Voters in Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan and Washington are choosing candidates in US midterm primaries on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The most closely watched contests include a Kansas governor’s race, a Missouri Democratic rematch and House battlegrounds in Virginia and Washington.
The results will begin to clarify the November landscape: which Republicans can carry President Donald Trump’s backing, whether Democratic voters favor establishment or progressive candidates, and which House races may help decide control of Congress.
Kansas: an open governor’s race draws Trump’s attention
Kansas Republicans are choosing a nominee to replace Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who is barred from seeking a third term. The crowded field includes Senate President Ty Masterson, whom Trump has endorsed, and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a conservative who has challenged Trump’s claims about the 2020 election and broken with Republicans on some voting-rights issues.
The governor’s contest is the state’s central race, but the 3rd Congressional District also matters. Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids is seeking another term while progressive challenger Sarah Preu argues Davids has not gone far enough on immigration, ICE and US military aid to Israel. Polls can open as early as 6 a.m., with closing times varying by county.
Related coverage: Examining Trump’s attempts to impact the 2026 midterm election outcomes.
Missouri: Bell and Bush meet in a consequential rematch
In Missouri’s heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District, Rep. Wesley Bell faces former Rep. Cori Bush for a second consecutive Democratic primary. Bell defeated Bush in 2024, but Bush’s return has revived arguments over Gaza, pro-Israel spending and the future of the party’s progressive wing.
The race is also the first primary under Missouri’s newly redrawn congressional map, adopted by Republican lawmakers after Trump called for changes that could improve Republican prospects in November. The district is expected to remain safely Democratic, so Tuesday’s winner will be strongly favored in the general election. Missouri polls close at 7 p.m. Central Time.
Virginia: Democrats target vulnerable House seats
Virginia’s Senate primary is expected to produce an underdog against Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, but the state’s House contests are more consequential. In the 2nd District, Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans is preparing for a rematch with former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, a Navy veteran who narrowly lost the seat in 2022.
More context: AIPAC’s $60 Million Influence in Michigan Senate Democratic Primary.
Democrats are also defending Rep. Eugene Vindman’s 7th District, which he won by fewer than three percentage points in 2024. The party is watching whether candidates viewed as its strongest challengers can emerge after the Virginia Supreme Court voided a proposed redistricting plan. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Washington: the top-two system makes every vote matter
Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is a major House test. Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking a third term in a district Trump carried in 2024, while Republican state Senate Minority Leader John Braun has Trump’s endorsement. Progressive Democrat Brent Hennrich is also among the candidates.
Washington’s top-two system sends the two highest vote-getters to November regardless of party, meaning two Republicans or two Democrats can advance. The state votes almost entirely by mail: ballots must reach an official drop box by 8 p.m. Tuesday, while mailed ballots must be postmarked by August 4 under state rules. The results will show whether Gluesenkamp Perez’s independent-minded profile can withstand a Republican challenge.
Also read: Trump asks Supreme Court to reinstate mail-in voting restrictions ahead of November elections.
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