Elections & Campaigns
Uncontested State Legislative Races Drop to Lowest Level Since 2018
October 16, 2026 | Bill Kramer
Uncontested state legislative races have dropped to 32.6% in 2026, the lowest level since 2018 when only 31.7% of races went uncontested. Democratic candidate recruitment has improved across the country, with Republicans running unopposed in just 14.7% of seats compared to a historical average of 23.1%. Democrats are contesting every legislative district in Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas, while coming within two seats of full coverage in North Carolina. The 2026 primary election results show Democrats fielding candidates at rates similar to 2018, when the party gained seven governorships and flipped six legislative chambers. State legislature election competitiveness has increased as the share of uncontested races among the 28 states that have held primaries dropped 8 percentage points below the historical average.
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