Nonpartisan coverage of the 2026 campaign season, the races to watch and how turnout and voter outreach decide them.
The 2026 midterms are set for November 3, with all 435 House seats, a third of the Senate, and 36 governorships on the ballot. Here's a nonpartisan look at the cycle and why, as always in a midterm, turnout decides the close ones.
New Hampshire's 2026 governor's race features Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte in a state Harris carried in 2024, one of just two such crossover contests. Here's a nonpartisan look at the race and why New Hampshire's independent streak keeps it competitive.
Thirty-six states elect governors in 2026, and a handful are genuine toss-ups. Here's a nonpartisan look at the most competitive gubernatorial races and why, in statewide contests, the turnout operation is decisive.
Republicans hold the Senate 53-47 heading into 2026, with a handful of seats deciding control. Here's a nonpartisan look at the Senate battlegrounds and why these statewide races are fundamentally turnout fights.
The 2026 cycle is the most text-heavy yet, with campaigns up and down the ballot leaning on SMS and RCS for turnout. Here's a nonpartisan look at how campaigns are reaching voters by text this cycle, and what's changed.
All 435 House seats are up in 2026, but control comes down to a few dozen competitive districts. Here's a nonpartisan look at the battle for the House and why, district by district, the ground game decides the close ones.
Arizona's 2026 governor's race features incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs against Republican Andy Biggs in a genuine battleground. Here's a nonpartisan look at the race and why Arizona's vote-by-mail tradition makes the ballot chase central.
Kansas elects an open-seat governor in 2026, with Democrat Cindy Holscher facing Republican Ty Masterson in a state with a long ticket-splitting tradition. Here's a nonpartisan look at why Kansas stays competitive at the governor level.
Nevada's 2026 governor's race pits Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo against Democrat Aaron Ford in a perennial battleground. Here's a nonpartisan look at the race and why Nevada's turnout machine and mail voting make the ground game central.
Beneath the marquee races, 2026 is full of state legislative, county, and municipal contests decided by tiny margins. Here's a nonpartisan look at the down-ballot races where turnout matters most, and why they're where a ground game has the most leverage.
In 2026, much of the vote is cast before Election Day, turning GOTV into a weeks-long ballot chase. Here's a nonpartisan look at how early and mail voting shape the cycle's turnout fight and why the chase is central.