By Jim Ellis — Thursday, August 6, 2026
MI-13
Michigan state Rep. Donovan McKinney
Rep. Thanedar was first elected in 2022 with only 28 percent of the vote in the Democratic plurality primary topping eight opponents including then-state Sen. Adam Hollier who placed second. Hollier announced a rematch challenge in 2024 but failed to qualify for the ballot due to insufficient valid petition signatures. Rep. Thanedar then won the primary with 54 percent of the vote. In the 2026 race, Rep. Thanedar faced state Rep. McKinney in a one-on-one battle.
Of the eight US House members defeated for renomination, Rep. Thanedar became the sixth Democrat to lose prior to the general election.
The House open-seat count rises to 70 with the Thanedar defeat and scandal tainted North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Flat Rock/Asheville) withdrawing in yesterday’s early morning hours.
Of the 70, a total of 37 open seats are currently under Republican control, 28 are Democratic, and five new districts were created through state redraws in California, Florida, Texas, and Utah.
Two of the open seats are vacant and going to special election. California’s 14th District (Rep. Eric Swalwell-D resigning) and Georgia’s 13th CD (death of Rep. David Scott-D) will be filled in special elections on Aug. 18 (CA-14) and Aug. 25 (GA-13). Democrats will hold both seats.
Two more seats, FL-20 (Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick-D resigned) and TX-23 (Rep. Tony Gonzales-R resigned), are vacant. Neither Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) nor Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has scheduled replacement special elections.
NC-11
As mentioned, two-term Rep. Edwards has officially withdrawn from his re-election campaign. The North Carolina Republican Party Executive Committee now will choose a replacement on the 2026 general election ballot.
Whoever is selected must quickly mount a districtwide campaign against an able Democratic opponent, agribusinessman Jamie Ager, the grandson of former 11th District Democratic Congressman James McClure Clarke who served in the 1980s. Clarke won three terms but lost two re-election campaigns in a western North Carolina district that repeatedly flipped between the parties.
Two prominent names being mentioned as possible replacements are state Sens. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) and Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson County). Both men also previously served in the state House of Representatives. More to come on this developing situation.
Tennessee Primary
The Volunteer State holds the nation’s only Thursday primary today, and the Governor’s race is drawing the most attention. Here, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who does not have to risk her seat to run for Governor, is favored to win the Republican nomination tonight.
Her principal opponent is Rep. John Rose (R-Cookeville). While the Senator continues to lead in all polling, her initial dominant advantage is dissipating to a degree. She is still comfortably ahead, but the victory margin may not be quite as strong as originally portrayed.
On the ballot for a second US Senate term is incumbent Bill Hagerty (R). The Senator is unopposed tonight and expects to have an easy ride in the general election.
The new Tennessee congressional map will be in effect for this election. The major change affects the Memphis area and veteran Rep. Steve Cohen (D) is retiring. After the redistricting plan was enacted after the US Supreme Court’s ruling in the Callais v. Louisiana case that answered the racial gerrymandering questions, the 9th District was changed from a Memphis-anchored seat fully contained within Shelby County to one that stretches almost to Nashville. With the new Republican 9th District partisan lean, Rep. Cohen declared that he could not run a credible re-election campaign.
Rep. Rose’s open 6th District will be decided in the Republican primary tonight with the winner becoming the prohibitive favorite in the general election. The two key contenders are former Congressman and statewide nominee Van Hilleary, who served as Rep. Rose’s chief of staff, and state House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville). This campaign has turned negative with both candidates using controversial AI ads.
The member facing the strongest renomination opponent is two-term Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Columbia). The new 5th District stretches from its traditional population anchor in Davidson and Williamson counties to surround the 8th District on three sides and now borders Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The new 5th also includes downtown Memphis.
Rep. Ogles, who has been tainted with a campaign finance scandal, faces former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher tonight. A close result is expected.
All nine of the state’s congressional seats are now expected to elect a Republican meaning the national GOP will gain one new member in the Volunteer State delegation.