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2026 Elections

2026 Congressional Primary Elections: Calendar, Rules & Key Dates

The 2026 congressional primaries ran from March through September 2026 and are now complete — every state has chosen its nominees. All 435 U.S. House seats and 35 Senate seats (33 Class II plus two specials) go to the general election on November 3. This page is the record of the calendar and the rules; for who actually won, see the primary results by state.

Quick Answer

Primary Season
March through September 2026
Super Tuesday
March 3, 2026
Seats on the Ballot
All 435 U.S. House seats and 35 Senate seats (33 Class II plus two specials)
General Election Day
November 3, 2026
Who Sets Dates
Each state, not the federal government

What Is a Congressional Primary?

A congressional primary is an election used to choose each party's nominee for the U.S. House or Senate in the November general election. Primaries narrow the field: voters pick a Democrat, a Republican, and occasionally a third-party nominee, who then face off in the general election.

Primary rules are set by each state, not Congress, so the date, who can vote, and how ties are resolved all vary by state.

Types of Primary Elections

Closed Primary

Only voters registered with a party can vote in that party's primary. Independent voters are excluded. Used in states like New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

Open Primary

Any registered voter can choose which party's primary to vote in on election day, regardless of party registration. Used in states like Virginia, Georgia, and Minnesota.

Semi-Closed / Semi-Open Primary

Registered party members vote in their party's primary, and independents can choose a primary to participate in. Used in states like Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Top-Two / “Jungle” Primary

All candidates from all parties run on a single primary ballot. The top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the general election. This sometimes produces same-party general elections (e.g., two Democrats facing each other). Used in California and Washington.

Top-Four with Ranked-Choice General

The top four finishers advance to a ranked-choice general election. Used in Alaska for federal elections since 2022.

Primary with Runoff

If no candidate wins an outright majority (over 50%), the top two hold a separate runoff election. Used in several Southern states, including Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

2026 Primary Dates by State

2026 congressional primaries span about seven months, from early March through mid-September. Click any state for full details, voter eligibility rules, and a live countdown.

StatePrimary DateStatus
AlabamaMay 19, 2026Passed
AlaskaAugust 18, 2026Passed
ArizonaJuly 21, 2026Passed
ArkansasMarch 3, 2026Passed
CaliforniaJune 2, 2026Passed
ColoradoJune 30, 2026Passed
ConnecticutAugust 11, 2026Passed
DelawareSeptember 15, 2026Passed
FloridaAugust 18, 2026Passed
GeorgiaMay 19, 2026Passed
HawaiiAugust 8, 2026Passed
IdahoMay 19, 2026Passed
IllinoisMarch 17, 2026Passed
IndianaMay 5, 2026Passed
IowaJune 2, 2026Passed
KansasAugust 4, 2026Passed
KentuckyMay 19, 2026Passed
LouisianaSenate: May 16, 2026
House: TBD		Passed
MaineJune 9, 2026Passed
MarylandJune 23, 2026Passed
MassachusettsSeptember 1, 2026Passed
MichiganAugust 4, 2026Passed
MinnesotaAugust 11, 2026Passed
MississippiMarch 10, 2026Passed
MissouriAugust 4, 2026Passed
MontanaJune 2, 2026Passed
NebraskaMay 12, 2026Passed
NevadaJune 9, 2026Passed
New HampshireSeptember 8, 2026Passed
New JerseyJune 2, 2026Passed
New MexicoJune 2, 2026Passed
New YorkJune 23, 2026Passed
North CarolinaMarch 3, 2026Passed
North DakotaJune 9, 2026Passed
OhioMay 5, 2026Passed
OklahomaJune 16, 2026Passed
OregonMay 19, 2026Passed
PennsylvaniaMay 19, 2026Passed
Rhode IslandSeptember 9, 2026Passed
South CarolinaJune 9, 2026Passed
South DakotaJune 2, 2026Passed
TennesseeAugust 6, 2026Passed
TexasMarch 3, 2026Passed
UtahJune 23, 2026Passed
VermontAugust 11, 2026Passed
VirginiaAugust 4, 2026Passed
WashingtonAugust 4, 2026Passed
West VirginiaMay 12, 2026Passed
WisconsinAugust 11, 2026Passed
WyomingAugust 18, 2026Passed
District of ColumbiaJune 16, 2026Passed

Sources: NCSL, Ballotpedia, FEC. Primary dates are set by each state and may change — always verify with your state's election office.

