Arizona sets 2026 primary for July 21 after calendar shift; high-stakes races ahead
Arizona’s 2026 midterm season is officially underway, and it is expected to double as a referendum on President Donald Trump as he enacts sweeping changes tied to military actions, the economy, immigration policy and democratic norms. The races will determine which party controls Congress during the last two years of Trump’s term and who holds the governor’s office and other statewide posts in Arizona.
The election calendar is set. After a March 23 deadline for candidates to submit voter signatures and other paperwork, the state’s primaries will be held on July 21, 2026. That is two weeks earlier than initially planned. Lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs approved the shift in February to reduce time pressure on overseas military voters, a move that eventually drew support from both Democrats and Republicans.
The general election remains Nov. 3, the first Tuesday of November. With two battleground congressional districts and a closely watched governor’s race, Arizona is again expected to be an epicenter for campaign spending and attention.
Across the country and in Arizona, Republicans are trying to maintain their majorities in Congress, while Democrats are seeking to flip one or both chambers to gain traction against the Trump administration. In the Scottsdale-area 1st Congressional District, longtime U.S.
Rep. David Schweikert is forgoing reelection to run for governor, setting up what election-watchers expect to be one of the closest House contests in the nation. Candidates from both parties have entered the race. In southeastern Arizona, U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani is running for a third term, while Democrats have rallied behind JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine Corps veteran.
The statewide slate is equally consequential. Schweikert and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs are both leaving Congress to try to oust Hobbs, a Democrat. Election forecasters say the governor’s race is a toss-up, though one early prognosticator recently said Hobbs may have an edge.
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes, both Democrats, are also seeking reelection; Mayes is looking not only to hold her seat but to continue pursuing the many lawsuits against the Trump administration she has filed since taking office.
As usual, every seat in the Arizona House and Senate will be on the ballot. Voters can confirm their status through the Arizona Secretary of State’s Voter Information Portal by providing a last name, date of birth, county, and an identification method such as the last four digits of a Social Security number, a driver’s license number or a tribal ID.
The portal lists mailing and residence addresses, party affiliation, early voting enrollment and other details. With roughly eight months until Election Day, Arizonans should expect an intensifying stretch of advertising, fundraising and debates as candidates vie for party nominations in July and make their case to voters ahead of November.