The legislature has approved a bill that sets new election dates for the six U.S. House races. House Governmental Affairs Chairman Beau Beaullieu says the 2026 House races will be an open primary in November, with a December runoff. Beaullieu says the U.S. House elections scheduled for May 16th election have officially been canceled.
“Those votes that were written, in this closed party primary in the spring, cannot count towards any other election because there is no election. There is no closed party primary. It’s going to be an open primary in the fall,” Beaullieu explained.
The legislation also says future congressional races will be a closed primary after this year. Beaullieu was asked why this year’s U.S. House races can’t be closed primaries.
Question: “Why do we need to suspend it until next year? Could we not have a closed primary in July, with a runoff in August?”
Beaullieu: ” I’m being told no; the Secretary of State wouldn’t be able to conduct the election. We did discuss that.”
Beaullieu was also asked whether it’s legal to have the Senate races be closed primaries while the House races are open primaries.
Question: “This would not put us in legal jeopardy, by virtue of having two separate elections with the Senate and Congress, and how that has never happened?”
Beaullieu: ” I have not been advised that this would put us in any legal jeopardy.”
Qualifying for the U.S. House open primaries and all other fall elections will take place August 5th through the 7th.