Three things to look for in a jam-packed primary election week
Nicole FallertMay 19 is set to be one of the busiest, and potentially consequential, days of the 2026 election cycle yet.
Across six states, Americans will vote in U.S. House, Senate and gubernatorial primaries, among other local contests. The elections headline a jam-packed month of races and are set to select candidates to vie for positions in Washington and state government during November's midterms. These elections come as Republicans aim to hold onto narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, and President Donald Trump takes measures to purge GOP opponents.
Redistricting battles and big campaign spending shows how high the stakes are on May 19, according to John McGlennon, professor of government at the College of William & Mary.
"The primaries in the next couple of weeks will show us whether these tactics work or not," he says of efforts to change congressional maps and fundraise heavily in cases such as Georgia's Senate race and Pennsylvania's House primaries.
Here are the races happening May 19 and some of the stand-out contests to watch.
Which states have races on May 19?
Half a dozen states are holding primaries on May 19:
- Alabama: U.S. House and Senate, governor
- Georgia: U.S. House and Senate, governor
- Idaho: U.S. House and Senate, governor
- Kentucky: U.S. House and Senate
- Oregon: U.S. House and Senate, governor
- Pennsylvania: U.S. House, governor
Top things to watch for
1. Georgia governor, Senate primaries
In Georgia's Senate primary race, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff runs unopposed. But five Republicans will be on the GOP side of the ballot, including Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, John Coyne, Derek Dooley and Jonathan McColumn, with the winner aiming to go head-to-head with Ossoff in a key race this November.
"Ossoff is the Republicans’ top target because Georgia is the only state with a Democratic incumbent that Trump actually won in 2024," Enrijeta Shino, assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama, previously told USA TODAY. "Georgia is still the most flippable Democratic-held seat with an incumbent."
The state will also vote on candidates for its highest state office as current Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is among seven Democrats facing off in a crowded primary. On the Republican side, Rick Jackson, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr are among the candidates.
Trump has endorsed Jones, as Raffensberger has drawn ire from the president: He is seeking the governorship after refusing Trump’s request to “find” enough votes to win the state in 2020, when he lost to President Joe Biden.
Georgia's race has drawn major dollars, McGlennon says. This is especially due to the role of "dark money," a name for funding meant to influence political outcomes where the source does not have to be disclosed, according to political funding research group OpenSecrets.
All of Georgia's 14 congressional districts will hold races for representatives. Currently, Georgia has nine Republican representatives and four democrats in office, with one vacancy in the 14th district.
In a roster of tight races, expect Georgia to have at least one runoff election, he says, meaning a candidate won't break the threshold of over 50% of the votes.
2. Kentucky Trump dissenter in the spotlight
In Kentucky, watch for a race in the 4th district that tests the political lifeline of yet another Trump GOP dissenter, Rep. Thomas Massie.
Massie has repeatedly opposed Trump on a series of high-profile issues. Massie voted against the president’s tax-cut package last year. He led the legislative battle to force the release of Justice Department documents about the investigation of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. And Massie voted to halt the war on Iran.
The president has endorsed Ed Gallrein in Hebron, Kentucky, but Massie leds Gallrein in polling ahead of the primary.
A spotlight will also be on Kentucky's Senate GOP primary, which will select a nominee to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is retiring after four decades in the role.
3. Alabama voters keep up with a new map
Alabama's May 19 primary comes on the heels of the Supreme Court allowing the state's new congressional map to hold, handing GOP lawmakers a win. The court lifted a ruling that had blocked state Republicans' preferred map as racially discriminatory and for illegally diluting the voting power of Black Alabamians.
But McGlennon says voters are now faced with a confusing landscape, which could change their congressional district compared to previous elections. Alabama Districts 1, 2, 6 or 7, will have primaries on Aug. 11, not May 19, after Gov. Kay Ivey rescheduled those elections following the court's redistricting decision.
"If you live in four of Alabama's seven Congressional districts, you'll have to wait until August 11 to vote in those races," he says. "If you live there and already voted before the redistricting, your vote can't count. You will have to do it all over again, and maybe in a different district with different candidates this time. Confused? Count yourself lucky if you are not an Alabama voter."
Contributing: Bart Jansen