Last Updated on 05/08/2026 by TinHN Editor
As of mid-June 2026, approximately 25 states have concluded their primaries” To: “As of early August 2026, all major battleground states have completed their primaries. The August 4 Michigan and Kansas primaries were the last high-profile contests of the cycle, with remaining states holding late primaries through September for mostly lower-profile races.”
The 2026 midterm primary season is now largely complete, with voters across the country having chosen which candidates will represent their party in the November 3 general election. This tracker covers the most significant race outcomes, state by state, for Senate, House, and Governor contests — and summarizes the key takeaways from a primary season that has significantly shaped the November battlefield.
For a full overview of what’s at stake in November, see our 2026 US Midterm Elections guide.
Primary Season Status: Where Things Stand
As of early August 2026, the primary season is effectively concluded in all major battleground states. Most of the remaining states hold late primaries (August–September) for lower-profile races. All major Senate, governor, and competitive House matchups are now set for November.
| Phase | Status |
|---|---|
| Early primaries (TX, CA, etc.) — March 3 | ✅ Complete |
| Georgia primary + runoffs — May 19 / June 16 | ✅ Complete |
| South Carolina runoff — June 23 | ✅ Complete |
| Maryland, New York, Utah — June 23 | ✅ Complete |
| Louisiana runoffs — June 27 | ✅ Complete |
| Michigan, Kansas primaries — August 4 | ✅ Complete |
| Remaining late states (Aug–Sep) | 🔄 Ongoing |
| General Election | November 3, 2026 |
Senate Primary Results
Georgia — ✅ SETTLED
Georgia’s primary season produced the most closely watched results of the entire 2026 cycle — and delivered a mixed verdict for President Trump.
Senate (June 16 runoff): Rep. Mike Collins — endorsed by Trump in a last-minute social media post early Sunday morning, after early voting had already closed — defeated former football coach Derek Dooley, who had been backed by Gov. Brian Kemp throughout the campaign. Collins will face Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
The win was described as a triumph for Trump over Kemp in their ongoing factional rivalry inside Georgia’s Republican Party. However, post-runoff polling has been sobering for the GOP: Ossoff leads Collins by 4 to 13 points across multiple surveys, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball upgraded the race to Likely Democrat on July 30.
Governor (June 16 runoff): Billionaire Rick Jackson defeated Trump’s preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, in the Republican gubernatorial runoff — delivering Kemp a consolation win on the same night Collins eliminated Kemp’s Senate pick. Jackson will face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms (who won the Democratic gubernatorial primary without a runoff) in November. Notably, Democratic primary turnout in Georgia exceeded Republican turnout for the first time since 2006.
Maine — ✅ SETTLED
Democrat Graham Platner won the primary and will challenge Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in what is rated a Toss-Up by major forecasters. Collins has survived multiple difficult cycles by cultivating a reputation for independence, but 2026 may be her most difficult test.
North Carolina — ✅ SETTLED
Now rated Lean Democrat by Sabato’s Crystal Ball (moved June 11). The Democratic nominee will challenge the Republican-held seat in a state Trump won in 2024, making this one of the most surprising potential pickups on the map.
Alaska — ✅ SETTLED
Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola — who pulled off a surprise 2022 House win in Alaska — is running for Senate. Cook Political Report moved the race from Lean Republican to Toss-Up on July 1. Her cross-partisan appeal and Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system give her a realistic path.
Michigan — ✅ SETTLED (August 4, 2026)
Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary on August 4 was one of the most expensive and closely watched of the entire 2026 cycle — and produced a result that shocked the Democratic establishment.
Democratic nominee: Abdul El-Sayed — Former public health official and progressive firebrand, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, projected winner by NBC News in the early hours of August 5. El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in a narrow but decisive race despite facing a nearly $65 million outside-spending onslaught — largely from pro-Israel group AIPAC — in support of Stevens. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Stevens in a late-stage effort to stop El-Sayed’s momentum. A third candidate, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (who had dropped out July 5 but remained on the ballot), drew roughly 4% of the vote.
El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for All, opposition to corporate dark money, and a progressive anti-establishment platform. His victory — following Zohran Mamdani’s win in the New York City mayoral race — marks a significant shift in the Democratic Party’s center of gravity toward its left wing.
Republican nominee: Mike Rogers — Former congressman, backed by President Trump, won the Republican primary uncontested. Rogers narrowly lost a 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by around 19,000 votes.
General election matchup: El-Sayed vs. Rogers. This race is considered one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country and could be decisive in determining Senate control. Republicans had privately viewed El-Sayed as the easier opponent — his progressive profile is seen as a liability in a purple state Trump carried in 2024. Expect forecasters to reassess Michigan’s rating (currently Toss-Up) in the coming weeks.
