Author: Nathan Maxwell
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Record low number of uncontested incumbents in 2026 state legislative general elections
There are a record few uncontested incumbents in this year’s state legislative general elections. Of the 4,888 incumbents running for re-election, 979 of them (20%) are uncontested and guaranteed re-election. Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of incumbents in uncontested general elections to help determine the overall competitiveness of an election cycle. A larger number…
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This year's state legislative elections are the third most competitive since 2010, Ballotpedia's 16th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report shows
Ballotpedia published its 16th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report analyzing all 6,137 state legislative seats that are up for election on November 3, 2026, in 46 states. Competitiveness in 2026 is the third-highest since 2010, behind only fellow midterm years 2018 (36.1) and 2022 (36.6). In 2026, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index is 35.4,…
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Both major parties are contesting 66% of this year’s state legislative races, the most since 2018
Both major parties are contesting 66% of the state legislative seats up for general election across the country this November. That is just shy of the 2018 record of 66.3%. Of the 6,137 total state legislative seats up for election, 2,085 (34%) are uncontested. A seat has major party competition when candidates from both major…
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Share of incumbents in contested primaries above average in 2026, but less than previous midterm
In 2026, there were 1,156 state legislative incumbents in contested primaries, representing 23% of all incumbents who filed for re-election. That tied 2012 for the second-highest percentage of contested incumbents since 2010, next to 2022 at 27%. Ballotpedia uses the number and percentage of incumbents in contested primaries to help determine the overall competitiveness of…
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Contested state legislative primaries down 15% from previous midterm cycle
There were 1,994 contested state legislative primaries in 2026. That was 18% of the 11,164 possible primaries across the 46 states with state legislative elections this year. The total number of contested primaries in 2026—1,994—was 340 fewer and a 15% decrease from the previous midterm cycle in 2022. Democrats had 876 primaries, representing 16% of…
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Newcomers are guaranteed 17% of this year's state legislative races
There are 1,064 open seats in this year’s state legislative elections, 17% of all 6,137 seats up for election. That is below the average of 19% in each cycle since 2010. Looking only at previous midterm election years since 2010, that average was 20%. An open seat is where no incumbent filed to run, meaning…
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Open general election contest for Indiana Secretary of State after Republican incumbent defeated at convention
Beau Bayh (D), Max Engling (R), Greg Ballard (I), and Lauri Shillings (L) are running for Indiana Secretary of State in the November 3, 2026, general election. Bayh, Engling, and Ballard lead in media attention and fundraising. Republicans have controlled the secretary's office since 1994. Incumbent Diego Morales (R) lost to Engling at the June…
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Brent Taylor won the Republican primary for Tennessee's redrawn 9th Congressional District
Brent Taylor defeated Charlotte Bergmann, Jeremy Thompson, and Todd Warner in the Republican primary for U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District on August 6, 2026. The Tennessee Legislature redrew the majority-minority Memphis district in a May 2026 special session called by Gov. Bill Lee (R) following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in…
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Jocelyn Benson (D) won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Michigan
Jocelyn Benson defeated Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 4, 2026. Incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) was term-limited, leaving the office open in 2026. Michigan has a divided government, meaning neither party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office, which is called a state government…
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Elaine Luria's (D) primary victory sets up general election rematch in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District
Elaine Luria defeated Nila Devanath, Bill Fleming, and Patrick Mosolf in the Democratic primary for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District on August 4, 2026. Luria and Devanath led in fundraising and media attention ahead of the election. Luria will face incumbent Jennifer Kiggans (R) in the general election. Luria represented the district from 2019 to 2023.…