State primary dates for 2026 are listed below. Primary elections are used to determine which candidates will run for office in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. Legislative, congressional, gubernatorial and statewide offices are on the ballots in 46 states.
Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia hold their state legislative and executive elections in odd-numbered years. The dates listed for those states apply to congressional and other races.
The earliest state primaries for 2026 are held March 3, with the latest in mid-September and the primary for Louisiana U.S. House seats will be held in November. With 15 primaries, June is the busiest month for state primaries.
Please visit NCSL's State Primary Election Types for information on closed, open, top two and other primary election types.
Primary dates are subject to change by legislative action. The dates listed here are based on statutory requirements as of May 22, 2026.
This page is for informational purposes only. For current and accurate information on voting in your state, please contact your state or local election official.
2026 State Primary Dates
| State |
Primary Date |
Runoff Date |
Statute/Notes |
| Alabama (most offices) |
05/19/2026 |
06/16/2026 |
Ala. Code § 17-13-3
The primary election for congressional districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 is scheduled for Aug. 11, and the primary election for other offices remains on May 19.
|
|
Alabama (certain U.S. House districts)
|
08/11/2026
|
|
HB 1a / SB 1a (2026)
The primary election for U.S. House districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 was postponed by order of the governor and is now scheduled for Aug. 11. The primary election for other 2026 races, including U.S. Senate, state legislature and governor, will take place on May 19.
|
| Alaska |
08/18/2026 |
|
Alaska Stat. § 15.25.020 |
| Arizona |
07/21/2026 |
|
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-201 |
| Arkansas |
03/03/2026 |
03/31/2026 |
Ark. Stat. Ann. § 7-7-203 |
| California |
06/02/2026 |
|
Cal. Elec. Code § 1201 |
| Colorado |
06/30/2026 |
|
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-4-101 |
| Connecticut |
08/11/2026 |
|
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-423 |
| Delaware |
09/15/2026 |
|
Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 3101 |
| Florida |
08/18/2026 |
|
Fla. Stat. § 100.061 |
| Georgia |
05/19/2026 |
06/16/2026 |
Ga. Code §§ 21-2-150, 2-2-501(a) |
| Hawaii |
08/08/2026 |
|
Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 12-2 |
| Idaho |
05/19/2026 |
|
Idaho Code § 34-601 |
| Illinois |
03/17/2026 |
|
Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/2A-1.1 |
| Indiana |
05/05/2026 |
|
Ind. Code § 3-10-1-3 |
| Iowa |
06/02/2026 |
|
Iowa Code § 43.7 |
| Kansas |
08/04/2026 |
|
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-203 |
| Kentucky |
05/19/2026 |
|
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 118.025
Kentucky holds elections for statewide offices in odd-numbered years.
|
| Louisiana (U.S. Senate and local offices.) |
05/16/2026 |
06/27/2026 |
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 18:402, 18:410.10, 18:419.2
These dates only apply to the 2026 primary for U.S. Senate and some local offices. U.S. House races will tentatively take place July 15. Louisiana holds elections for state legislators and statewide offices in odd-numbered years.
|
|
Louisiana (U.S. House)
|
11/03/2026
|
12/12/2026
|
HB 842 (2026)
The primary election for U.S. House seats will take place Nov. 3, 2026, and a general election for the offices will take place Dec. 12, 2026 The primary election for other 2026 races, including U.S. Senate, took place May 16, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
|
| Maine |
06/09/2026 |
|
Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A, § 339 |
| Maryland |
06/23/2026 |
|
Md. Elect. Code Ann. § 8-201 |
| Massachusetts |
09/01/2026 |
|
Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 28 |
| Michigan |
08/04/2026 |
|
Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.534 |
| Minnesota |
08/11/2026 |
|
Minn. Stat. § 204D.03 |
| Mississippi |
03/10/2026 |
04/07/2026 |
Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-1031
These dates apply only to the 2026 congressional primary. Mississippi holds elections for state legislators and statewide offices in odd-numbered years.
|
| Missouri |
08/04/2026 |
|
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.341 |
| Montana |
06/02/2026 |
|
Mont. Code Ann. § 13-1-107 |
| Nebraska |
05/12/2026 |
|
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32-401 |
| Nevada |
06/09/2026 |
|
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.175 |
| New Hampshire |
09/08/2026 |
|
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 653:8 |
| New Jersey |
06/02/2026 |
|
N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:23-40
These dates apply only to the 2026 congressional primary. New Jersey holds elections for state legislators and statewide offices in numbered odd years.
|
| New Mexico |
06/02/2026 |
|
N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1-8-11 |
| New York |
06/23/2026 |
|
N.Y. Elect. Law § 8-100 |
| North Carolina |
03/03/2026 |
05/12/2026 |
N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 163-1, 163-11 |
| North Dakota |
06/09/2026 |
|
N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-11-01 |
| Ohio |
05/05/2026 |
|
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3501.01 |
| Oklahoma |
06/16/2026 |
08/25/2026 |
Okla. Stat. tit. 26, §§ 1-102, 1-103 |
| Oregon |
05/19/2026 |
|
Or. Rev. Stat. § 254.056 |
| Pennsylvania |
05/19/2026 |
|
Pa. Stat. tit. 25, § 2753 |
| Rhode Island |
09/09/2026 |
|
R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-15-1 |
| South Carolina |
06/09/2026 |
06/23/2026 |
S.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-13-15, 7-13-50 |
| South Dakota |
06/02/2026 |
07/28/2026 |
S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §§ 12-2-1, 12-6-51.1 |
| Tennessee |
08/06/2026 |
|
Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 2-1-104, 2-13-202 |
| Texas |
03/03/2026 |
05/26/2026 |
Tex. Elect. Code Ann. § 41.007 |
| Utah |
06/23/2026 |
|
Utah Code Ann. § 20A-1-201.5 |
| Vermont |
08/11/2026 |
|
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 2351 |
| Virginia |
08/04/2026 |
|
Va. Code § 24.2-510
These dates apply only to the 2026 congressional primary. Virginia holds elections for state legislators and statewide offices in odd-numbered years.
|
| Washington |
08/04/2026 |
|
Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.04.311 |
| West Virginia |
05/12/2026 |
|
W. Va. Code § 3-5-1 |
| Wisconsin |
08/11/2026 |
|
Wis. Stat. § 5.02 |
| Wyoming |
08/18/2026 |
|
Wyo. Stat. § 22-2-104 |