This year's ballot may look familiar to some voters because 474 races are rematches between candidates who last ran against each other for the office in 2022 or 2024 — the second-highest number of rematches since 2020.
By office type:
- 10.1% of U.S. House elections are rematches
- 4% of state executive elections are rematches
- 6.2% of state legislative elections are rematches
- 0.9% of local elections within the 100 most populous cities, state capitals, and the 200 largest school districts by enrollment are rematches
Rematches here only include those between major-party candidates for the same office, even if the specific district they're running for changed. For 2022 to 2026 rematches, this analysis includes only offices with four-year terms.
The last time 124 of these match-ups took place, the margin of victory was 10 percentage points or fewer. That's 26.2% of this year's rematches — the lowest percentage since 2020. By comparison, previous winners had won by that margin in 28.8% of rematches in 2024, 29.4% in 2022, and 60% in 2020.
Like in previous election cycles, most rematches are between candidates who last ran against each other two years ago. This year, there are 414 rematches between candidates who last ran against each other in 2024. Meanwhile, there are 60 rematches between candidates who last ran against each other in 2022.
Here's a closer look at this year's rematches by office types.
U.S. House of Representatives
10.1% of all U.S. House races are rematches this year, compared to an average of 13.9% each year.
Click here for a full list of the U.S. House districts where the 44 rematches are happening this year.
The last time these U.S. House candidates faced each other in 2024, Democrats won 23 and Republicans won 21.
Ten of this year's 44 rematches for the U.S. House were last decided by 10 percentage points or fewer. Democrats won six of those races by 10 percentage points or fewer in 2024, and Republicans won four.
State executive offices
4% of all state executive races are rematches this year, compared to an average of 1.3% each year.
The 12 state executive rematches this year are happening for the following offices:
- Secretary of State of Idaho
- Governor of Illinois
- Attorney General of Kansas
- Governor of Maryland
- Secretary of State of Nevada
- Attorney General of North Dakota
- Massachusetts’ Governor’s Council District 2
- New Hampshire Executive Council District 4
- New Hampshire Executive Council District 5
- Governor of Oregon
- Secretary of State of Vermont
- Attorney General of Wisconsin
Two of this year's state executive rematches include candidates who last ran against each other in 2024. Democrats and Republicans each won two of those races. The other eight rematches date back to 2022, when Democrats won five and Republicans won three.
Six of this year's seven rematches for state executive offices were last decided by 10 percentage points or fewer. Democrats and Republicans each won three of those races by 10 percentage points or fewer in 2024, the last time they were up for election.
State legislative offices
6.2% of all state legislative races are rematches this year, compared to an average of 6.2% each year.
Click here for a full list of the state legislative districts in which the 383 rematches are happening this year.
Three hundred sixty-two of this year's state legislative rematches include candidates who last ran against each other in 2024. Democrats won 151 of those races, and Republicans won 211. The other 21 rematches date back to 2022, when Democrats won 15 and Republicans won six.
Ninety-three of this year's 383 rematches for state legislative offices were last decided by 10 percentage points or fewer. Democrats won 50 of those races by 10 percentage points or fewer the last time they were up for election and Republicans won 43.
Local offices
0.9% of all local races within our core scope are rematches this year, compared to an average of 0.7% each year.
Click here for a full list of the 35 rematches happening this year for local offices.
All 35 of this year's rematches for local offices within our core scope are for nonpartisan offices. Four of this year's rematches include candidates who last ran against each other in 2024. The remaining 31 rematches include candidates who last ran against each other in 2022.
Fifteen of this year's 35 rematches for local offices were last decided by 10 percentage points or fewer.