Author: Joseph Brusgard
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The highest number of Oklahoma state legislative incumbents being challenged this year is more than at any point since 2010
Forty-one Oklahoma state legislative incumbents face primary contests in 2026, the most at any point since 2010. This is a 41% increase in the number of incumbents facing challengers compared to 2024. Four of the contested incumbents are Democrats, and 37 are Republicans. Thirty are state representatives, and 11 are state senators. Oklahoma has 63…
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Oklahoma to have first open Republican gubernatorial primary since 2018
Nine candidates are running for the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma on June 16, 2026. Four have led in media attention: Gentner Drummond (R), Chip Keating (R), Mike Mazzei (R), and Charles McCall (R). Incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited and retiring from public office. The Oklahoman's Alex Gladden wrote, "In Oklahoma, a…
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Washington, D.C., is holding its first mayoral election using ranked-choice voting
Seven candidates are running in the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, D.C. on June 16, 2026. Two candidates led in media attention: Janeese Lewis George (D) and Kenyan McDuffie (D). Incumbent Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) is not running for re-election and is retiring from public office. The 51st's Martin Austermuhle wrote, "This year’s mayoral…
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The Utah Supreme Court undergoes another change in structure with the resignation of Justice Diana Hagen
On May 8, Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned, marking another structural change within the Court. Hagan’s resignation comes after Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a bill on Jan. 31 to increase the number of justices on the Court from five to seven — making Utah the first state since 2016 to expand its…
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West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justices defeated for the first time since 2016
Two incumbent West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justices were defeated in nonpartisan elections on May 12, 2026. Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed justices Tom Ewing and Gerald M. Titus III in 2025 to complete the terms of justices Beth Walker and Tim Armstead, respectively. Both incumbents ran unsuccessfully to complete those terms. The last…
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Redrawn district, narrow convention margin set up competitive House Republican primary in Utah
Incumbent Celeste Maloy (R) and Phil Lyman (R) are running in the Republican primary for Utah's 3rd Congressional District on June 23, 2026. This election is taking place under new district boundaries after a district court judge ruled that the state's congressional map, drawn in 2021, was a partisan gerrymander and ordered the state to…
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Nine states are holding public utility commission elections this year
Republicans have majorities on all nine of the public utility commissions directly on the ballot this year. These states are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The other state in which public utility commissioners are directly on the ballot is Mississippi, which also has a Republican majority. However, Mississippi…
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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…