In January 2026, Ballotpedia is tracking 23 elections across 13 states. These include 18 special elections held to fill vacancies in ten states, as well as five local recall elections in four states.
Upcoming elections:
There are no regularly scheduled statewide or municipal elections in January 2026. All elections Ballotpedia is tracking this month are special elections or recalls.
The following special elections have been called:
- Jan. 6, 2026: Arkansas Senate District 26 and House District 70 special primaries, Connecticut House District 25 special general, Georgia House Districts 23 and 121 special general runoffs, South Carolina House District 98 special general, and Virginia Senate District 15 and House District 77 special generals.
- Jan. 13, 2026: Alabama House District 63 special general, Connecticut House District 139 special general, Florida House District 87 special primaries, and Oklahoma House District 35 special primary runoff.
- Jan. 20, 2026: Georgia Senate District 18 special general.
- Jan. 27, 2026: Minnesota House Districts 47A and 64A special generals.
- Jan. 31, 2026: Texas Congressional District 18 special general runoff, Texas Senate District 9 special general runoff, and Plano City Council special general.
Monthly recalls:
The following recall elections have been called:
- Jan. 6, 2026: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani in Blue Lake, California, and County Commissioner Chris Barnett in Josephine County, Oregon.
- Jan. 9, 2026: County Commissioner Claire Hall in Lincoln County, Oregon.
- Jan. 13, 2026: Trustee Terry Weible in Dunbar, Nebraska.
- Jan. 20, 2026: Mayor Jesse Nelson in Lynn Haven, Florida.
In context:
In January 2026, Ballotpedia is covering one key battleground race: the special runoff election for Texas’ 18th Congressional District.
Christian Menefee (D) and Amanda Edwards (D) advanced from the Nov. 4 general election after neither candidate received an outright majority. The winner will become the fourth representative of the district since 2024 and will serve the remainder of former Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D) term through January 2027. Turner died on March 5, 2025.
Menefee is the Harris County Attorney, and Edwards is an attorney and former Houston City Council member.
In August 2025, the Texas Legislature voted to redraw the state’s 38 congressional districts. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the new map into law on Aug. 29. On Dec. 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, following litigation, that Texas could use the redrawn congressional map in the 2026 elections.
The January runoff election will take place under the boundaries of the old district. The March 3, 2026, primary will be held under the boundaries of the new district. Four Democrats are running in the primary: Menefee, Edwards, Rep. Al Green (D), who currently represents Texas’ 9th Congressional District, and Gretchen Brown.
As of Dec. 12, Republicans hold a 220-213 majority in the U.S. House. Nine special elections have been called for the 119th Congress, six of which have already been held.
Click here to read more about the Jan. 31 runoff in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, and click here to read more about Texas’ redistricting. You can also listen to a recent episode of Ballotpedia's On The Ballot podcast examining the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Texas’ redrawn map and what it means for the state’s congressional delegation.
Additional reading:
- Statewide primary elections
- Statewide elections
- Congressional elections
- Ballot measure elections
- Local elections
- Recall elections
This promo post was compiled by Ellie Mikus, with contributions from Emma Burlingameand Lara Bonatesta.