149 congressional primaries on the ballot on March 3


Five states are scheduled to hold statewide primaries on March 3, 2020: Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, and Texas. Arkansas’ congressional primaries were canceled for each of five seats after one or fewer Democratic or Republican party candidates filed for the primary. The remaining four states have 149 primaries on the ballot for a combined 113 seats up for election in 2020 (118 across all states, including Arkansas). California’s 25th Congressional District is up for regular and special election, and is counted twice in both figures.

In 12 congressional districts across the five states, both the Democratic and Republican party primaries were canceled, meaning only 106 congressional seats will appear on the March 3 ballot. About 18% of the possible 182 primaries were canceled due to lack of opposition; 149 primaries made the ballot either because they are competitive or because the state does not cancel unopposed races. Of these, 47 are Republican primaries, 48 are Democratic primaries, and 54 are top-two primaries.

California is the only state with March 3 congressional primaries that does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2020. North Carolina and Texas both have Democratic and Republican primaries for their U.S. Senate seats, held by Thom Tillis (R) and John Cornyn (R), respectively. Alabama is holding a Republican primary for its U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Doug Jones (D). Ballotpedia has identified all three seats as battleground U.S. Senate races in 2020.

Ballotpedia has identified eight California congressional districts, two North Carolina districts, and eight Texas districts as battleground U.S. House races. Both Republican primaries in North Carolina’s battleground races were canceled after only one candidate filed for each. California and Texas do not cancel unopposed races.

Entering the 2020 election, the U.S. Senate has 45 Democrats, 53 Republicans, and two independents who caucus with the Democratic Party. Only 35 out of 100 Senate seats are up for election. A majority in the chamber requires 51 seats. The U.S. House has 232 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one independent, and five vacancies. All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election. A majority in the chamber requires 218 seats.

Click here to learn more about the 2020 United States Congressional elections.

Additional reading:
United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
United States Senate elections, 2020
United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2020
United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2020