama governor rather than seek re-election to the Senate, creating another open seat in a deep-red state. Both parties have contested primaries.

A number of Republican candidates are vying for the chance to challenge incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat. Ossoff's seat in a state Trump won in the 2024 presidential election is seen as one of November's most competitive.

There are crowded primaries on both sides of the aisle for the chance to lead what's become a critical swing state in presidential elections. Brian Kemp, the popular Republican governor, is term-limited from running again.

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, decided not to seek re-election after more than four decades. Voters have plenty of candidates to choose from in both primaries, though the race is a longshot for Democrats in November.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican doctor whose vote was pivotal for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation, is fighting for his political life after Trump backed his primary challenger, Rep. Julia Letlow.

Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to the Senate after JD Vance was elected vice president, is the Republican favorite to permanently fill the seat. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a top recruit for the Democrats, faces no serious opposition in his own primary.

Democrats see a chance to flip this seat in November despite two decades of Republican rule with Amy Acton as their most likely candidate. Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is the Republican front-runner. He has the backing of Trump and Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term-limited.

The race is on to replace Rep. Mikie Sherrill, now the state's Democratic governor, in this suburban district.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the longtime Democratic senator, declined to seek re-election, leaving open a seat in a state Kamala Harris won in 2024 by 10 points. Both parties have competitive primaries.

At least 22 candidates are running for the chance to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a close ally of President Trump, in this deep red district.

Democrats see this race as one of the party's best opportunities to flip a seat in November. Former Gov. Roy Cooper is their front-runner, and former R.N.C. chair Michael Whatley, a Trump loyalist, is the G.O.P. favorite.

Both parties have competitive primaries for what will be a consequential race in November. Rep. Jasmine Crockett faces state Rep. James Talarico on the Democratic side, while longtime Sen. John Cornyn has drawn two Republican challengers, Rep. Wesley Hunt and state attorney general Ken Paxton.