Elections
District of Columbia 2026 Primary Election: Date, Rules & What to Know
The District of Columbia 2026 congressional primary is June 16, 2026. General Election Day is November 3, 2026.
Primary Election · June 16, 2026
General Election · November 3, 2026
What's on the District of Columbia 2026 Ballot
U.S. House of Representatives
All U.S. House seats in District of Columbia are on the 2026 ballot. Every House member runs for re-election every two years. View District of Columbia representatives →
U.S. Senate
District of Columbia's Senate seats are not on the ballot in 2026. Senate seats rotate on a six-year cycle — District of Columbia's senators are in Class I or Class III, which are up in 2024/2030 and 2022/2028 respectively. Learn about Senate classes →
District of Columbia's Primary System: Partisan Closed Primary
District of Columbia holds a closed primary, meaning you must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent and unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register with a party before the registration deadline.
District of Columbia 2026 Election Key Dates
| June 16, 2026 | Primary Election |
| October 2026 | Voter registration deadlines (check your state) |
| November 3, 2026 | General Election |
| January 3, 2027 | 120th Congress convenes |
Voter Registration in District of Columbia
You must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent/unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register before the deadline. Registration deadlines vary — most states require registration 15–30 days before the primary, though some offer same-day registration.
Check your registration status and find your polling place at vote.gov.
See All State Primary Dates
Compare District of Columbia's primary to other states' 2026 schedules.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the District of Columbia primary election in 2026?
The District of Columbia 2026 congressional primary is June 16, 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026.
Can I vote in the District of Columbia primary if I'm not registered with a party?
You must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent/unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register before the deadline.
What is on the District of Columbia 2026 primary ballot?
All U.S. House seats in District of Columbia are on the 2026 primary ballot. District of Columbia's U.S. Senate seats are not up for election in 2026. Most states also hold primaries for governor and state legislature on the same day.
What type of primary does District of Columbia use?
District of Columbia holds a closed primary, meaning you must be registered with a political party to vote in that party's primary. Independent and unaffiliated voters cannot participate unless they re-register with a party before the registration deadline.
When is the District of Columbia voter registration deadline for the 2026 primary?
Voter registration deadlines vary but are typically 15–30 days before the primary. Because District of Columbia has a closed primary, you must also be registered with a party before the deadline to vote in a party primary. Check the District of Columbia Secretary of State website or vote.gov for the exact deadline.
When is the District of Columbia general election in 2026?
The 2026 general election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This date is the same for all 50 states — it is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.