Ohio — ✅ SETTLED
Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown is challenging appointed Republican incumbent Jon Husted. Brown is one of the most effective blue-collar campaigners in the party, having won a 2024 Senate race even as Trump carried Ohio by 11 points. The race is now rated Toss-Up.
South Carolina Senate — ✅ SETTLED
Sen. Lindsey Graham won the Republican primary comfortably. The Democratic nominee will face him in a race considered Safe Republican.
Governor Primary Results
Georgia — ✅ SETTLED (June 16 runoff)
Rick Jackson (R) defeated Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican runoff to claim the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Jackson, a billionaire businessman, was not Trump’s preferred candidate — Trump had backed Burt Jones. Jackson faces Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms (former Atlanta mayor) in November in what is expected to be a competitive general election.
The Georgia governor’s race is notable for two reasons: it was Kemp’s only victory of the runoff night (his Senate pick Dooley lost to Collins), and Democratic primary turnout statewide exceeded Republican turnout — the first time this has happened in Georgia since 2006.
South Carolina — ✅ SETTLED (June 23 runoff)
State Attorney General Alan Wilson defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the Republican gubernatorial runoff on June 23, in a race that featured President Trump’s unusual double endorsement of both candidates. Trump initially backed Evette, then co-endorsed Wilson ahead of the runoff as Wilson gained momentum. Wilson will face Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson in a general election where Republicans are heavily favored in a state Democrats have not won a governorship since 1998.
Michigan — ✅ SETTLED (August 4, 2026)
Michigan’s open governor’s race (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited) produced clear nominees on both sides.
Democratic nominee: Jocelyn Benson — Two-term Michigan Secretary of State, projected winner comfortably over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Benson ran on growing the economy, improving schools, and housing affordability, and frames the race as a defense of democratic values.
Republican nominee: Rep. John James — Trump-endorsed congressman, won over wealthy businessman Perry Johnson (who self-funded nearly $32 million, making it the most expensive gubernatorial primary in Michigan history). After Trump issued his “total endorsement” of James in late June, multiple rival candidates dropped out to consolidate behind James.
General election matchup: Benson vs. James in November. Michigan is a purple state that Trump carried in both 2016 and 2024 (losing only in 2020). This race will be closely watched as a barometer of whether Republicans can extend their gubernatorial gains in competitive Midwestern states.
Kansas — ✅ SETTLED (August 4, 2026)
Republican nominee: Ty Masterson — Kansas Senate President, backed by President Trump, won the Republican primary with roughly 42% of the vote in a crowded seven-candidate field, defeating Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab and five other rivals. Trump held a statewide tele-rally in Masterson’s final days of campaigning and called him “fantastic” and a results-oriented conservative.
Democratic nominee: Cindy Holscher — State senator, defeated rivals including Ethan Corson in a close Democratic primary, despite Gov. Laura Kelly (term-limited) backing a different candidate.
General election matchup: Masterson vs. Holscher in November. Kansas is one of Republicans’ top governor pickup opportunities in 2026: registered Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly 2-to-1, and Trump has carried Kansas by double digits in all three of his presidential runs. Cook Political Report rates the race Lean Republican. However, Kansas has an unusual streak — since the 1960s, the state has never consecutively elected governors from the same party — and Republicans must contend with the legacy of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s 2012 income tax cuts, which sent the state into fiscal crisis and triggered bipartisan backlash, ultimately enabling Democrat Laura Kelly to win in 2018.
California — ✅ SETTLED (certified July 10)
The most closely watched governor primary of the entire cycle concluded June 2. Democrat Xavier Becerra (27.7%) and Republican Steve Hilton (25.1%) advanced out of a crowded nonpartisan primary, with billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer eliminated in third. The California Secretary of State certified the final results on July 10, 2026. For a full analysis of the general election matchup, see our dedicated article: 2026 California Governor Race: Hilton vs. Becerra.
House Primary Highlights
The Redistricting Landscape — Key Update
The House redistricting battle has produced a meaningful Republican structural advantage, though the margins are being actively contested. Republicans currently hold a ~17-seat redistricting edge across all states — a significant firewall given Democrats need only a net gain of approximately 5 seats (accounting for current vacancies) to retake the House majority.
However, major August 3 forecasting model updates from FiftyPlusOne — the successor to FiveThirtyEight’s congressional model — give Democrats an 85% chance of winning House control, driven primarily by a +6-point Democratic generic ballot advantage and favorable polling in individual competitive districts.
Current House composition: 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, 5 vacancies (CA-01, CA-14, TX-23, FL-20, GA-13).
