2026 Midterm Primary Results by State: Who Advanced to November?

Last Updated on 16/06/2026 by TinHN Editor

The 2026 midterm primary season is well underway, with voters across the country choosing which candidates will represent their party — or advance through California’s nonpartisan top-two system — in the November 3 general election. This tracker covers the most significant race outcomes, state by state, for Senate, House, and Governor contests.

For a full overview of what’s at stake in November, see our 2026 US Midterm Elections guide.

How the Primary Season Works

Primary elections determine which candidates advance to the general election on November 3, 2026. Each state sets its own primary date, running from March through September. In most states, Democrats and Republicans vote separately to choose their party’s nominee. California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary, where all candidates appear on a single ballot and the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — move on to November.

As of mid-June 2026, primaries have concluded in roughly 25 states, with 266 races called. Key upcoming dates include:

Senate Primary Results

Maine — Toss-Up Race

Maine’s Senate primary set up one of the most watched general election matchups of the cycle. On the Democratic side, Graham Platner won the primary and will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Collins, a moderate Republican who has survived multiple difficult cycles, remains one of the few Republicans representing a state Kamala Harris won in 2024 — making this race a genuine toss-up.

Georgia — Runoff Pending (June 16)

Georgia held its Senate primary on May 19, but no candidate cleared the required threshold to avoid a runoff. The Republican runoff to determine who faces incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff takes place today, June 16. Ossoff’s 2020 victory was extraordinarily narrow — won in a special runoff amid exceptional turnout circumstances — making this seat a top Republican pickup target. For a detailed breakdown of the Georgia race and other Senate battlegrounds, see our 2026 Midterm Senate Map guide.

South Carolina

Sen. Lindsey Graham won the Republican Senate primary comfortably and will seek re-election in a state considered safely Republican. On the Democratic side, Andrews won the nomination, setting up a general election race that Republicans are heavily favored to win.

North Carolina — Lean Democrat (shift)

270toWin’s June 11 update moved North Carolina from Toss-Up to Lean Democrat, reflecting polling trends that have surprised some analysts who expected the race to favor Republicans in a Trump-won state.

Alaska and Ohio — Moving Toward Toss-Up

Both Alaska and Ohio shifted to Toss-Up status in the June 11 forecast update — a notable move that signals Democrats are more competitive in these states than anticipated. In Ohio, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is challenging appointed incumbent Republican Jon Husted for the seat. In Alaska, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola is running for Senate, bringing strong name recognition after her 2022 House win.

Governor Primary Results

California — Becerra vs. Hilton

The most watched governor primary of the entire cycle concluded June 2 in California. Democrat Xavier Becerra (28%) and Republican Steve Hilton (25%) advanced out of a crowded nonpartisan primary, with billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer eliminated in third place. For a full profile of both candidates and what this race means for November, see our dedicated article: 2026 California Governor Race: Hilton vs. Becerra.

Georgia — Governor Runoff (June 16)

Georgia’s gubernatorial race also went to a runoff. Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited, creating an open seat. The Republican runoff between Rick Jackson and Burt Jones is being decided today, June 16. Whoever wins will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms in November in what is expected to be a competitive general election — notably, Democratic primary turnout in Georgia exceeded Republican turnout for the first time since 2006, a signal the party’s base is energized.

South Carolina — Governor Runoff (June 23)

South Carolina’s Republican governor primary also produced a runoff between Evette and Wilson, scheduled for June 23.

House Primary Highlights

California — Redistricting Battle

California held its House primaries June 2 under a redrawn congressional map created by the voter-approved 2025 Proposition 50. Democrats redrawn their maps in response to aggressive Republican redistricting in Texas and other states. The California map is being litigated, but primaries proceeded using the new district lines. Republicans made some competitive inroads, with one dark-horse Republican candidate threatening to complicate Democratic redistricting goals.

Redistricting Landscape — Republicans Hold Structural Edge

Across the country, the redistricting battle has produced a meaningful Republican structural advantage. GOP-led states now hold approximately a 17-seat redistricting edge over Democrats — a significant firewall given that Democrats need only a net gain of 3 seats to retake the House majority. Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 2 to allow Alabama to use a redrawn congressional map that eliminates one majority-Black district, further reinforcing the Republican map advantage.

Current House composition: 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, with 5 vacancies (CA-01, CA-14, TX-23, FL-20, GA-13).

Virginia — Key Rating Moves

Cook Political Report moved several Virginia districts in May:

• VA-01: Likely D → Lean R
• VA-02: Lean D → Toss-Up
• VA-05: Likely D → Likely R
• VA-06: Lean D → Safe R

Virginia will use existing 2021 court-drawn maps for 2026, meaning the Republican gains reflect candidate quality and environment rather than redistricting.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania

NJ-07 and PA-10 moved from Tilt R to Toss-Up per Inside Elections — signaling that Republicans in these competitive suburban districts face real pressure from Democratic challengers.

Primary Calendar: What’s Still Ahead

What the Primaries Tell Us So Far

Several patterns have emerged from the primary season:

1. The redistricting map is set — and it favors Republicans. With a ~17-seat structural GOP advantage locked in, Democrats face a steeper climb to the House majority than the generic ballot alone suggests.

2. Democrats are energized in unexpected places. Higher-than-expected Democratic primary turnout in Georgia and competitive showings in Alaska and Ohio suggest the anti-Trump environment is translating into voter engagement in states Republicans expected to hold easily.

3. Senate is genuinely competitive. The ratings shift in North Carolina, Alaska, and Ohio shows the Senate map is more fluid than it appeared in January. Republicans remain favored to hold the majority, but the ceiling on Democratic gains may be higher than expected.

4. California is the marquee governor race. With Gavin Newsom term-limited, the Becerra vs. Hilton matchup is the highest-profile open-seat governor contest in the country — a race that has national implications for both parties’ narratives heading into November.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many states have held primaries so far in 2026? As of mid-June 2026, approximately 25 states have concluded their primaries, with 266 races called. The remainder run through September 2026.

Which Senate seats are most competitive going into November? The most contested Senate races currently include Georgia (Ossoff re-election), Michigan (open seat, Peters retirement), Maine (Collins vs. Platner), North Carolina, Alaska, and Ohio. See our 2026 Midterm Senate Map for full race-by-race ratings.

Do Democrats still have a path to the House majority? Yes — they need a net gain of just 3 seats. However, the Republican redistricting advantage means the number of genuinely competitive seats is smaller than in a neutral-map environment, requiring Democrats to nearly run the table on toss-up districts.

When is the last state primary in 2026? Primary season runs through September 2026, with the final general election set for November 3, 2026.

This article is updated as primary results become available. Last updated: June 2026.