Posted January 12, 2026 | by KimS | in 2026 Elections, DemDaily, Democratic Party, DNC Chair Ken Martin, Elections, Elections Calendar

DemDaily: The 2026 Political Primary Calendar!

January 12, 2026

The 2026 elections -- set to be among of the most consequential midterm cycles in modern history.-- are upon us, with legislative, congressional, gubernatorial and statewide offices on the ballot nationwide,

Those include elections for United States House (435, DC and four territories), US Senate (33 of 100), 36 of 50 state governorships, and thousands more at the state and local level.

The calendar kicks off this month with two of 2026's four congressional specials elections -- in Texas and New Jersey -- and wraps up in mid September with the Delaware primary. With 17 elections, June is the busiest month for state primaries.

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 POLITICAL PRIMARY CALENDAR

JANUARY 2026
January 31: Texas 18th Congressional District Special General Election Runoff: To fill the Houston-based seat of the late Sylvester Turner (D).

FEBRUARY 2026
February 5: New Jersey 11th Congressional District Special Primary Election

MARCH 2026
March 3: Arkansas Primary (Runoff: 03/31/2026)
March 3: North Carolina Primary (Runoff: 05/12/2026)
March 3: Texas Primary (Runoff: 05/26/2026)

March 10: Georgia's 14th Congressional District Special General Election (Runoff 4/7/26). A special election will fill the vacancy left by Marjorie Taylor Greene (R), who resigned on January 5, 2026.
March 10: Mississippi (Runoff: 4/07/2026). Congressional elections only.

March 17: Illinois Primary

APRIL 2026
April 16: New Jersey 11th Congressional District Special General Election

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

May 12: Nebraska Primary
May 12: West Virginia Primary

May 16: Louisiana Primary. Congressional elections only (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: Virginia Primary. Congressional elections only.
June 16: District of Columbia Primary
June 23: Maryland Primary
June 23: New York Primary
June 23: Utah Primary

June 30: Colorado Primary

June TBD: Puerto Rico Primary

JULY 2026
No 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.

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: Arizona Primary
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

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 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 Vermont, only in case of a tie.

Note: Primary dates are subject to change. Please let us know of any updates!

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

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