Six US States Hold Pivotal Midterm Primaries

Published: 19 May 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The biggest day of primary voting has officially arrived across America today. Voters in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, and Idaho are heading to polls. They are choosing candidates ahead of the highly anticipated November midterm elections. Many of these intra-party races will be resolved with minimal political drama. However, several contests have transformed into some of the most contentious battles. These elections serve as critical gauges of Donald Trump’s current control. They also show the direction Democratic voters want to steer their party. Both sides are fiercely fighting to take ultimate control of Congress.

In Kentucky, the most closely watched race is a Republican congressional primary. Maverick congressman Thomas Massie has consistently broken with Trump on key national issues. Massie famously led the charge to release investigative files regarding Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has retaliated against lawmakers who dare to challenge his executive authority. The former president endorsed retired US Navy Seal Ed Gallrein to unseat him. Gallrein seeks to capture the northern Kentucky seat Massie held since 2012. This bitter dispute has created the most expensive House primary in history.

Kentucky Republicans must also choose a candidate to replace retiring Mitch McConnell. The legendary former Senate Republican leader is finally stepping away from Washington. The clear frontrunners to succeed McConnell are congressman Andy Barr and Daniel Cameron. Cameron previously served as state attorney general and ran for governor recently. On the Democratic side, two familiar faces are vying for the nomination. Charles Booker and Amy McGrath lost Senate races in 2022 and 2020. Now, both politicians are competing against each other for another shot.

Pennsylvania looms incredibly large for both parties ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats hope to retake two swing House districts lost in 2024. They also want to oust Republican incumbents from two other vulnerable seats. In the seventh congressional district, Democratic voters face a highly competitive choice. Firefighter’s union leader Bob Brooks currently holds the support of party leaders. He faces former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell and former county executive Lamont McClure. Carol Obando-Derstine, a former aide to Senator Bob Casey, also runs. The winner takes on Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in the autumn.

In the eighth congressional district, Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti faces no primary. She has a clear path to challenge Republican representative Rob Bresnahan Jr. Bresnahan managed to flip this historically Democratic-held seat two years ago. Meanwhile, the Harrisburg-centered 10th district features a competitive Democratic primary race. County commissioner Justin Douglas is vying for the nomination against Janelle Stelson. Stelson is a former broadcast anchor aiming to defeat Republican Scott Perry. Perry is a prominent conservative incumbent who expects a tough autumn challenge.

Democrats also hope to oust moderate Republican Brian Fitzpatrick from his seat. Fitzpatrick represents the competitive first congressional district located in suburban Philadelphia. Primary voters will decide whether Bob Harvie is their best general election bet. Harvie is a county commissioner facing former congressional science advisor Lucia Simonelli. In the heavily Democratic third congressional district, the outcome is virtually certain. A Democrat will undoubtedly win the seat of retiring representative Dwight Evans. However, primary voters must first choose from three ideologically distinct local candidates.

Moving south, Georgia Republican voters will select a candidate for the Senate. The winner will face incumbent Democratic senator Jon Ossoff in November’s election. Ossoff is seeking a second term representing a state Trump won. Three distinct candidates have emerged as frontrunners in this crucial Republican race. Congressmen Mike Collins and Buddy Carter are competing hard against Derek Dooley. Dooley is a popular former football coach at the University of Tennessee. Outgoing Republican governor Brian Kemp has officially endorsed Dooley for the seat. Surprisingly, Trump has not weighed in on this specific primary contest.

Georgia voters are also selecting candidates to replace Kemp as state governor. This southern state will likely play a major role in future elections. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is running on the Republican side today. Raffensperger famously defied Trump’s efforts to meddle in the 2020 election results. He faces attorney general Chris Carr and healthcare executive Rick Jackson. Lieutenant governor Burt Jones is also running with Trump’s coveted endorsement. The Democratic frontrunners feature several prominent and diverse political figures from Georgia. Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is running a very strong campaign. She faces former Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan in a fascinating twist. State representative Derrick Jackson and senator Jason Esteves are also in contention. Former county CEO Mike Thurmond rounds out the crowded Democratic field.

In Alabama, the electoral landscape looks very different after recent legal battles. The Supreme Court ruled to winnow the historic Voting Rights Act. This allowed conservative states to eliminate majority Black congressional districts quite easily. Alabama’s Republican leaders quickly implemented a brand-new congressional voting map. This controversial map change is widely expected to cost Democrats a House seat. The sudden adjustment required rearranging the state’s primary schedule for House districts. Consequently, voters on Tuesday will nominate candidates for only three districts. The remaining four congressional primaries are delayed until this coming August.

Alabama remains a heavily Republican state with a few highly watched races. The most prominent is the gubernatorial election to replace term-limited Kay Ivey. US senator Tommy Tuberville is the heavy favorite in the Republican primary. Meanwhile, former senator Doug Jones is expected to secure the Democratic nomination. Congressman Barry Moore is the leading Republican to replace Tuberville in Washington. However, Moore must first defeat six other candidates in his primary. Trump has extended his official endorsement to both Tuberville and Moore.

Further west, the blue state of Oregon lacks highly competitive federal seats. Changes in its congressional delegation are very unlikely to happen this year. The most closely watched race is the state’s crowded gubernatorial primary. Democratic governor Tina Kotek is vying for a second term in office. However, she is currently suffering from lackluster public approval ratings locally. Nine fellow Democrats have filed paperwork to run against her today. Meanwhile, fourteen distinct Republican candidates are standing in their own primary race. This list includes Chris Dudley, a former professional basketball player. Dudley won nearly half the vote during his 2010 gubernatorial bid. He faces state senator Christine Drazan and state representative Ed Diehl. County commissioner Danielle Bethell is also competing for the Republican nomination.

Finally, Idaho remains one of the most reliably conservative states nationwide. The Republican Party is expected to sweep federal seats once again easily. Governor Brad Little is currently vying for a third term in office. He faces nine primary challengers but has significantly outraised them all. The situation is virtually identical for veteran US senator Jim Risch today. Risch faces three primary challengers but holds far more campaign cash. Political analysts view him as highly unlikely to lose his primary race. He is also expected to cruise to victory in November’s election.

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