Author: Nathan Maxwell
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Four Democrats compete for party nomination to challenge Republican incumbent in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District
Four candidates — Nila Devanath, Bill Fleming, Elaine Luria, and Patrick Mosolf — are running in the Democratic primary for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District on August 4, 2026. Devanath and Luria lead in fundraising and media attention. The winner of the Democratic primary will face incumbent Jennifer Kiggans (R) in the general election. Luria represented…
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Michigan to see smallest share of contested state legislative incumbents since 2010
In 2026, 19% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Michigan will face primary contests, a record low since 2010. In total, 20 incumbents face contested primaries across the Michigan House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each midterm election cycle since 2010 was 28. Thirteen of the contested incumbents are…
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Arizona's 2026 state legislative elections less competitive than average
Arizona’s state legislative elections this year are shaping up to be generally less competitive than the average from 2010 to 2024. Voters will see below-average open seats, contested primaries, and contested incumbents. Twenty-four seats are open in Arizona’s state legislative elections this year, meaning no incumbents filed. That is less than the average of 29…
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Two incumbents lost in Montana Senate primaries, the most in one year since 2010
Two Republican incumbents lost in the Montana Senate primaries on June 2. This was the first year since 2010 in which more than one incumbent lost in the chamber's primaries. At the start of Montana's 2025 state legislative session, nine Republican senators voted with the chamber's Democrats to change procedural rules for the session. In…
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A new congressional map is blocked in Alabama, coming soon in Louisiana, and dead in South Carolina
New congressional maps are still possible in Alabama and Louisiana, while South Carolina will use its existing congressional map again this year. After new congressional maps took effect in Florida and Tennessee earlier this month, 2026 redistricting pursuits are a wrap in all but a few states. A panel of federal judges blocked Alabama's 2023…
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Three Democrats compete for Michigan's open governor's seat as Whitmer's term-limited exit looms
Three candidates—Jocelyn Benson, Chris Swanson, and Kim Thomas—are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Michigan on August 4, 2026. Benson and Swanson lead in polling, fundraising, and media attention ahead of the primary. Incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is term-limited, leaving the office open in 2026. The Associated Press' Joey Cappelletti wrote that…
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2.6% of state legislative incumbents have lost their primaries so far this year
So far this year, 43 state legislative incumbents—eight Democrats and 35 Republicans—have lost to primary challengers. Across the 14 states that have held primaries, 2.6% of incumbents running for re-election have lost, or 11.4% of the incumbents who were contested. That represents a 31% decrease from 2024 and sits 23% below the average of 56…
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Keisha Bottoms won the Democratic primary for governor in Georgia
Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) defeated six other candidates to win the Democratic Party primary for governor on May 19, 2026, receiving 58% of the vote. Lance and three other candidates — Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, and Michael Thurmond — led in polling, fundraising, and media coverage ahead of the primary. Bottoms was the Mayor of…
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Record high number of contested incumbents in South Dakota's state legislative elections this year
In 2026, 70.5% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in South Dakota will face primary contests, a record high since 2010. In total, 55 incumbents face contested primaries across the South Dakota House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each election cycle since 2010 was 24. All 55 of the contested…
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Utah state legislative primaries show downward trend in incumbent contests
In 2026, 10.4% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Utah will face primary contests, the smallest share in the most recent four cycles and below the average of 12.1% each cycle between 2010 and 2024. In total, eight incumbents face contested primaries across the Utah House and Senate. The average number of…