Key Rating Changes (Cook Political Report, July 16)
The most recent Cook Political Report House ratings update (July 16) included several significant moves:
- CA-45: Lean → Likely Democrat
- NY-19: Lean → Likely Democrat
- KY-06: Safe → Likely Republican (competitive now)
- NH-02: Likely → Safe Democrat
- OR-05: Likely → Safe Democrat
- TX-15: Likely → Lean Republican (more competitive)
And from August 3 (Inside Elections):
- AZ-05, FL-04, NC-03, NY-21, OH-10: Updated ratings
Virginia
Cook Political Report moved several Virginia districts earlier in the cycle — including VA-01 and VA-05 moving toward Republicans, and VA-02 becoming a Toss-Up. Virginia will use existing 2021 court-drawn maps, so these shifts reflect candidate quality and environment rather than redistricting.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania
NJ-07 and PA-10 remain competitive, currently rated Toss-Up to Tilt Republican by Inside Elections. Both districts feature Republican incumbents facing pressure from well-funded Democratic challengers.
California Redistricting Litigation
California’s House primaries proceeded under the newly redrawn Proposition 50 maps, but redistricting litigation is ongoing. The final legal resolution of the California maps could affect a handful of competitive districts in the Central Valley and Orange County.
Supreme Court — Alabama Map Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 2 to allow Alabama to use a redrawn congressional map that eliminates one majority-Black district — a ruling that further reinforces the Republican structural map advantage nationally.
What the Primaries Tell Us: Final Takeaways
Several patterns have emerged clearly now that the primary season is mostly complete:
1. Georgia is no longer the top Republican pickup. Collins defeating Dooley gave Republicans their Trump-endorsed nominee, but polling since the runoff shows Ossoff with a significant and durable lead. Georgia has shifted from a Democratic vulnerability to a Democratic-leaning race.
2. The House is now strongly favored to flip. FiftyPlusOne’s August 3 model — 85% Democratic — reflects consistent +6-point generic ballot leads and favorable individual district polling. Democrats have the wind at their backs.
3. The Senate is genuinely competitive. The map shift in Georgia, North Carolina, Alaska, and Ohio means Democrats have a realistic path to the majority, though it remains the harder of the two chambers to flip. FiftyPlusOne gives Democrats a 55% chance of Senate control.
4. Democratic enthusiasm is running ahead of expectations. Higher-than-expected Democratic primary turnout in Georgia (exceeding Republican turnout for the first time since 2006), strong fundraising advantages in Senate races, and a +12-point Democratic advantage among independents in the generic ballot all point to elevated base enthusiasm.
5. The redistricting map still matters — but may not be decisive. Republicans locked in a ~17-seat structural map advantage, but if the national environment produces a Democratic wave large enough, those structural walls can be overcome. The 85% House forecast suggests forecasters believe the environment is strong enough to break through the map.
6. The Michigan Senate primary reshapes the electability debate. El-Sayed’s victory over a heavily-funded establishment candidate — despite facing nearly $65 million in outside spending against him — signals that progressive candidates backed by grassroots mobilization can overcome institutional opposition. However, it also hands Republicans what they consider an easier target in Mike Rogers, who outpolled El-Sayed in hypothetical head-to-head polling before the primary. Michigan’s Senate Toss-Up rating should be re-evaluated in light of the nominee.
7. Kansas is Republicans’ best governor pickup shot. With Trump-endorsed Masterson as the nominee in a state Republicans dominate at the federal level, Kansas represents the clearest Republican opportunity to flip a Democratic-held governorship in 2026. Cook Political Report rates it Lean Republican.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Michigan Democratic Senate primary? Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in a close race despite facing nearly $65 million in outside spending in Stevens’ favor. El-Sayed will face Trump-endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in November in one of the most competitive Senate races of the cycle.
Who won the Kansas Republican governor primary? Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, backed by President Trump, won with roughly 42% of the vote in a seven-candidate field. He will face Democrat Cindy Holscher in November in a race Cook Political Report rates Lean Republican.
How many states have completed primaries in 2026? As of early August 2026, all major battleground states have completed their primaries and runoffs. A handful of states hold late primaries through September for non-competitive races.
Who won the Georgia Senate Republican runoff? Rep. Mike Collins, endorsed by President Trump, defeated Derek Dooley on June 16. He will face Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. Ossoff currently leads by 4–13 points in polling.
Who is the Republican nominee for Georgia governor? Billionaire Rick Jackson, who defeated Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the June 16 runoff. He will face Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
Who won the South Carolina governor Republican runoff? State Attorney General Alan Wilson, who defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette on June 23. Trump ultimately co-endorsed both candidates ahead of the runoff. Wilson faces Democrat Jermaine Johnson in November.
Do Democrats still have a path to the House majority? Yes — and they are now heavily favored. The August 3 FiftyPlusOne model gives Democrats an 85% chance of winning House control, with a median forecast of 230 seats.
When is the last state primary in 2026? Primary season runs through September 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026.
This article is updated as primary results become available. For Senate race-by-race ratings, see our 2026 Midterm Senate Map. For the California governor race, see Hilton vs. Becerra.