Author: Nathan Maxwell
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Most contested state legislative incumbents in Colorado since 2010
In 2026, 15% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Colorado will face primary contests, a record high since 2010. In total, nine incumbents face contested primaries across the Colorado House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each year from 2010 to 2024 was five. Six of the contested incumbents are…
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Vermont to see most contested state legislative incumbents since 2010
In 2026, 20% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Vermont will face primary contests, a record high since 2010. In total, 28 incumbents face contested primaries across the Vermont House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each year from 2010 to 2024 was 18. All but one of the contested…
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Wisconsin state legislative contests see drop in primaries and incumbent challenges
Wisconsin has 24 contested state legislative primaries in 2026, 10% of all possible primaries and the second-smallest percentage since 2010. Fifteen of the primaries are for Democrats, and nine are for Republicans. In 2026, 6% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Wisconsin will face primary contests, down from a record high of…
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Banks-endorsed adviser wins Republican nomination for Indiana Secretary of State at party convention
Max Engling defeated incumbent Diego Morales, Jamie Reitenour, and David Shelton to win the Republican Party nomination for Indiana Secretary of State at a June 20, 2026, convention. Party delegates elected in the primary voted at the convention to determine which candidate would earn the right to run as the party's nominee in the state's…
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Robert White wins Democratic primary in race to succeed 18-term U.S. House incumbent in Washington, D.C.
Robert White defeated Trent Holbrook, Greg Jaczko, Brooke Pinto, and Kinney Zalesne in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C., on June 16, 2026. White, Pinto, and Zalesne led in polling and campaign fundraising ahead of the election. On January 26, 2026, incumbent Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) announced she would…
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Party control informs state legislative competitiveness trends ahead of 2026 elections
Across 31 states with completed candidate filing data, an average of 23% of incumbent state legislators are running in contested primaries this year — the second-highest share since 2010, trailing only 2022. At the same time, the average share of open seats, at 17.4%, is the second-lowest since 2010. Among the 31 states with completed…
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Fewer open Washington state legislative seats than recent years
Nineteen seats are open in Washington’s state legislative elections this year, meaning no incumbents filed. That is down 27% from 26 open seats in each of the previous two elections and means newcomers are guaranteed 13% of the legislature next year. Twenty-nine incumbents face primary contests in Washington’s state legislative elections this year, one above…
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Letlow and Fleming face off in Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate in Louisiana after incumbent Bill Cassidy finished third in primary
Julia Letlow (R) and John Fleming (R) advanced to a June 27 Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate in Louisiana, with 45% and 28% of the primary vote, respectively. Incumbent Bill Cassidy finished third, with 24% of the vote. NOLA's Tyler Bridges wrote, "As during the primary, Letlow and Fleming are both claiming to be…
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Four Republicans running to succeed U.S. Rep. John James (R) in Michigan's 10th Congressional District
Four candidates — Michael Bouchard, Steffan Demetropoulos, Justin Kirk, and Robert Lulgjuraj — are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan's 10th Congressional District on August 4, 2026. Bouchard and Lulgjuraj lead in polling, fundraising, and media attention. Incumbent John James (R) announced in 2025 that he would not seek…
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Two Republican incumbents drawn into the same congressional district to face off in general election for California's 40th
Incumbents Ken Calvert (R) and Young Kim (R) defeated six other candidates to win the top-two primary for California's 40th Congressional District on June 2, 2026, receiving 35% and 21% of the vote, respectively. Calvert, Kim, Joe Kerr (D), and Esther Kim Varet (D) led in campaign fundraising and polling ahead of the election. Calvert…