Category: 2026 elections
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Elections Ballotpedia is covering in October 2026
In October 2026, Ballotpedia is tracking nine elections across seven states. These include no statewide elections, four special elections held to fill vacancies in four states, and three recall elections in three states. Last month, Ballotpedia tracked 995 elections across 14 states. This included four statewide elections, 12 special elections, and two recall elections. In…
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One statewide candidate filing deadline in the next two weeks
It's officially fall, and there are 39 days until the November midterm election. Connecticut is the only state with a statewide filing deadline in the next two weeks. Connecticut’s statewide write-in candidate filing deadline is Oct. 5. Candidates must meet various state-specific filing requirements and deadlines to appear on primary and general election ballots. These…
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Majority control at stake in elections for Michigan's state senate on November 3, 2026
Elections for the Michigan State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The New York Times' David W. Chen wrote, "In 39 states, one party controls the governorship and legislature ... Michigan may join them after November, but unlike in other states these midterms, where Democrats have the…
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Amy Acton (D) and Vivek Ramaswamy (R) to face off in toss-up election for Governor of Ohio
Amy Acton (D), Vivek Ramaswamy (R), and Don Kissick (L) are running in the general election for governor of Ohio on Nov. 3. Incumbent Mike DeWine (R) is term-limited. Ohio voters last elected a Democratic governor in 2006 when Ted Strickland (D) defeated J. Kenneth Blackwell (R) 61%-37%. Ohio voted for President Donald Trump (R)…
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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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Elections for ten of 20 seats in the Alaska State Senate are taking place this November, where a multi-party coalition has a majority
Elections for ten of the 20 seats in the Alaska State Senate will be held on November 3, 2026. After the 2024 elections, a 17-member coalition with a Democratic majority retained control of the chamber. The coalition of nine Democrats and eight Republicans first assumed control after the November 2022 elections. Members of the Alaska…
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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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Incumbent Tom Barrett and William Lawrence are running in battleground Michigan's 7th Congressional District on Nov. 3
Incumbent Tom Barrett (R), William Lawrence (D), and Shane Dedrick (G) are running in the general election for Michigan's 7th Congressional District on Nov. 3. In the 2024 general election, Barrett defeated Curtis Hertel (D) 50.3% to 46.6%. In the presidential election that year, President Donald Trump (R) defeated Kamala Harris (D) in the district…
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States are recruiting poll workers for November. Here's what they require.
With the Nov. 3 general election approaching, states across the country are recruiting poll workers to serve on Election Day and during the early voting period. Poll workers perform a variety of functions. They may help set up or break down polling places, greet and check in voters, issue and transport ballots, and perform other…