U.S. states and territories have set their 2026 primary election dates, with contests beginning March 3 and concluding September 15. The primaries will determine which candidates appear on the November ballot for the midterm elections, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 seats in the U.S. Senate, and 39 governorships are up for election. Midterm elections are held halfway through a president's four-year term, and voter turnout in midterm years is typically lower than in presidential election years.

The earliest primaries take place on March 3, 2026, in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas. Mississippi follows on March 10, and Illinois holds its primary on March 17.

In May, Indiana and Ohio vote on May 5, Nebraska and West Virginia on May 12, Louisiana on May 16, and Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania on May 19. The May 19 date is among the busiest single primary days of the cycle, with six states holding contests simultaneously.

June primaries open on June 2 in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina vote on June 9. The District of Columbia and Oklahoma hold their primaries on June 16. Maryland, New York, and Utah vote on June 23, followed by Colorado on June 30.

Arizona's primary is on July 21. August primaries are scheduled in Guam and the Virgin Islands on Aug. 1; Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington state on Aug. 4; Tennessee on Aug. 6; Hawaii on Aug. 8; Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin on Aug. 11; Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming on Aug. 18.

September contests close the primary calendar. Massachusetts votes on Sept. 1, New Hampshire and Rhode Island on Sept. 8, and Delaware on Sept. 15.