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Analysis of uncontested elections, 2026
Throughout 2026, this page will display monthly statistics regarding the number and percentage of uncontested and contested elections covered by Ballotpedia.
An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. Candidates running in uncontested elections are virtually guaranteed victory. On average, between 2018 and 2025, 65% of elections covered by Ballotpedia were uncontested, ranging from a low of 49% in 2021 to a high of 70% in 2024.
This analysis includes offices at all levels of government, excluding the presidency.
The figures shown on this page are limited to elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope, which has expanded over time. Click here to learn more about the scope of coverage in this analysis. Click here to view the limitations of this analysis.
On this page you will find figures:
- Year-to-date through Jan. 2026
- By month
Year-to-date
This section will be updated at the end of January to reflect data from 2026.
Historical comparison
On average, between 2018 and 2025, 65% of elections covered by Ballotpedia were uncontested, ranging from a low of 49% in 2021 to a high of 70% in 2024
By month
This section will be updated at the end of January to reflect data from 2026.
Scope and limitations
Scope
The scope of this analysis includes all elections within Ballotpedia's regular coverage scope, excluding the presidency. As of 2024, this included all congressional, state executive, state judicial, and state legislative elections. It also included local elections in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population and each state capital, as well as elections in 475 school districts.
Ballotpedia has also expanded its coverage scope over time. In 2026, this includes comprehensive election coverage in the following states, each of which is represented in this year's analysis: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Previous years' data may also include instances of expanded coverage beyond our regular coverage scopes in states both listed and not listed here.
Limitations
It is likely that this analysis underestimates the actual number of uncontested elections.
In some states or for some office types, uncontested elections are canceled, meaning they do not appear on any ballots and are often excluded from other election-related materials including public notices and candidate lists. While Ballotpedia attempts to identify these elections and their winners through direct outreach to election officials, this is not always possible or feasible. The uncontested elections in this analysis are those Ballotpedia was able to identify regardless of whether they were ultimately canceled.
Additionally, this analysis does not include elections where no candidates filed to run.
See also
- Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
- Elections by state and year
- Incumbents who won primaries by five percentage points or fewer or with a plurality, 2026
