Virginia voters cast ballots in delayed 2026 primary with congressional control at stake
Virginia voters are casting ballots Tuesday, August 4, in a one-year-only primary moved from June while congressional and local contests take shape for November.
The ballot includes nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and local offices. Several House primaries could help determine which party controls the narrowly divided chamber in November, although Tuesday’s vote alone will not decide control of Congress.
Why Virginia’s primary is in August
The General Assembly moved the 2026 primary date under House Bill 29, which became law on February 20. The change applies only to the 2026 election year. There was no June 16 primary, and Virginia’s regular primary calendar is not permanently changing.
The Department of Elections said primary elections for all offices appearing on the November 2026 general-election ballot would be held August 4.
What is on the ballot
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner is unopposed for renomination. Three Republicans — Kim Farington, Bert Mizusawa and David Williams — are competing for the nomination to challenge him in November.
Competitive congressional contests include primaries in the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th districts. In the 1st District, seven Democrats are competing for the chance to challenge Republican Rep. Rob Wittman, who is unopposed for renomination.
In the 2nd District, former Rep. Elaine Luria is among four Democrats seeking the nomination. Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans is unopposed for renomination.
The 7th District has a three-way Republican primary among Philip Harding, Doug Ollivant and Rick Smithers. Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman is unopposed for renomination.
The 5th District has a three-way Democratic primary involving former Rep. Tom Perriello, Rob Tracinski and Suzanne Krzyzanowski. Republican Rep. John McGuire is unopposed for renomination.
Those contests are important beyond the individual districts because the November results could affect the balance of power in the U.S. House.
Who can vote
Virginia voters do not register by party. Any eligible voter may participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but voters may choose only one party’s primary in a given election.
Voters who missed the regular registration deadline may use same-day registration in person and cast a provisional ballot. The Department of Elections says same-day registration began July 25.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern. Polling-place locations and ballot contents vary by locality, so voters should confirm their information with the Virginia Department of Elections or their local registrar before going to vote.
Anyone in line when polls close at 7 p.m. must be allowed to vote.
When results will appear
The Department of Elections will post Democratic and Republican election-night totals as unofficial results. Virginia counties and independent cities do not all release early, absentee and Election Day ballots on the same schedule.
Some jurisdictions release most early and absentee results in their first update, while others release little or none of that vote initially. Early numbers may shift as additional ballots are reported and local canvassing continues.
Election-night totals, media projections and candidate declarations should not be treated as certified results.
When results become official
Virginia’s election-results page says local-office results become official after the locality’s Electoral Board certifies them. Statewide offices and local offices that cross locality lines become official after certification by the State Board of Elections.
Virginia does not conduct automatic recounts. A candidate may request and pay for a recount when the margin between the top two candidates is 1 percentage point or less, subject to the state’s procedures and payment rules. Recount eligibility does not mean a recount happens automatically.
What happens next
The primary selects party nominees for the November general election. It does not itself decide control of the U.S. House or the outcome of Warner’s Senate race.
Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than August 4 and received by the general registrar by noon Friday, August 7, to be eligible under Virginia’s rules. The Department of Elections results pages will continue to show unofficial updates before the required certification process is complete.
Sources
- Virginia Department of Elections: Primary election moved to August 4
- The Associated Press: What to expect in Virginia’s state primary
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