Author: Joseph Brusgard
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State executives are retiring in three of the five states that had filing deadlines in April
In April, the filing deadline passed in five states, four of which are holding state executive elections in November: Virginia (April 2nd), Oklahoma (April 3rd), New York, North Dakota (April 6), and Michigan (April 21). Virginia is not holding state elections in 2026, while the rest of the states are. According to Ballotpedia’s data, state…
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Fifteen Nevada state legislative incumbents face primary challenges, the second most at any point since 2010
Fifteen Nevada state legislative incumbents face primary contests in 2026, the most at any point since 2016, and the second most at any point since 2010. This is a 88% increase in the number of incumbents facing challengers compared to 2024. Twelve of the contested incumbents are Democrats, and three are Republicans. Twelve are state…
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Two hundred and sixty-seven major-party candidates are running for state legislature in California, the smallest at any point since 2010
Two hundred and sixty-seven major party candidates filed to run in California legislative elections, the fewest at any point since 2010. One hundred forty-nine are Democrats, and 119 are Republicans. All 80 Assembly seats and 20 of 40 Senate seats are up for election. Twenty-one seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. This means newcomers…
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Montana has the highest number of contested state legislative primaries at any point since 2010
Montana has 64 contested state legislative primaries in 2026, up 8% from 2024 and the highest number at any point since 2010. Of these, there are 20 for Democrats and 44 for Republicans. For Democrats, this is up from 15 in 2024, a 33% increase. The number of contested Republican primaries in 2026 is the…
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Janet Mills becomes the first governor to withdraw their U.S. Senate bid since 1988
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced on April 30 that she would suspend her campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, becoming the first governor to do so since 1988. In a statement, Mills said, “While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else — the fight — to…
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Smallest number of Ohio state legislative incumbents facing a primary challenger at any point since 2010
Eleven Ohio state legislative incumbents face primary contests in 2026, the fewest at any point since 2010. This is a 54% decrease in the number of incumbents facing challengers compared to 2024. Three of the contested incumbents are Democrats, and eight are Republicans. Nine are state representatives, and two are state senators. Ohio has 42…
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49 state financial officers and four insurance commissioners are up for election in 2026
In 2026, a total of 49 state financial offices are up for election, as are four state insurance commissioners. State financial officers include three positions: state treasurers, state auditors, and state comptrollers/controllers. Broadly, these officials are responsible for things like auditing other government offices, managing payroll, and overseeing pensions. In some states, certain SFOs are…
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Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District
Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District on June 9, 2026. Joe Baldacci (D), Matthew Dunlap (D), Paige Loud (D), and Jordan Wood (D). Baldacci, Dunlap, and Wood have led in fundraising, media attention, and polling. Incumbent Jared Golden (D) is retiring from public office. Maine Public's Kevin Miller…
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Mikie Sherrill to become first New Jersey governor in 20 years to live in the state's official governor's residence
On April 3, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) announced she would be moving into Drumthwacket, the official residence of the governor of New Jersey. Sherrill will be only the third governor to live in the mansion since it was designated the official governor's residence in 1981. Only Governors James Florio (D-N.J.), who left office in 1994,…
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Abraham Enriquez (R) and Tom Sell (R) are running in the May 26 Republican primary runoff for Texas' 19th Congressional District
Tom Sell (R) and Abraham Enriquez (R) are running in the May 26 runoff for Texas' 19th Congressional District after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026. In the primary, Sell received 40% of the vote, and Enriquez received 19%. Incumbent Jodey Arrington (R) is…