Republicans and Democrats are already locked in a vigorous fight to see which party will control the House majority after 2026, recruiting candidates and fine-tuning messages ahead of what is expected to be a fierce midterm election.
But before either party reaches the general election, they have to wade through their own primaries, which will test President Donald Trump’s hold on the party, the strength of insurgent Democrats and whether centrists can hang on.
Below are five House primaries likely to make headlines in 2026.
Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, Republican primary
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Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection fight in this northeastern Kentucky district will be the ultimate test of whether Republican voters will embrace a politician who openly and proudly defies Trump. Massie has repeatedly done so this year, most notably when he pushed for the release of all federal files related to infamous convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein despite White House resistance.