Primary Elections
North Carolina Primary Elections 2026
Primary date, filing deadlines, key contested races, and what to watch in North Carolina ahead of the 2026 general election.
March 3, 2026
Primary Date
April 21, 2026
Runoff / RCV
December 2025
Filing Deadline
Very High — Senate Tillis is a
Competitiveness
Key 2026 Primary Races
| U.S. Senate | Thom Tillis (R) up 2026 — competitive race |
| Governor | Josh Stein (D) just elected 2024 — not up until 2028 |
| U.S. House | NC-1 (Don Davis D), NC-6, NC-9, NC-14 competitive |
2026 Primary Overview
North Carolina holds early March primaries with runoffs. Thom Tillis faces re-election in what could be a competitive race. Democrats hope to field a strong challenger. NC-1 (Don Davis) is a competitive House seat. Multiple Republican House primaries may feature MAGA vs. establishment contests.