Daily Brew: March 27, 2026
Welcome to the Friday, March 27, 2026, Brew.
By: Lara Bonatesta
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Fifty-seven state executives are term-limited in 2026, the most since 2018
- Nine states have filing deadlines upcoming in the next two weeks
- Join us to help make a difference in your community this election year
Fifty-seven state executives are term-limited in 2026, the most since 2018
Fifty-seven state executive incumbents, including 26 Democrats, 29 Republicans, and two nonpartisan officeholders, are unable to run for re-election in 2026 due to term limits. This is the most since Ballotpedia started collecting this data in 2018.
Overall, incumbents in 15 types of state executive offices are ineligible to run for re-election in 2026. There are more term-limited governors (15) than any other type of state executive office, and the most since 2018.
Six of the 15 term-limited governors are Democrats, and nine are Republicans. The majority of states (36) hold gubernatorial elections in midterm election years. In 2022, the last time this set of offices was up, there were seven term-limited governors (three Democrats and four Republicans). In 2018, there were 13 term-limited governors (two Democrats and 11 Republicans).
Four of the states with term-limited governors have Democratic trifectas, eight have Republican trifectas, and three have divided governments. Twelve of the states with term-limited governors are also holding elections in both chambers of their respective state legislatures this year. Three states with term-limited governors are holding elections for just their state House.
A state government trifecta exists when one political party holds the governor's office and majority control in both chambers of the state legislature. Currently, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 16 Democratic trifectas, and 11 divided governments nationally.
The following table shows the total number of state executives who are term-limited this year by their office and party.
California has the most state executive officials term-limited in the 2026 elections, with eight. Ohio and Oklahoma have the second most, with six each. Nine states with state executive term limits have no officials term-limited in 2026. These include Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
Click here to see our full analysis of term-limits in state executive elections this year.
Nine states have filing deadlines upcoming in the next two weeks
Nine states have candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks. The map and bulleted list below show which states have candidate filing deadlines scheduled between March 28 and April 11.
- Maine: March 31 (statewide primary write-in candidate filing deadline)
- Missouri: March 31 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- New York: April 6 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- North Dakota: April 6 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- Oklahoma: April 3 (statewide candidate filing deadline)
- South Carolina: March 30 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- South Dakota: March 31 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- Virginia: April 2 (statewide U.S. Senate primary candidate filing deadline)
- Wisconsin (Spring election): April 3 (statewide general write-in candidate filing deadline)
Looking back
Six states and Washington, D.C., had a candidate filing deadline in the past two weeks:
- Maine: March 16 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- New Mexico: March 17 (statewide filing deadline for write-in primary candidates)
- Colorado: March 18 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- Washington, D.C.: March 18 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- Arizona: March 23 (statewide candidate filing deadline)
- New Jersey: March 23 (statewide primary candidate filing deadline)
- West Virginia: March 24 (statewide filing deadline for write-in primary candidates)
Candidates must meet various state-specific filing requirements and deadlines to appear on primary and general election ballots. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether and how candidates can make it onto the ballot. These laws are set at the state level and apply to candidates running for state and federal offices.
Upcoming elections
Looking ahead, there are three statewide elections taking place in April. See below for dates voters in those states should be aware of.
Mississippi (primary runoff)
- Voter registration deadline: March 9
- Primary runoff date: April 7
Wisconsin (Spring general)
- Voter registration deadline: March 18 by mail or online (April 7 in person)
- Early voting start date: March 24
- Spring general election date: April 7
Virginia (redistricting ballot measure special)
- Voter registration deadline: April 14 by mail or online (April 21 in person)
- Early voting start date: March 6
- Special election date: April 21
National primary overview
Among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., there are 53 statewide primary dates on the 2026 election calendar. As of March 28, six of those primaries have taken place. The number of primary voter registration deadlines, early voting dates, and absentee/mail-in voting deadlines that have taken place so far range between 10–12% of the total 2026 statewide primary dates and deadlines.
In March, there were five statewide primaries, one primary voter registration deadline, no primary early voting start dates, and one primary absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline. In April, there are no statewide primaries, seven primary voter registration deadlines, seven early voting start dates, and two absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines.
The most statewide primaries will take place in June (16). June and July are tied at 12 each for the most voter registration deadlines, and May and June are tied at 10 each for the most early voting start dates. May and August are tied for the most absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines at 11 each.
To read more about candidate filing deadlines for the upcoming midterm elections, click here. Click here to see a full list of statewide primaries.
Join us to help make a difference in your community this election year
Most elections in America are local, and many receive little coverage. School boards, city councils, county offices, and local judges make decisions that affect communities every day. This year, Ballotpedia expects to cover tens of thousands of local elections, providing voters with unbiased information about candidates and issues that can’t be found anywhere else.
These elections happen throughout the year, and covering all of them is a non-stop job. That’s why we hope you will take this opportunity to make a monthly contribution that will help us carry on this critical work.
Monthly gifts – regardless of their size – help ensure our team has the resources they must have to stay abreast of breaking developments, identify new races, build candidate pages, and keep voters informed about the elections happening in their communities.Please - take a moment to join our growing community of monthly supporters and help make year-round election coverage possible.
