Category: State
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Record number of candidates and contested primaries in the 2026 Texas state legislative elections
Texas has 465 major party candidates running for state legislative office, the most of any election cycle since 2010. Of the 465 total candidates, 238 are Democrats, up 20% from 199 in 2024. There are 227 Republican candidates, up 7% from 212 in 2024. Texas also has 103 contested state legislative primaries this year, an…
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Doug LaMalfa’s death leaves California’s 1st Congressional District vacant
On Jan. 6, 2026, Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) died, leaving California's 1st Congressional District vacant. According to NBC News' Scott Wong and Kyle Stewart, LaMalfa died in surgery following a medical emergency at his residence. The vacancy now brings the Republican majority in the chamber to 218 to 213, with four vacancies. LaMalfa’s electoral history in…
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Rep. Steny Hoyer becomes the 45th U.S. House member who is not seeking re-election in 2026
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced on Jan. 7, 2026, that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. In a speech announcing his retirement, Hoyer said, “I stand here now after some 60 years in public service, including nearly 45 years as a Member of this House. I’ve won elections…
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Rep. Julia Brownley becomes the 46th U.S. House member who is not seeking re-election in 2026
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) announced on Jan. 8, 2026, that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. In a statement announcing her retirement, Brownley wrote, “Serving our community and our country has been the honor of my lifetime. Every step of this journey has been shaped by the people…
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Share of Illinois state legislative incumbents in contested primaries lowest since 2016
In 2026, 12.7% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Illinois will face primary contests, down from 14.4% in 2024 and the lowest percentage since 2016, when 11.8% of incumbents faced primaries. In total, 18 incumbents face contested primaries across the Illinois House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each election…
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Arkansas to see fewest state legislative incumbent primaries since 2014
Nine Arkansas state legislative incumbents face primary contests this year, the fewest since eight incumbents ran in contested 2014 primaries. All nine of the contested incumbents are Republicans. Three are state senators and six are state representatives. This is the first year without any Democratic incumbents in contested primaries in the state since Ballotpedia began…
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Fewest open state legislative seats in North Carolina since 2010
Ten seats are open in North Carolina’s state legislative elections this year, meaning no incumbents filed. That is the fewest open seats since 2010 and means newcomers could represent as little as 6% of the legislature next year. The average number of open seats each cycle from 2010 to 2024 was 24. Thirty-nine incumbents face…
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State supreme court vacancy count for December 2025
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Dec. 1 to Dec. 30, 2025. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justices sworn into office: During December 2025, two justices were sworn into office. Appointees named and nominees confirmed:…
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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's (R) proposal could be first expansion of a state's supreme court since 2016
In Utah, Governor Spencer Cox’s (R) most recent budget proposal includes nearly $3 million allocated to increasing the number of justices on the state’s Supreme Court and its Court of Appeals by two justices each. Currently, the Supreme Court has five justices, and the Court of Appeals has seven. Utah is one of 15 states…
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Of 25 veto referendums, Missouri voters have upheld the targeted legislation only once
Missouri voters may decide on a veto referendum on the state’s new congressional district map in 2026. If certified for the ballot, this would be the 26th veto referendum Missouri voters will decide in state history. Between 1906 and 2025, 530 veto referendums appeared on ballots in 23 states. Voters more often repealed the targeted…