2026 midterm primary elections and early voting begin across states

Key developments

1. Sep 8, 2026

   New Hampshire's Senate race tightens as Sununu gains ground, while Rhode Island's governor trails in early primaries.

   7 sources on this →
2. Sep 11, 2026

   Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos won the Democratic primary with about 37% of the vote, defeating four challengers.

   5 sources on this →
3. Sep 11, 2026

   The Illinois governor’s race has moved into Texas, with Pritzker and Bailey courting supporters at the Republican National Convention.

   6 sources on this →
4. Sep 11, 2026

   Trump’s opening-night address at the Republican Midterm Convention drew modest ratings across platforms, with about 2.5 million viewers on Fox News.

Coverage across the spectrum

Stories in this storyline

Politics

Republicans Plan Dallas Convention Ahead of Midterms

Dallas hosts a wide RNC speaker slate for Sept. 9-10, featuring speakers such as Michael Whatley, Laurie Buckhout, Mike Collins, Brian Jack, Ken Paxton and other officials alongside high-profile figures like Donald Trump and JD Vance as the party highlights battleground races. However, the lineup has sparked Hatch Act concerns over Attorney General Todd Blanche’s appearance, drawing criticism from observers about legal limits on federal officials participating in partisan events.

269 sources

Politics

Trump Plans $5,000 Adult Dividend if GOP Wins Midterms

President Trump vowed a $5,000 dividend for every adult US citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate in the upcoming elections, framing it as a dividend funded by the administration’s economic strength; the plan was pitched at GOP events as a populist measure likely costing well over $1 trillion. The announcements across multiple outlets emphasize the condition of Republican victory and a focus on domestic spending commitments.