Posted March 16, 2026 | by KimS | in 119th Congress, DemDaily, Democratic Party, Elections Calendar, Senate, Special Elections

DemDaily: The 2026 Election Calendar and Updates!

March 16, 2026

March kicked off the official primary calendar for the 2026 election -- set to be among the most consequential midterm cycles in decades.

Mississippi held primary elections for US Senate and Congress March 10, while Georgia decided on the candidates vying to replace Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in the 14th Congressional District.

MISSISSIPPI
Two-term GOP Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith will face Democratic challenger District Attorney Scott Colom in November, after each easily won their primaries.

In 2015, Colom became the first elected Black District Attorney for the East Central 16th Judicial District, and the first Black DA elected to a majority-white voting district in the state's history. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

In the Second Congressional District, 17-term incumbent Democrat Benny Thompson staved off two primary challengers with 86.1% of the vote. In the state's only majority-black district, Thompson will face decorated Army veteran and manufacturing business owner Ron Eller in the general election.

In the remaining three GOP-held Congressional Districts, six-term First District Congressman Trent Kelly will face University of Mississippi law school professor Cliff Johnson (D) in the general election; and in the Third District, held since 2018 by Michael Guest, former baseball player turned regenerative farmer Michael Chiaradio is the Democratic challenger. In the Fourth District, two-term incumbent Mike Ezell is being challenged by Gulfport State Representative Jeffrey Hulum III (D).

GEORGIA
The high-profile 14th Congressional District Special Election for the seat vacated on January 5th by controversial Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R), retired Army Brigadier General and 2024 Democratic nominee Shawn Harris, emerged the top vote-getter in the all-party, 17-candidate primary with 37.3%.

In a surprise outcome in the R+19 District, which Greene won in 2024 with 64.4% to Harris' 35.6%, Harris edged out Lookout Mountain District Attorney Clayton Fuller (34.9%) and 11 other Republicans, two Democrats, one Libertarian and one Independent.

Harris and Fuller, as the top two finishers, now go to an April 7 runoff. With Trump's support and a united GOP field, Fuller is favored, but Harris has raised a formidable $4.3 million and launched ads knocking “out of touch politicians” from both parties.

Republicans hold a 220-215 majority in the House, including vacancies in two Democratic and two Republican-held seats. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to win back the lower chamber. With a 53-47 GOP majority in the Senate, Democrats will need to flip a net four seats to retake the Senate.

Republicans hold a 220-215 majority in the House, including vacancies in two Democratic and two Republican-held seats. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to win back the lower chamber. With a 53-47 GOP majority in the Senate, Democrats will need to flip a net four seats to retake the Senate.

The 2026 ELECTION CALENDAR

MARCH 2026
March 17: Illinois Primary
The winner of the Democratic primary to replace retiring five-term Senator Dick Durbin will likely retain the crucial Midwest Senate seat for the next two decades. The latest polls show Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in a tight race for the nomination.

APRIL 2026
April 7: Georgia 14th Congressional District Special Election Runoff

April 16: New Jersey 11th Congressional District Special General Election for the seat vacated by Mikey Sherrill (D) to become governor.

April 21: Virginia Redistricting Constitutional Amendment Special Election

MAY 2026
May 5: Indiana Primary
May 5: Ohio Primary

May 12: Nebraska Primary
May 12: West Virginia Primary

May 16: Louisiana Primary (Runoff: 06/27/2026)

Types of primary elections: Open Partisan Primary: may vote regardless of party registration or lack of affiliation; Semi-Closed or Semi-Open Partisan Primaries: may allow registered voters of a different party affiliation and/or unaffiliated voters to participate, with some restrictions; Closed: registered party voters only; and Nonpartisan Blanket Primary: top-two or version advance from an open primary where all candidates run on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation, and all registered voters may participate.

Types of primary elections: Open Partisan Primary: may vote regardless of party registration or lack of affiliation; Semi-Closed or Semi-Open Partisan Primaries: may allow registered voters of a different party affiliation and/or unaffiliated voters to participate, with some restrictions; Closed: registered party voters only; and Nonpartisan Blanket Primary: top-two or version advance from an open primary where all candidates run on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation, and all registered voters may participate.

