Washington: Voters in the US states of Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Washington, and Virginia are heading to the polls on Aug. 4 for highly anticipated primary elections. Primaries are crucial elections where voters select which candidates will represent political parties in the November general election. The results will directly impact the balance of power in the US Congress. Currently, Republicans hold a 53 to 45 majority in the US Senate and a narrow 218 to 214 majority in the US House of Representatives.
According to Anadolu Agency, to capture control of the US Senate in the 2026 general elections, Democrats must achieve a net pickup of four seats, whereas Republicans cannot afford to lose more than two seats if they are to retain their majority in the chamber. A similarly tight margin exists in the US House of Representatives, where Democrats require a net gain of three districts to secure a majority, leaving Republicans with a margin of error of no more than two districts to keep control.
The incoming Congress, scheduled to take office in January 2027, will govern during the final two years of the second presidential term of US President Donald Trump. The political landscape looks challenging for the Republican Party. A Brookings Institution analysis indicated that public approval for Trump hit new lows in early 2026, driven by dissatisfaction with several issues, including the war with Iran. Additionally, a July 2026 Emerson College poll showed Democrats leading by 11 points on the generic congressional ballot.
In Michigan's open primary, the race for the US Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic incumbent Gary Peters is highly competitive. The Democratic primary has narrowed to a contest between Rep. Haley Stevens and public health advocate Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens has received endorsements from establishment figures, while El-Sayed has gained progressive support. Polling shows a volatile race, with younger voters favoring El-Sayed and older voters favoring Stevens. In the Republican Senate primary, former Rep. Mike Rogers is running unopposed.
Missouri is focusing on redrawn US House seats with no Senate race this cycle. In the Fifth Congressional District, Republican lawmakers have made the seat harder for longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by splitting Kansas City along a historically significant dividing line. The Cook Political Report rates the redrawn district as leaning Republican. Cleaver is unopposed in his primary, while six Republicans compete to challenge him.
Kansas voters are deciding key federal and state races, including a constitutional amendment to switch Supreme Court selection to direct partisan elections. The race for Kansas governor is open as Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited. In the Democratic primary, state Sen. Ethan Corson is running against Cindy Holscher and Curt Skoog. In the Republican primary, Senate President Ty Masterson faces Secretary of State Scott Schwab.
Washington operates a top-two primary system where the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election. The marquee contest is in the Third Congressional District, a critical swing seat. Incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez faces a challenge from Brent Hennrich, with the leading Republican challenger being state Senate Republican Leader John Braun.
Virginia is holding primaries under its 2021 congressional map. The primary focus in Virginia is on two highly competitive US House seats. In the First Congressional District, incumbent Republican Rob Wittman faces seven Democratic challengers. In the Second Congressional District, incumbent Republican Jen Kiggans has also been endorsed by Trump. The midterm election will take place on Nov. 3.