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Elections Ballotpedia is covering in September 2026

By

Ellie Mikus
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In September 2026, Ballotpedia is tracking 865 elections across 14 states. These include four statewide elections, 10 special elections held to fill vacancies in fourstates, and two recall elections in two states.

Last month, Ballotpedia tracked 4,122 elections across 28 states. This included 15 statewide elections, 522 special elections, and one recall election.

In September 2024, Ballotpedia tracked 679 elections in 11 states, and in August 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 804 elections in 10 states.

Upcoming elections:

This month, the following states have regularly scheduled statewide elections:

The following federal and state-level special elections have been called:

  • Sept. 1: South Carolina Senate District 15 special Democratic primary

Ballotpedia is also tracking 225 municipal elections in 12 states. This includes nine special municipal elections. Below is a list of local special elections that overlap state capitals, the 100 largest cities by population, or the 200 largest school districts by enrollment:

The following recall elections have been called:

In context:

Here’s a closer look at some of the battlegrounds we’re covering in September. 

At the top of the ballot for Democrats in Massachusetts’ Sept. 1 primaries is the U.S. Senate primary featuring incumbent Ed Markey and Seth Moulton. This is one of several primaries this year in which age has become an issue. Markey is 80, and Moulton is 47. Markey is running on his record, while Moulton has said he would be part of a new generation of leadership. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) endorsed Markey. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D), U.S. Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and the Boston Globe endorsed Moulton.

We’re also watching three Democratic primaries for U.S. House in Massachusetts:

We are also covering the Democratic primaries in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court as battlegrounds. 

  • House of Representatives: Contested Democratic primaries are taking place in 31 districts. In 2024, Massachusetts voters approved Question 1 72% to 28%, authorizing the state auditor to audit the legislature. Auditor Diana DiZoglio (D) sued the legislature in February, saying it had not complied with her efforts to initiate an audit. On June 2, the House approved a bill limiting the auditor's authority to audit the legislature. In seven out of 27 battleground districts, challengers to incumbents who voted for the audit bill have mentioned transparency in their campaign materials. 
  • State Senate: There are contested Democratic primaries taking place in six districts, all of which Ballotpedia has identified as battlegrounds. Two are open seats — the 2nd Middlesex District and the 5th Middlesex District — while the other four feature incumbents facing credible challengers. Two primaries feature splits among prominent Democrats and Democratic-aligned groups. In the 1st Suffolk District, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) endorsed Latoya Gayle, and several current and former state legislators endorsed incumbent Nick Collins. In the Suffolk and Middlesex District, Wu and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) endorsed Daniel Lander while Gov. Maura Healey (D), Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll (D), and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell (D) endorsed incumbent William Brownsberger.

The next battleground that we're watching is the Sept. 8 Democratic primary for New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. Nine candidates are running. Stefany Shaheen (D), Maura Sullivan (D), and Christian Urrutia (D) lead in media attention, campaign fundraising, and endorsements. Shaheen, who is the daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D), is running on her record serving in local government and experience as a healthcare advocate. Sullivan is running on her experience as an Iraq War veteran and says she would be part of a new generation of leadership. Urrutia is running on his experience as an attorney and says he supports universal healthcare and universal childcare.

We’re also covering two battlegrounds in Rhode Island on Sept. 9. Rhode Island moved its primary one day later this year on account of Labor Day.

  • The Democratic gubernatorial primary is a rematch of the 2022 primary between incumbent Daniel McKee (D) and Helena Foulkes (D). Endorsements are split in this primary. Thirteen local Democratic Party committees, including four representing Rhode Island's largest cities, endorsed Foulkes, and two endorsed McKee. Attorney General Peter Neronha (D) also endorsed Foulkes, while Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos (D) endorsed McKee. The state Democratic party did not endorse either candidate. 
  • In the Democratic mayoral primary in Providence, Rhode Island, incumbent Brett Smiley (D) and David Morales (D) are running. Smiley was first elected in 2023 and was previously chief of staff for former Gov. Gina Raimondo (D). Morales is a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Media outlets have described this race as one of several happening in which a more moderate incumbent is facing a progressive challenger. Smiley and Morales have each received endorsements from national figures in the Democratic Party, with former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg endorsing Smiley and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsing Morales.

Additional reading:

This promo post was compiled by Ellie Mikus with contributions from Glorie Martinez and Lara Bonatesta.