What's on the 2026 Primary Ballot

  • All 435 U.S. House seats — every Representative is up every 2 years.
  • 33 U.S. Senate seats (Class II) — these senators were last elected in 2020 and are finishing 6-year terms. See the Senate class schedule.
  • 36 governorships and many state legislative seats — not federal, but usually on the same ballot.
  • Ballot initiatives and local races, which vary by state.

Because it's a midterm year, there is no presidential primary in 2026. The next presidential primaries are in 2028.

How Primaries Differ from the General Election

FeaturePrimary ElectionGeneral Election
PurposePick a nominee for each partyElect the officeholder
Date (2026)March–September 2026November 3, 2026
Who Can VoteDepends on state rules (open/closed/etc.)Any registered voter
CandidatesTypically one party at a timeNominees from all parties
TurnoutUsually much lowerHigher

Primary vs. Caucus

Most states use primaries — a standard secret-ballot election. A few states still use caucuses, where party members gather in person, discuss candidates, and express preferences through raised hands, sign-in sheets, or preference groups.

In 2026, congressional caucuses are rare; the caucus format is more common in presidential years and has been phased out in most states.

Voter Registration Deadlines

Every state sets its own voter registration deadline for primaries. Deadlines typically fall between 15 and 30 days before the primary, though a growing number of states offer same-day voter registration.

In closed-primary states, you may also need to register with a specific party well in advance. Check vote.gov or your state board of elections for exact deadlines.

After the Primary: Path to November

Once all primaries conclude in September, nominees campaign through October. Early voting begins in most states in mid-to-late October, and mail-in ballots are accepted on varying schedules. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The winners are sworn in on January 3, 2027 as the 120th Congress begins.

See our full 2026 election timeline for key dates from campaign season through Inauguration.

See Who's Up for Election

Browse the 2026 elections page to see every Senator and Representative on the ballot, or use the interactive map to find who represents your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the 2026 congressional primary elections?

2026 congressional primaries run from early March through mid-September 2026. Exact dates vary by state. Super Tuesday, the largest cluster of primaries, was held on March 3, 2026.

What is a congressional primary?

A congressional primary is an election held to choose each party’s nominee for the U.S. House or Senate. Winners advance to the November general election. Primary rules (who can vote, the date, and thresholds for winning) are set by each state.

Who is on the 2026 primary ballot?

All 435 U.S. House seats and 33 U.S. Senate seats (Class II) are on the ballot in 2026. Most states also hold primaries for governor, state legislature, and local offices on the same day.

Is there a presidential primary in 2026?

No. 2026 is a midterm year, so there is no presidential primary. The next presidential primaries will be in 2028.

What is Super Tuesday?

Super Tuesday is the date when the largest single-day cluster of primaries is held. In 2026, Super Tuesday was March 3, with primaries in California, Texas, North Carolina, and several other states.

What’s the difference between an open and closed primary?

In a closed primary, only voters registered with a party can vote in that party’s primary. In an open primary, any registered voter can choose which party’s primary to participate in, regardless of party registration.

What is a jungle primary?

A jungle primary (also called a top-two primary) puts all candidates from all parties on a single primary ballot. The top two finishers — regardless of party — advance to the general election. California and Washington use this system for congressional elections.

When is Election Day 2026?

The 2026 general Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting begins earlier in most states; check your state’s rules for exact dates and mail-in ballot options.

Do congressional primaries happen every year?

Congressional primaries happen every two years, matching the House election cycle. They occur in even-numbered years (2022, 2024, 2026, 2028, …), the same years as the general election in November.

Why do primary dates differ between states?

Each state legislature (or in some states, the secretary of state) sets its own primary date. There is no federal law dictating when states must hold congressional primaries, so dates can vary from March to September and can shift between cycles.

What is a runoff primary?

A runoff primary is a second primary election held when no candidate wins an outright majority (over 50%) in the first round. The top two finishers face off alone. Runoffs are most common in Southern states including Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

When do 2026 primary winners take office?

Primary winners don’t take office from winning the primary — they first have to win the general election on November 3, 2026. The winners are then sworn in on January 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress convenes.

Related Resources

2026 Midterm Election Countdown

Live countdown to Election Day — November 3, 2026 — and to the swearing-in of the 120th Congress.

Who Controls Congress After 2026?

Live balance of power — the Senate map, what each party needs, and results as races are called.

How to Vote in Your State

Registration deadlines, early voting, mail ballots, voter ID, and poll hours for all 50 states and D.C. — with a plan builder you can add to your calendar.

Judicial Elections: How Judges Are Chosen

How every state picks its judges, all 63 state supreme court seats on the 2026 ballot, retention votes, and how the Senate confirms federal judges.