May 19: Alabama Primary (Runoff: 06/16/2026)
May 19: Georgia Primary (Runoff: 06/16/2026)
May 19: Idaho Primary
May 19: Kentucky Primary. Congressional elections only.
May 19: Oregon Primary
May 19: Pennsylvania Primary

JUNE 2026
June 2: California Primary
June 2: Iowa Primary
June 2: Montana Primary
June 2: New Jersey Primary. Congressional elections only.
June 2: New Mexico
June 2: South Dakota (Runoff: 07/28/2026)

June 9: Maine Primary
June 9: Nevada Primary
June 9: North Dakota Primary
June 9: South Carolina Primary (Runoff: 06/23/2026)

June 16: Oklahoma Primary (Runoff: 10/25/2026)
June 16: District of Columbia Primary

June 23: Maryland Primary
June 23: New York Primary
June 23: Utah Primary

June 30: Colorado Primary

JULY 2026
July 21: Arizona Primary

A handful of states operate under a blanket or unique primary system. As of 2026, Louisiana holds a partisan semi-closed primary for federal and selected state elections, while maintaining its traditional blanket "jungle primary" for governor, state legislature, and local offices. If no candidate wins a majority vote, the top two go to a runoff. In California and Washington, the top two winners of a nonpartisan blanket primary advance to the general. Alaska operates under a nonpartisan top-four primary system followed by a ranked-choice voting (RCV) general election, and Maine is the only state to use ranked-choice voting for both primary and general elections.

A handful of states operate under a blanket or unique primary system. As of 2026, Louisiana holds a partisan semi-closed primary for federal and selected state elections, while maintaining its traditional blanket "jungle primary" for governor, state legislature, and local offices. If no candidate wins a majority vote, the top two go to a runoff. In California and Washington, the top two winners of a nonpartisan blanket primary advance to the general. Alaska operates under a nonpartisan top-four primary system followed by a ranked-choice voting (RCV) general election, and Maine is the only state to use ranked-choice voting for both primary and general elections.

AUGUST 2026
August 1: Guam Primary
August 1: Virgin Islands Primary

August 4: Virginia Primary. Congressional elections only
August 4: Kansas Primary
August 4: Michigan Primary
August 4: Missouri Primary
August 4: Washington Primary

August 6: Tennessee Primary
August 8: Hawaii Primary

August 11: Connecticut Primary
August 11: Minnesota Primary
August 11: Vermont Primary
August 11: Wisconsin Primary

August 18: Alaska Primary
August 18: Florida Primary
August 18: Wyoming Primary

SEPTEMBER 2026
September 1: Massachusetts Primary

September 8: New Hampshire Primary
September 8: Rhode Island Primary

September 15: Delaware Primary

OCTOBER 2026
No Elections

NOVEMBER 2026
November 3: General Election Nationwide
November 3: Louisiana Congressional General Election/Open Primary Election

DECEMBER 2026
December 12: Louisiana Open General Election/Runoffs

Runoffs are required in 11 states -- in either the primary or general election -- when no candidate achieves a required vote threshold, sending the top-two finishers to a second election. In Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas, a majority, or over 50%, is required to avoid a runoff. In North Carolina, candidates must win by at least 30%. In South Dakota, the threshold is 35%, but only in congressional and gubernatorial primaries, and in Vermont, only in case of a tie.

Runoffs are required in 11 states -- in either the primary or general election -- when no candidate achieves a required vote threshold, sending the top-two finishers to a second election. In Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas, a majority, or over 50%, is required to avoid a runoff. In North Carolina, candidates must win by at least 30%. In South Dakota, the threshold is 35%, but only in congressional and gubernatorial primaries, and in Vermont, only in case of a tie.

For more information on all the races of 2026, go to DemList/DemDaily. Pass it on. SignUp for the Dailys on policy, politics and the players.