Author: Joseph Brusgard
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Generational change versus experience a theme in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District
Incumbent Stephen Lynch (D) and Patrick Roath (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District on September 1, 2026. WBUR's Anthony Brooks wrote, "The race is one of many primary contests across the country pitting the power of incumbency against a call for generational change." Roath has criticized Lynch's record, saying…
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Second-most incumbents retiring in a midterm year in Kansas since 2010
Seventeen Kansas state legislative incumbents are retiring in 2026, the second-highest number in any midterm election since 2010. This is a 29% decrease in the number of incumbents retiring compared to 2022. In Kansas, state representatives are up for election every two years, while state senators are up every four years (presidential election years). Fourteen…
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Von Wilpert (D) and Desmond (R) face off in CA-48 after Prop 50 redraw shifted district 18 points toward Democrats
Marni von Wilpert (D) and Jim Desmond (R) are running in the general election for California's 48th Congressional District on November 3, 2026. Incumbent Darrell Issa (R) is retiring from public office. Times of San Diego's Andrew Keatts wrote the election "is among the most-watched contests in the nation, and could determine partisan control of…
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Lindsey Graham's death will set off a special primary election for a Senate seat that's open for the second time since 1956
A special Republican Party primary is scheduled for August 11, 2026, in South Carolina to determine which Republican candidate will run in the state's general election on November 3, 2026. The special primary became necessary after incumbent Lindsey Graham (R), the Republican nominee selected at the June 9 primary, died on July 11, 2026. Graham…
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Lindsay Graham is the fifth U.S. Senator to die during a re-election campaign since 1918
On July 11, 2026, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) died at the age of 71. He is the first U.S. Senator from South Carolina to die in office since Olin D. Johnston (D-S.C.) died on April 18, 1965. He is also the fourth member of the U.S. Senate since 2013 to die in office and the…
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Incumbent Rep. Cory Mills faces three Republican challengers in Florida's 7th District primary
Four candidates are running in the Republican primary for Florida's 7th Congressional District on August 18, 2026. Two candidates have led in media attention: Incumbent Cory Mills (R) and Ryan Elijah (R). Mills has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee since 2025. According to Politico's Hailey Fuchs, Mills "allegedly held weapons contracts with…
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97% of Trump-endorsed candidates won primaries this election cycle
Candidates who Donald Trump (R) endorsed in 2026 primaries have won 220 of 227 (97%) of their races so far — one percentage point less than the 2020 election cycle, when 98% of Trump-endorsed candidates won their primaries. Those figures include scenarios in which Trump endorsed two candidates in the same race. In total, Trump…
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Former Senate and gubernatorial candidates are among the candidates running to replace Graham Platner (D) as the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine
Graham Platner (D), candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, withdrew his candidacy on July 8, 2026. In a video statement on X, Platner said, “We believe that for the movement to continue, it can’t be me. And for that reason, we are suspending campaign operations.” The deadline for a general election candidate to withdraw in…
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Gentner Drummond (R) and Mike Mazzei (R) campaign on experience and Trump support in the August 25 Republican runoff for Oklahoma governor
Gentner Drummond (R) and Mike Mazzei (R) advanced to the August 25 Republican primary runoff after defeating seven other candidates in the primary on June 16. Incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited and retiring from public office. In the primary, Drummond received 25.9% of the vote to Mazzei’s 25.5%. The Oklahoman's Alex Gladden wrote,…
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State executives are retiring in seven states where the filing deadline passed in June
In June, the filing deadline passed in ten states: Alaska, Kansas, Wisconsin (June 1), Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota (June 2), Connecticut (June 9), Florida, New Hampshire (June 12), and Rhode Island (June 24). According to Ballotpedia’s data, state executives are retiring in seven of these states: Alaska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Minnesota, Florida, and Rhode Island. No…