Virginia Primary Picks House and Senate Nominees for 2026

Virginia voters selected their party's nominees for the U.S. House and Senate on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, setting the stage for a November general election where several competitive congressional races could help determine control of the narrowly divided chamber. The primary election, unusually held in August instead of June, followed a failed Democratic effort to redraw the state's congressional map.

The state Supreme Court struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan this spring, leaving the current map in place for the 2026 elections. That map currently yields a delegation of six Democrats and five Republicans, all of whom are seeking reelection. The invalidated proposal would have created a map more favorable to Democrats, leading to significant campaign upheaval as some candidates ended their bids or shifted districts when the old boundaries were reinstated in May.

Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger, while acknowledging the challenges created by the prolonged primary season, expressed confidence in her party's chances. She stated she remained hopeful that as many as four seats could flip in Virginia, contributing to the national effort to reclaim the House majority.