Which U.S. states have 2025–2026 special election dates and what are their scheduling rules?
Executive summary
Several states scheduled 2025–26 special elections for U.S. House seats and state legislative contests with varying rules: Virginia’s 11th CD special general was set for Sept. 9, 2025 (with a special runoff Jan. 31, 2026 noted by the FEC) [1]. Arizona’s 7th CD was set for Sept. 23, 2025 [2] [1]. Florida held two special House contests April 1, 2025 and had additional seat vacancies leading to special contests into 2026 [3] [1] [4]. Texas’ 18th CD special was called for Nov. 4, 2025; California held a statewide special and ballot measure on Nov. 4, 2025 [2] [5] [6]. Tennessee’s 7th CD special general was scheduled Dec. 2, 2025 [3] [7]. Multiple states (Georgia, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Arkansas legislative seats) use statutory or constitutional timing and runoff rules that differ sharply — e.g., Georgia requires the governor to call a special within 10 days and set it at least 30 days after the call with a top-two runoff if no majority [8]; Arkansas courts compelled earlier legislative specials tied to an “as soon as practicable” clause, producing a Jan. 6, 2026 primary and March 3, 2026 special [9] [10].
1. Mapping the 2025–26 special election calendar — who’s on the ballot and when
A patchwork of federal- and state-level vacancies produced special elections across 2025 and into 2026. Major U.S. House special generals named in federal reporting and news: Virginia 11th on Sept. 9, 2025 (with a special runoff listed Jan. 31, 2026) and Arizona 7th on Sept. 23, 2025 [1]. Florida held two special House contests April 1, 2025 and had follow-up special contests extending into March 2026 in some districts [3] [4]. Texas’ 18th district special was set for Nov. 4, 2025 [2]. California held a statewide special (including a high-profile Proposition 50) on Nov. 4, 2025 [5] [6]. Tennessee’s U.S. House District 7 was scheduled for Dec. 2, 2025 (local election calendars) [7]. Ballotpedia and the FEC list additional special-election reporting windows and runoffs through Jan.–Mar. 2026 [11] [1].
2. Why dates differ so wildly — state law, governors and courts
Special-election timing is set by a mix of state statutes, gubernatorial proclamation and, at times, court orders. Georgia law requires the governor to call a special within 10 days of a vacancy and schedule it not less than 30 days after the call, while allowing a runoff if no candidate exceeds 50% [8]. In Arkansas, circuit judges interpreted the state constitution’s “as soon as practicable” requirement to force earlier special primaries and generals than the governor had chosen, producing a Jan. 6, 2026 primary and March 3, 2026 special election [9] [10]. These examples show executive discretion is constrained by statute and judicial review [8] [9].
3. Runoffs, jungle primaries and single-ballot rules — how nomination systems change timing and outcomes
States differ on ballot structure and runoff triggers. Georgia runs all candidates on a single ballot with a top-two runoff if no one gets 50% [8]. Texas and other states sometimes require runoffs or use plurality rules depending on local code; Ballotpedia flags runoff scheduling for several 2025–26 contests [11]. In the Texas 18th special called for Nov. 4, 2025, no statewide runoff timing note appears in these sources, but the FEC and Ballotpedia list that contest in their reporting windows [2] [11].
4. Administrative deadlines and federal reporting windows that matter to campaigns
Federal and state calendars overlay to create firm deadlines for fundraising, reporting, early voting, and absentee ballots. The FEC compiles special-election reporting periods for 2025–26 contests and flags dates like special runoff Jan. 31, 2026 (Virginia) and the special generals in Sept.–Nov. 2025 that trigger Federal Election Activity timelines [1] [12]. Secretaries of state publish statewide calendars (e.g., California’s Nov. 4, 2025 special with mail-ballot deadlines and certification on Dec. 12, 2025) that set voter-facing rules [5].
5. Where courts and politics collide — contested scheduling and disenfranchisement claims
Court intervention reshaped Arkansas’ timetable after voters argued a June date would leave districts unrepresented; judges ordered earlier elections under the state constitution, prompting friction with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders who warned about overseas/military voters’ ability to participate [9] [10]. This reveals an implicit political stake: scheduling benefits incumbents or parties differently and spurs legal fights when executive choices are perceived as delaying representation [9].
6. Limitations, gaps and where reporting diverges
Available sources comprehensively list many 2025 special dates (FEC, Ballotpedia, state SOS pages), but they do not provide a single master list of every state-level special election in 2025–26; Ballotpedia and state sites should be consulted for local legislative and municipal specials not captured here [11] [13]. Specific procedural minutiae — e.g., whether a given state uses plurality versus majority runoff in each special — is described for some states (Georgia) but is “not found in current reporting” for every contest in this dataset [8].
Sources cited: FEC reporting and state calendars [1] [12]; Ballotpedia special-election tracking [11] [13]; state secretary of state pages and news reporting for California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee and Arkansas [5] [4] [2] [3] [7] [9] [10].