Election 2026
A state-by-state guide to the contests, ballot fights, and election-rule changes that will shape voting, courts, healthcare, education, and civil liberties.
- 435
- House seats
- 35
- Senate seats
- 36
- governor races
- 100
- ballot measures certified
What's at Stake
This is not just about party control. It is about who controls the institutions that determine voting rules, court appointments, Medicaid, school funding, and abortion access for the next decade.
| Program | Amount |
|---|---|
| House seats | 435 |
| Senate seats | 35 |
| Governor races | 36 |
| Open governors | 17 |
| Legislatures | 88 |
| Ballot measures | 100 |
Every House seat and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot. 17 governor races have no incumbent. 88 of 99 state legislative chambers are in play.
| Program | Amount |
|---|---|
| Voter-roll changes | 32 |
| Mail voting limits | 26 |
| Citizenship proof | 14 |
| Early voting limits | 12 |
These rules are already changing how people vote. State lawmakers are moving quickly so changes take effect before primaries.
The Rules Are Changing Now
- 26
- states restricting mail voting
- 32
- states changing voter rolls
- 14
- states requiring citizenship proof
- 12
- states limiting early voting
State legislatures are pushing voting-rule bills while candidate fields form. The biggest fight is over who can vote, how they register, and how easy it is to stay on the rolls. 21.3 million Americans cannot easily prove citizenship to register. Ohio and Texas are purging voter rolls with error-prone data matching.
Ballot Measures May Matter More Than Candidates
Abortion at the Ballot Box Since Dobbs
| Result | |
|---|---|
| Ballot measures on abortion rights (2022-2024) | Every one passed |
| Performance vs. Democratic candidates | Outperforms by 4-8 points |
| Florida 2024: 57% voted yes | Failed. State requires 60% threshold. |
| States considering 2026 abortion measures | 6 |
| States considering LGBTQ measures | 9 |
Voters support rights even when they split on candidates. But some states are raising thresholds to make measures harder to pass. South Dakota passed 11 laws to restrict ballot measures in 6 years. Missouri's legislature is trying to override voter-approved protections.
States to Watch
- 17
- open governor seats (most likely to flip)
- 88
- of 99 legislative chambers in play
- 16
- net seats shifted by gerrymandering
| Program | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 4 |
| Georgia | 4 |
| Michigan | 3 |
| Texas | 3 |
| North Carolina | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 2 |
| Nevada | 2 |
| Arizona | 2 |
Number of pivotal races per state (governor, Senate, House, state legislature). These states determine national power.
Key Battleground States
| State | Key race | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | Governor + Senate | Could shape House, Senate, and state power for a decade |
| Michigan | Governor | Core battleground for state and national control |
| Georgia | Governor + Senate | Redistricting, election rules, and the Callais aftermath |
| Texas | Senate (Paxton vs Talarico) | First competitive TX Senate race in decades |
| Wisconsin | Governor | Map-making state. Courts, redistricting, election admin. |
| North Carolina | Governor + Senate | Swing state where outcomes set the tone for rights fights |
What Happens When
Election 2026 Calendar
| When | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-March | Filing windows close, voting-rule bills move | The rules that govern November are being set now |
| March 3 | First major primary date | Early states set momentum and national narrative |
| Spring | Ballot measures certified | Abortion, voting, minimum wage go to voters |
| Summer | Primaries, runoffs, fields narrow | Last chance to shape the candidate matchups |
| October | Registration deadlines, early voting begins | Last window to participate |
| November 3 | Election Day | Results determine policy for 2027-2028 |
| January 3, 2027 | New Congress convenes | Policy direction set for the next two years |
Latest in This Series
8 States Now Require Papers to Vote. More Bills Are Coming.
Eight states now require passports or birth certificates to vote. Five passed new laws in 2026. 21 million citizens lack the documents.
19 Congressional Seats, 191 State Seats: The Nationwide Cost of Callais
District-by-district breakdown of seats at risk after the Supreme Court gutted the VRA. Nine states are moving. Here are the numbers.
An Executive Order Could Block 46 Million Mail Voters. A Federal Judge Declined to Stop It.
An executive order directs USPS to refuse mail ballots unless voters appear on a federal list. 46 million Americans voted by mail in 2024. The databases that would build the list have documented error rates. A federal judge declined to block it because no one has been harmed yet.
Ruby Freeman Packed Up and Left the Home She Lived in for 20 Years. She Was a Poll Worker Who Counted Votes.
1 in 6 election officials have experienced threats. 1 in 5 said they were likely to leave before 2024. Ruby Freeman was forced into hiding. The DOJ charged 20 people. The threats have not stopped.
Virginia Passed an Assault Weapons Ban, Put Abortion Rights on the Ballot, and Banned Police From Working With ICE
Governor Spanberger signed 25 bills including the 11th state assault weapons ban, marijuana sentencing reform, and immigrant worker protections. Abortion rights amendment goes to voters November 3.
Johnson vs. Middleton: The November Fight for Texas Attorney General
Nathan Johnson wants the AG office to protect consumers. Mayes Middleton wants it to go further right than Paxton. November decides.
Your November Game Plan
The election is national. The stakes are local. The rules are changing now.