Welcome to a special edition of At the Races! Throughout the 2026 primary season, watch for these updates from the CQ Roll Call campaign team on what you need to know for Election Day. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here.
Tuesday brings the busiest primary day of the midterm election cycle so far, with key contests in California, Iowa and New Jersey.
California
Redistricting scrambled several races in the Golden State. Under the state’s nonpartisan primary rules, the top two finishers — regardless of party — secure spots on the November ballot.
In the 1st District in Northern California, which shaded bluer after redistricting, educator Audrey Denney and state Sen. Mike McGuire are competing to succeed Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who died earlier this year. But there will also be a special primary Tuesday to fill the remainder of LaMalfa’s term, which will be held under the existing district lines. Republican Assembly member James Gallagher is favored in that race — and if he captures more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, he will hold the seat until this Congress ends in January. Gallagher is also running for a full term but faces an uphill battle under the new map.
