Welcome to the Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Brew.
By: Lara Bonatesta
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- A record-high number of U.S. House candidates filed to run in California after the state conducted mid-decade redistricting
- Alabama voters to decide constitutional amendment requiring elections to fill lieutenant governor vacancies
- Ten candidates running in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23
A record-high number of U.S. House candidates filed to run in California after the state conducted mid-decade redistricting
A record 289 candidates, 5.6 per district, are running for California's 52 congressional districts in the state’s June 2 top-two primaries. That’s the most candidates to run for the U.S. House since 2014 and the most candidates per district since 2022, when California was apportioned 52 districts following the 2020 census.
These primaries are happening against the backdrop of mid-decade redistricting. On Nov. 4, 2025, California voters approved Proposition 50 64.4% to 35.6%. The constitutional amendment allows the state to use a new, Legislature-drawn congressional district map for 2026 through 2030. The state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission will redraw congressional districts in 2031.
According to The New York Times’ Kellen Browning, the new congressional map makes five Republican-held districts more favorable to Democrats. As of April 6, California’s U.S. House delegation includes 43 Democrats, seven Republicans, one independent, and one vacancy.
Of the 289 candidates running, there are 154 Democrats, 97 Republicans, and 38 independent or minor party candidates. The chart below shows how the total number of candidates running and the number per district compare to recent years.
Democratic and Republican candidates are running in all 52 districts. However, it is possible that two candidates of the same party could advance from a primary election.
That's because California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates are listed on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their partisan affiliations, advance to the general election. Consequently, two candidates from the same political party could win in a top-two primary and face off in the general election. In 2024, two Democrats advanced to the general election in California's 12th, 16th, and 34th Congressional Districts. Two Republicans advanced to the general election that year in California's 20th Congressional District.
Forty-eight primaries are contested this year. There were 42 contested primaries in 2024, 52 in 2022, 47 in 2020, 41 in 2018, 40 in 2016, and 38 in 2014.
Incumbents are running in 42 of those contested primaries. Those incumbents include 36 Democrats, five Republicans, and Rep. Kevin Kiley (I). That's the second-highest number of incumbents facing primary challengers since 2014. Thirty-six incumbents faced primary challengers in 2024, 47 in 2022, 32 in 2020, 39 in 2018, 36 in 2016, and 32 in 2014.
For two incumbents, their primary challengers are each other. Representatives Ken Calvert (R-41) and Young Kim (R-40) are running against each other in the redrawn 40th Congressional District. According to ABC7's Josh Haskell, Calvert represents 51% of the new district, and Kim represents 35%. As of April 6, the 40th Congressional District and Texas' 18th Congressional District are the only two U.S. House districts in which two incumbents are running for re-election. Texas also conducted mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.
Six U.S. House districts are open. Seven districts were open in 2024, five in 2022, four in 2020, two in 2018, four in 2016, and six in 2014.
Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-11), Julia Brownley (D-26), and Darrell Issa (R-48) are retiring from public office. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-14) is running for governor of California. The 1st Congressional District is vacant due to the death of Doug LaMalfa (R). The 38th Congressional District is open because Rep. Linda Sánchez (D) is running for the 41st Congressional District.
Two of the districts with retiring incumbents have attracted a high number of candidates. Twelve candidates — nine Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent — are running for the open 48th Congressional District. That's the most candidates running for any district in California this year. The district with the second-most candidates running — the 11th Congressional District — is also open because the incumbent is retiring. There are 11 candidates — eight Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent — running in that district.
California and five other states — Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota — are holding U.S. House primaries on June 2.
Click here to learn more about California's 2026 U.S. House elections.
Alabama voters to decide constitutional amendment requiring elections to fill lieutenant governor vacancies
The Alabama Legislature placed a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot that would require the state to hold an election for lieutenant governor if a vacancy occurs more than 60 days before the next general election. Legislators passed the amendment on April 2.
The proposed amendment would require that if the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant more than 60 days before the next general election, voters would elect a replacement at that election. The person elected would serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
Currently, Section 127 of the Alabama Constitution requires an election to be held if "both the governor and lieutenant governor be removed from office, die or resign" more than 60 days before the next general election. If only the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant, it remains vacant for the rest of the term.
Alabama’s lieutenant governor's duties include acting as the successor to the governor and as the president of the state Senate.
