In August 2026, Ballotpedia is tracking 4089 elections across 27 states. These include 15 statewide elections, two territory-wide elections, 517 special elections held to fill vacancies in 19 states, as well as one recall election in Oregon.
Last month, Ballotpedia tracked 442 elections across 11 states. This included two statewide elections, 20 special elections, and two recall elections.
In August 2024, Ballotpedia tracked 8788 elections in 22 states, and in August 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 3299 elections in 22 states.
Upcoming elections:
This month, the following states and territories have regularly scheduled statewide or territory-wide elections:
- Aug. 1: Guam territory-wide primary and Virgin Islands territory-wide primary
- Aug. 4: Kansas statewide primary, Michigan statewide primary, Missouri statewide primary, Virginia statewide primary, Washington statewide primary
- Aug. 6: Tennessee statewide primary
- Aug. 8: Hawaii statewide primary
- Aug. 11: Connecticut statewide primary, Minnesota statewide primary, Vermont statewide primary, Wisconsin statewide primary
- Aug. 18: Alaska statewide primary, Florida statewide primary, and Wyoming statewide primary
- Aug. 25: Oklahoma statewide primary runoff
The following federal and state-level special elections have been called:
- Aug. 4: Arkansas House District 44 special general, Kansas Senate Districts 24 and 25 special primaries, Washington Supreme Court Positions 1 and 5 special primaries, Michigan 1st District Court of Appeals special general, and Washington Court of Appeals Division III District 2 special general
- Aug. 8: Hawaii Senate District 19 special primaries
- Aug. 11: U.S. Senate South Carolina special Republican primary and Alabama U.S. House Districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 special primaries
- Aug. 18: U.S. Senate Florida special primaries, California U.S. House District 14 special general, Arkansas Senate District 1 special primaries, Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 12 special general, Wyoming State Senate District 6 special Republican primary
- Aug. 25: Georgia U.S. House District 13 special general runoff and Oklahoma Senate District 17 special Republican primary runoff
Ballotpedia is also tracking 2183 municipal elections in 18 states. This includes 493 special municipal elections. Below is a list of local special elections that overlap state capitals, the 100 largest cities by population, or the 200 largest school districts by enrollment:
- Aug. 1: Lubbock (Texas) City Council District 4 special general runoff
- Aug. 4: Platte County (Missouri) Treasurer special Republican primary, Seattle (Washington) City Council District 5 special primary, and Wayne County (Michigan) Commission District 5 special Democratic primary
- Aug. 6: Shelby County (Tennessee) local courts special generals and Nashville (Tennessee) local courts special generals
- Aug. 18: Jacksonville (Florida) City Council At-large Position 1 special primary, Miami-Dade County (Florida) Commission District 5 special primary, Miami-Dade County (Florida) Public Schools school board District 1 special primary, and Orange County (Florida) Board of County Commissioners District 7 special primary
The following recall elections have been called:
- Aug. 4: Madras Aquatic Center Recreation District board members Ervey Dominguez, Jean McCloskey, Jinnell Lewis, and Frank Maynard in Jefferson County, Oregon
In context:
Here’s a look at some of the statewide battleground elections we’re covering in August.
Michigan’s Democratic gubernatorial primary: Jocelyn Benson (D) and Chris Swanson (D) are running on Aug. 4. Incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is term-limited. Michigan has a divided government in which Democrats control the governorship and the senate, and Republicans control the house. Benson is Michigan’s secretary of state. Swanson is the sheriff of Genesee County.
Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary: Abdul El-Sayed (D) and Haley Stevens (D) are running on Aug. 4. Two-term incumbent Gary Peters (D) is not running for re-election. El-Sayed is a public health administrator. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed El-Sayed. Stevens is a member of the U.S. House and was chief of staff to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry during President Barack Obama's (D) administration. Peters and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) endorsed Stevens.
Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary: Seven candidates are running on Aug. 11. Lisa Demuth (R), Mike Lindell (R), and Kendall Qualls (R) lead in endorsements and media attention. A welfare fraud investigation, Republican convention election voting irregularities, and electability are central themes in the primary.
Minnesota’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary: Angie Craig (D), Peggy Flanagan (D), and four other candidates are running on Aug. 11. Incumbent Tina Smith (D) is not running for re-election. Craig is a member of the U.S. House. U.S. Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (D) endorsed Craig. Flanagan is Minnesota’s lieutenant governor. Smith, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) endorsed Flanagan.
The Minnesota Reformer's Michelle Griffith said, "A year ago, Craig was a formidable front-runner for the Senate seat, but she’d long positioned herself as hawkish on border security and voted for the Laken Riley Act. ... Flanagan has sharply criticized Craig’s Laken Riley vote, and on Saturday highlighted the vote as a key distinction between her and Craig."
South Carolina’s special Republican U.S. Senate primary: South Carolina is holding a special primary on Aug. 11 to replace incumbent Lindsey Graham (R), who died on July 11, on the general election ballot. Graham won the Republican nomination on June 9. On July 13, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham (R-S.C.), to complete Graham's term. The Associated Press' Meg Kinnard wrote, "The rare open Senate seat has ignited a scramble among South Carolina’s most ambitious conservatives, who have been eager to climb the political ladder."
Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary: Mandela Barnes (D), Joel Brennan (D), David Crowley (D), Francesca Hong (D), and Kelda Roys (D) are running on Aug. 11. Incumbent Tony Evers (D) is not running for re-election, making this the first open race for governor since 2010. The primary features conflict between candidates characterized as centrist or moderate Democrats and Democratic socialists. The general election is rated a toss-up. Control of the state government is at stake, with both parties looking to gain a trifecta.
In the weeks leading up to the primary, there were multiple high-profile changes to the Democratic gubernatorial candidate field. As of July 28, the state Democratic Party was pursuing an ongoing lawsuit in which it asked a judge to allow voters who have already submitted mail-in ballots to cancel those ballots and vote again, a process known as ballot spoiling.
Alaska’s top-four gubernatorial primary: Seventeen candidates — 12 Republicans, two Democrats, and three independents — are running in the top-four primary on Aug. 18. The top four candidates will advance to a ranked-choice voting general election. Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) is term-limited.
Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary: Twelve candidates are running on Aug. 18. Jay Collins (R), Byron Donalds (R), James Fishback (R), and Paul Renner (R) lead in local media attention. Incumbent Ron DeSantis (R) is term-limited. Collins is the lieutenant governor; Donalds is a member of the U.S. House; Fishback is a businessman and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) consultant; and Renner is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives. Major race forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Republican. Republicans have held the governor's office since 1999. The last time a Democrat was elected governor of Florida was 1994.
Oklahoma's Republican gubernatorial primary: Gentner Drummond (R) and Mike Mazzei (R) advanced to the Aug. 25 runoff after defeating seven other candidates in the June 16 primary. Incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is term-limited. Drummond has campaigned on his record as attorney general, and Mazzei has campaigned on receiving President Donald Trump's (R) endorsement. The Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Drummond. In addition to Trump, Stitt and U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R) endorsed Mazzei.
Additional reading:
- Elections Ballotpedia is covering in July 2026
- Statewide primary elections
- Statewide elections
- Congressional elections
- Ballot measure elections
- Local elections
- Recall elections
This promo post was compiled by Ellie Mikus, with contributions from Emma Burlingame and Lara Bonatesta.
