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June is teeming with elections across America.Primaries in more than a dozen states are set to determine the nominees for State, House and gubernatorial races, who will then run in general elections this November. States also have a slew of local races for voters to weigh in on. The busy election cycle comes as President Donald Trump hopes to maintain Republicans' control of Congress to secure the success of his second-term agenda in Washington."June is a really busy month," says John McGlennon, professor of government at the College of William & Mary. "With more than a quarter of all seats in the House of Representatives up for grabs (at least potentially) we will have gone a long way toward settling the slates for November. "Here are the June elections to know and what they mean for November's midterms.State to watch: California (June 2)Eyes will certainly be on California, which will hold elections for all 52 congressional districts, McGlennon said. The race comes after the U.S. Supreme Court permitted California to use a congressional map that gives Democrats an advantage in this year’s midterm elections. California's redistricting effort was a ripple effect of Texas' move to change its respective congressional map to favor Republicans, a move that the GOP hopes will help keep its thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives."California will provide a good idea of whether the Democratic response to the Texas gerrymander is likely to succeed," he says. "Contests all over the state will set up the top-two races in the fall, and this vote will show if the Democrats do in fact wind up having the edge in five more districts than they hold today."California governorCalifornia's nonpartisan gubernatorial primary will headline gubernatorial races to watch this month. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election in November. Two polls, released May 27 and May 29, showed former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra in the lead, followed by Republican frontrunner Steve Hilton.Maine primary (June 9) sets the stage for Platner vs. CollinsA Senate race to watch will be Graham Platner's bid for the Democratic nomination in Maine.Platner, an oyster farmer who will almost assuredly win the bid to face GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November, rallied the support of fellow Northeast Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders before his top competitor, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her Senate campaign on April 30. The move came as a surprise after some political watchers previously pointed to the Platner vs. Mills race as a possible proxy for the direction of the Democratic Party.The June primary is expected to set up another closely-watched race between Platner and Collins this November. A new general election poll released May 27 by the University of New Hampshire showed Platner with a 9-point lead over Collins.Intriguing House racesHouse races to watch feature campaigns that aren't purely red or blue, McGlennon points out. A spotlight will be on Rep. Kevin Kiley, who currently represents California's District 3 as an Independent after leaving the House GOP caucus in March. But he is running this month in the state's redrawn District 6, which represents Sacramento County and is currently held by Democrat Ami Bera."It's a risky plan, as Democrats will still tie him to President Trump and Republicans may not know if he is still their candidate," he says of Kiley's bid.Or take Maine's Second District, which voted for Trump but elected a Democrat to Congress in 2024, he says. Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage is now trying to flip the seat red.This race, among many other House races still to come this summer, illuminates the fierce battle between Republicans and Democrats to win seats on Capitol Hill this fall, which will either thwart or solidify the success of Trump's second-term agenda."Overall, the races for the House will shape the face that each party presents to the electorate," he says. "Generational, ideological, pro- and anti-Trump contests are sure to be evident in these coast-to-coast races."June 2026 primary election calendarHere's a look at the primary election schedule for June, including the top races to watch for in each state.June 2California: House, GovernorIowa: Senate, House, GovernorMontana: Senate, HouseNew Jersey: Senate, HouseNew Mexico: Senate, House, GovernorSouth Dakota: Senate, House, GovernorJune 9Maine: Senate, House, GovernorNevada: House, GovernorNorth Dakota: HouseSouth Carolina: Senate, House, GovernorJune 16Alabama: Senate, HouseCalifornia: Special House primary to replace Eric SwalwellWashington, DC: District primaryGeorgia: State primary runoff in Senate, House and Governor racesOklahoma: Senate, House, GovernorJune 23Maryland: House, GovernorNew York: House, GovernorUtah: HouseJune 27Louisiana: Republican Senate primary runoff (Julia Letlow vs. John Fleming)June 30Colorado: Senate, House, Governor