The proposed amendment would also authorize the Legislature to set the salary of the lieutenant governor and members of the Legislature. Currently, Section 49 of the state Constitution sets the annual compensation for state legislators based on the median annual household income in Alabama, and Section 118 makes the salary of the lieutenant governor equal to that of the state's speaker of the house.
A 60% vote in both legislative chambers during a single legislative session is required to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The amendment was introduced as Senate Bill 271 (SB 271) on Feb. 5.
In the state House, SB 271 passed 101-0, with four Republicans not voting. In the state Senate, SB 271 passed 29-0, with four Republicans and two Democrats not voting. Alabama has a Republican trifecta.
Utah was the last state to decide on a measure addressing a vacancy in the lieutenant governorship. Amendment B removed the requirement for an appointed lieutenant governor to stand for election in the next general election following their appointment. Amendment B was approved in 2014, 55.6%-44.4%.
In 16 states, the governor appoints a replacement in the event of a lieutenant gubernatorial vacancy. In 15 states, the president of the state Senate makes the appointment, and in two states, the secretary of state makes the appointment.
The last two states to decide ballot measures related to the office of lieutenant governor were Arizona and Oklahoma. In 2022, Arizona voters approved an amendment to create a lieutenant governor's office. In 2018, Oklahoma voters rejected an amendment that would have required the governor and lieutenant governor to be elected together on one ticket starting in 2026. Click here to see Ballotpedia’s comprehensive coverage of ballot measures on state executives dating back to 1835.
This is the fourth statewide ballot measure to be certified for the 2026 ballot in Alabama.
During the state's primary elections on May 19, two of the measures — Amendment 1 and Amendment 2 — will appear on the ballot. Amendment 1 would allow judges to deny bail for people charged with discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling or other occupied space and any solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder. Amendment 2 would prohibit any reduction in a district attorney's compensation during their term in office.
The other measure to appear on the ballot with SB 271 on Nov. 3, House Bill 208, is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that would increase the age limit for the judge of probate in Walker County from 70 to 75.
Click here to read more about the lieutenant governor vacancy amendment in Alabama and here to read more about the state’s 2026 ballot measures.
Ten candidates running in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23
Alex Bores (D), George Conway (D), Micah Lasher (D), Jack Schlossberg (D), and six other candidates are running in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23. Bores, Conway, Lasher, and Schlossberg led in polling, fundraising, and local media attention.
Incumbent Jerrold Nadler (D), first elected in 1992, is not seeking re-election. Nadler endorsed Lasher on Feb. 9. Nadler is one of 18 members of the U.S. House who are not seeking re-election and have endorsed a successor. Five members of the U.S. Senate who are not seeking re-election have endorsed a successor.
The Washington Examiner's Ron Kampeas said, "many of the candidates are leaning into personal stories that help them stand out in a field where there is broad agreement on making New York affordable and stopping Trump’s excesses."
Bores was elected to the New York Assembly in 2022. Bores earlier worked in the software industry as an engineer and manager. Bores says he is "the first Democrat elected in New York State at any level with a degree in computer science." Bores supports regulations he says will limit the artificial intelligence industry.
Conway is an attorney and the co-founder of the Lincoln Project, a group opposed to President Donald Trump's (R) policy agenda. Conway says he has spent six years "[using] his skills and network to expose Trump’s lies, corruption, and lawlessness in the media and in the courts."
Lasher was elected to the New York Assembly in 2024. Lasher earlier worked as a staffer to Nadler, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). City & State New York's Peter Sterne said Lasher was "widely seen as the heir apparent to retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler." Lasher is running on his professional experience.
Schlossberg is a writer and social media personality who earlier worked at Rakuten and in the U.S. Department of State. Schlossberg is the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy (D). Vanity Fair's Eric Lutz said Schlossberg is "[pitching] himself as something of a bridge between Democrats and a toxic social media environment that has been dominated by Republicans."
Also running in the primary are Micah Bergdale (D), Christopher Diep (D), Laura Dunn (D), Nina Schwalbe (D), Mathew Shurka (D), and Patrick Timmins (D).
As of March 31, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic. In 2024, Nadler defeated Mike Zumbluskas (R) 80%–19%.Click here to read more about the Democratic Primary in New York’s 12th congressional district.