Shawn Griffiths
It is Tuesday, August 6, and while much of the country’s focus has turned to November, there are still 17 states that have not held their primaries for state executive, legislative, US House, and US Senate races.
These primaries are important as they will, in many cases, decide the ultimate winner of the elections held because of state and district demographics and how electoral districts have been drawn to favor the majority party.
By the time all primary elections are said and done, approximately 86% of congressional races will be decided – and because of the partisan nature of the primaries, only about 8% of voters will have decided these elections.
This isn’t the case for every state.
Three of the states that have upcoming primaries – Alaska, Louisiana, and Washington – use a nonpartisan system in which all candidates and voters participate on a single primary ballot, regardless of party.
Every voter has an opportunity to vote for any candidate in each primary election. Their choices are not limited to the candidates of a single party, so if they want to vote for a Republican in one race and a Democrat in another, they can.
This will, however, be the last election cycle that Louisiana’s nonpartisan system will be used for US House, Senate, state supreme court, and other state offices as the state legislature fast-tracked a bill earlier this year to move to a closed partisan primary system.
Under the current system, which is colloquially referred to as a “jungle primary,” the primary is held when every other state holds their general election. If a candidate takes 50%+1 of the vote, they win. If no candidate gets a majority, a December runoff will be held.
This works differently than other nonpartisan primary systems. Washington, for example, uses a Top Two system like California. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election in November, regardless of party or if one candidate exceeds a majority.
Alaska’s election model advances the top four vote-getters and uses ranked choice voting in the general election to determine a majority winner. However, just as there was a partisan effort to close primaries in Louisiana, there is an effort to repeal reform progress in Alaska.
A measure is slated to appear on the November ballot that would allow Alaska to go back to a closed system where parties and special interest groups control the primaries and their outcomes while 60% of voters (registered independent) are told to sit on the sidelines.
Many of the remaining 14 states that still have to hold their primary elections use an open partisan primary system that allows independent voters to pick a party ballot, but there are several who limit independent voter rights or outright suppress their vote.
Upcoming Primary Elections
Tuesday, August 6
Kansas: The state uses a primary system in which independent voters can choose a party’s ballot, but registered party members have to vote in their respective party’s primary. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, state board of education, and US House.
Michigan: The state uses an open partisan primary system in which voters do not register by party and pick a party’s ballot on primary election day. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
Missouri: The state uses an open partisan primary system in which voters do not register by party and pick a party’s ballot on primary election day. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, attorney general, US House, and US Senate.
Washington: The state uses a top two nonpartisan primary system in which all voters and candidates participate on a single ballot and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. Primaries are being held for governor, state executive, US House, and US Senate.
Saturday, August 10
Hawaii: The state uses an open partisan primary system in which voters do not register by party and pick a party’s ballot on primary election day. Primaries are being held for governor, state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
Tuesday, August 13
Connecticut: The state uses a closed partisan primary that limits access to registered Democrats and Republicans. Approximately 44% of registered voters are barred from participating. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
Minnesota: The state uses an open partisan primary system in which voters do not register by party and pick a party’s ballot on primary election day. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, school board, US House, and US Senate.
Vermont: The state uses an open partisan primary system in which voters do not register by party and pick a party’s ballot on primary election day. Primaries are being held for governor, secretary of state, state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
Wisconsin: The state uses an open partisan primary system in which voters do not register by party and pick a party’s ballot on primary election day. Primaries are being held for state ballot measures, legislature, US House, and US Senate.
Tuesday, August 20
Alaska: The state uses a top four nonpartisan primary in which all candidates and voters participate on a single ballot and the top four vote-getters move on to the general election. Primaries are being held for the state legislature and US House.
Florida: The state uses a closed partisan primary that limits access to registered Democrats and Republicans. Nearly a third of registered voters are barred from participating. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
One thing to note about Florida is state law allows for open primaries in the event that a seat is uncontested. However, in districts where this would happen, the majority party will put up a “phantom candidate” to run against but won’t actually campaign.
Wyoming: The state uses a closed partisan primary that limits access to registered Democrats and Republicans. Lawmakers changed state law in 2023 to require voters to change their party registration at least 3 months before primary election day. Primaries are being held for the state legislature, US House, and US Senate.’
Tuesday, August 27
Oklahoma: The state uses a semi-closed partisan primary that allows the parties to decide what voting rights independent voters have. The Republican and Libertarian Parties do not allow independents to participate. The Democratic Party does. Approximately 20% of registered voters are independent.
Primaries are being held for the state legislature and US House.
Tuesday, September 10
Delaware: The state uses a closed partisan primary that limits access to registered Democrats and Republicans. Over a quarter of registered voters are barred from participating. Primaries are being held for governor, state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
New Hampshire: The state uses a primary system in which registered party members have to vote in their respective party’s primary, but independent voters can pick a party ballot. Primaries are being held for governor, US House, and US Senate.
Rhode Island: The state uses a primary system for non-presidential races that requires registered party members to vote in their respective party’s primary, but independent voters can pick a party’s ballot. Nearly half of state voters are registered independent.
Primaries are being held for the state legislature, US House, and US Senate.
Tuesday, November 5
Louisiana: The state uses a nonpartisan primary system in which all voters and candidates participate on a single primary ballot. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, a December runoff is held. Primaries are being held for the state supreme court and US House.
To re-iterate, the US House and state supreme court are among the public offices that will use a closed partisan primary system starting in 2026.