Denver, Colorado, USA at the Colorado State Capitol during a winters night. (Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)
By BallotWire
2026
BallotWire delivers data-driven coverage of U.S. elections at every level—federal, state, and local. We track results, trends, and shifts beyond the headlines.
Top Election Developments
A summary of the most significant election news from the week, including major race developments, candidate activity, and changes that may determine upcoming contests.
Colorado Group Pushes to Redraw Congressional Map - Coloradans for a Level Playing Field has unveiled a plan to redraw Colorado's congressional map ahead of the 2028 and 2030 elections, bypassing the state's independent redistricting commission approved by voters in 2018. The group has filed four ballot measure proposals and, if one clears the state's Title Board review, backers will need to gather roughly 125,000 signatures by August 3 to land the measure on this November's ballot. The proposed map would draw seven of Colorado's eight congressional districts into the state's most Democratic-leaning urban and suburban areas, a configuration that would put GOP-held seats represented by U.S. Representatives Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, and Jeff Crank at risk.
Campbell Announces Congressional Bid - Rapper and Miami cultural icon Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell has entered the Democratic primary for Florida’s 20th Congressional District, challenging incumbent U.S. Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Campbell, a longtime community activist, says he’s running to bring results, resources, and accountability to the district. His candidacy adds national attention to an already crowded and closely watched Democratic primary.
State & Local Spotlight
Coverage of notable state and local election events that may indicate broader political trends or influence higher-profile races.
Warmington Launches Second Bid for New Hampshire Governor - Cinde Warmington announced she is running for New Hampshire governor in 2026, challenging Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte, who won the open seat in 2024 with 53.6 percent of the vote over Democrat Joyce Craig in what was widely described as the most competitive gubernatorial race in the country that year. Warmington, who lost to Craig in the 2024 Democratic primary, is centering her campaign on affordability issues, repealing the state's school voucher program, and opposing a proposed ICE detainee processing facility in Merrimack.
McNeel Wins Georgia State Senate District 18 Special Runoff – Republican Steven McNeel won the Georgia State Senate District 18 special election runoff on February 17, securing 59.42% of the vote against Democrat LeMario Brown and keeping the seat in Republican control. McNeel will fill the vacancy left by former Republican State Senator John F. Kennedy.
Virginia Judge Blocks Democratic Redistricting Referendum - A Tazewell Circuit Court judge on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order blocking Virginia Democrats' planned April 21 referendum to redraw the state's congressional maps, dealing a significant blow to the party's effort to flip as many as four Republican-held U.S. House seats. The ruling, granted at the request of the Republican National Committee (RNC), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), and Republican U.S. Representatives Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith, argues the referendum's timing and ballot wording are illegal. The restraining order is in effect until March 18, and with early voting slated to start March 6, the decision could effectively nix the referendum for this year if it withstands appeal. It is the second time Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. has ruled against the Democratic redistricting effort. Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones has vowed to appeal, and House Speaker Don Scott accused Republicans of court shopping, noting that the Virginia Supreme Court had already signaled that the matter should go to voters.
Data & Polling Roundup
An overview of newly released polling and data understandings that help contextualize the current electoral landscape and emerging trends.
Hilton Leads California Guberntorial Poll – A new Emerson College/Inside California Politics poll of the 2026 California gubernatorial open primary shows Republican Steve Hilton leading the packed field at 17%, followed by Democratic U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell and Republican Chad Bianco tied at 14%, former Democratic U.S. Representative Katie Porter at 10%, and Tom Steyer at 9%, with 21% of voters still undecided. The survey was conducted February 13-14 among 1,000 likely California voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Menefee Leads Green by 24 Points in Texas CD-18 Democratic Primary - A Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston poll of the Texas Congressional District 18 Democratic primary finds Congressman Christian Menefee leading Congressman Al Green 52% to 28% among likely voters, a 24-point advantage. The race is one of the most-watched Democratic primaries of the 2026 cycle, as Green, a 20-year incumbent, faces a strong challenge from Menefee. The two incumbents are squaring off in the same primary after Texas' mid-decade redistricting redrew congressional lines and placed them in the same district. The survey was conducted February 3 and February 8 among 1,000 likely primary voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.10 percentage points.
Collins Leads Georgia GOP Senate Primary but Nearly Half of Voters Still Undecided - A Quantus Insights poll conducted February 17-18 among 1,337 likely voters shows U.S. Representative Mike Collins leading the Georgia U.S. Senate Republican primary with 35.5%, followed by U.S. Representative Buddy Carter at 11%, and Derek Dooley at 9%, but nearly 45% of voters remain undecided. The results highlight a wide-open race with no candidate close to consolidating the GOP field.