While most attention will be on Tuesday’s statewide primaries in Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming, there are a few special elections on the schedule.
U.S. House
California District 14
Polls close at 11:00 PM Eastern Time. Voters in this Bay Area district will elect a new member of Congress Tuesday, filling the vacancy created by the April resignation of Democrat Eric Swalwell.
The special election features two Democrats: state Sen. Aisha Wahab and BART Board President Melissa Hernandez. Wahab, the more progressive of the two candidates, has been the frontrunner throughout much of the campaign. As the New York Times reports, the contest is the “latest battleground in the ideological fight over the future of the Democratic Party.”
This will be the third time in less than three months that the two have faced each other. In the June 2 regular primary for the term beginning next year, Wahab finished first with 38% of the vote, more than 20 points ahead of Hernandez. Two weeks later, Wahab did even better in the special primary, receiving 43% to Hernandez’s 17%. Because no candidate won a majority, the top two advanced to Tuesday’s special election.
The contest has attracted significant late spending. Hernandez has raised and spent considerably more than Wahab, while outside groups have spent about $4.1 million since mid-July. Roughly $3.7 million of that spending has supported Hernandez or opposed Wahab, much of it coming from groups aligned with the pro-Israel organization AIPAC.
The spending has given Hernandez an opportunity to narrow the performance gap from the earlier primaries. Public safety has emerged as one of the major issues in the closing weeks, with Hernandez and allied groups attacking Wahab’s record in the state Legislature. Wahab, meanwhile, has criticized the influx of outside money into the race.
Regardless of Tuesday’s outcome, the two will meet again in November for a full two-year term. That election will use California’s new congressional map, although redistricting impacts to District 14 are minor.
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State Legislature
Pennsylvania House District 12
Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. For those focusing on the political mood, this is the most interesting of Tuesday’s special elections.
District 12 covers parts of Butler County, including some rapidly growing suburbs north of Pittsburgh. Republican Stephenie Scialabba resigned in March. She was in her second term, easily winning reelection in 2024, 65% to 35%.
The candidates are Air Force veteran Scott Timko (R), and construction loan administrator Brandon Dukes (D).
Based on calculations by The Downballot, Democrats have outperformed in most legislative special elections this year, although generally not to the extent that would be required to flip this seat. Regardless of the outcome, the two will meet again in the November general election for a regular two-year term.
Overall, the narrowly-divided Pennsylvania House of Representatives has 102 Democrats and 100 Republicans. The winner of this contest will fill the lone vacancy.
Arkansas Senate District 1 (Primary)
Polls close at 8:30 PM Eastern Time. Republicans dominate the Arkansas Senate, holding a 28-6 partisan advantage over Democrats. There is one vacancy.
District 1 extends south from the Pine Bluff area to the Louisiana border. Republican Ben Gilmore resigned earlier this year to take a position with Attorney General Tim Griffin (R). Gilmore easily won reelection over a Libertarian candidate in 2024.
Republicans Missy Wardlaw and Harrell Wilson are competing for the nomination. The winner will meet Tomeka Butler in the November 3 special general election. This seat is next up for a regular term in 2028.
Wyoming Senate District 6
Polls close at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. The Wyoming Senate is overwhelmingly Republican. The current partisan composition is 29-2.
Republican Darin Smith resigned from District 6 in August, 2025, to accept an appointment as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming. Smith was unopposed for the seat in 2024.
Taft Love was appointed by local GOP leaders on an interim basis. He has drawn one primary challenger. No Democrats are contesting the seat, so the nominee will have only write-in opposition in the special general election.
The seat is next up for a regular four-year term in 2028.
Calendar
2026 State Primaries >
August 25
Oklahoma (Runoffs)
South Carolina GOP Senate Special Runoff
September 1
September 8
September 9
September 15
Other Scheduled Elections
Congressional Special Elections
August 25
Georgia District 13 (Runoff)
No special elections have been scheduled for vacancies in FL-20 and TX-23.
State Legislative Special Elections
August 25
Oklahoma Senate District 17 (Primary Runoff)
September 1
South Carolina Senate District 15 (Primary)
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