The 2026 congressional primaries in Alexandria and the rest of Virginia will be delayed until August, leaving more time for candidate filings after the fate of mid-decade redistricting is decided.
Alexandria’s General Registrar Angie Maniglia Turner confirmed to ALXnow that the city will have its primary elections on Aug. 4. According to Maniglia Turner, the city’s only primaries in 2026 are Sen. Mark Warner (D)’s U.S. Senate seat and U.S. House of Representatives.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) had signed state legislation to move the June 16 primary elections to Aug. 4. The new primary date applies to all primaries to nominate candidates for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.
The later primary date takes into account the potential for mid-decade redistricting, which Virginia Democrats have been pursuing in response to similar efforts in other states. A statewide referendum to redraw congressional maps was expected to be held April 21, the same date of Alexandria’s special election to fill recently-elected Del. Kirk McPike (D-5)’s City Council seat. However, the referendum’s future remains uncertain after being blocked by a state court last Thursday.
According to the Virginia Department of Elections, the Aug. 4 primary date will not change based on whether the voter referendum happens or is approved.
Even if voters approved the redrawing of congressional districts, the City of Alexandria would entirely remain in the 8th Congressional District. Rep. Don Beyer (D) is running for reelection in the 8th Congressional District and faces five primary challengers. Three Republican candidates are running for the party’s nomination.
In the U.S. Senate race, Warner and four challengers are running in the Democratic primary. There are also five Republican candidates running for the party’s nomination.
The new filing deadlines for U.S. House of Representatives office are May 26 for candidates seeking their party’s nomination and Aug. 4 for independent candidates. Filing deadlines for other races, including U.S. Senate, will remain April 2 for party candidates and June 16 for independent candidates.
Registered voters can use the Virginia Department of Elections citizen portal to register to vote, check their registration status, apply for a mail ballot or find their polling place.
Same-day registration, which allows a resident to cast a provisional ballot until their voter eligibility is confirmed, will be available after the voter registration deadline at early voting locations or their polling place.
More information about voting in Alexandria is available from the Office of Voter Registration and Elections.
Here are the key primary election dates shared by the Virginia Department of Elections:
- June 19: Early voting begins (general registrar offices closed for Juneteenth will begin early voting June 18).
- July 24: Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail or online.
- July 24: Deadline to register to vote and cast a regular ballot.
- July 25: Same-day registration begins. Same-day registrants must cast a provisional ballot.
- Aug. 1: Last day of early voting.
- Aug. 4: Election Day
- Aug. 7: All mailed ballots must be received by the general registrar’s office by noon.
