Published May 18, 2026
In the eastern US state of Pennsylvania, which was a key battleground in recent national elections, voters are preparing to head to the polls for the primary election.
Republican and Democratic candidates are competing to represent their respective parties in the midterm elections scheduled for November. The midterm elections are a test of President Donald Trump’s second term that could determine his control of Congress for the remainder of his term.
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When is the first one? What does the voting process entail? Which races are being watched? This brief will answer these questions and more.
When is the first one?
Voting day is scheduled for May 19th.
The last day to register to vote is May 4, and the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 12, according to the state Elections Department.
What do people need to vote?
The state has a closed primary system, meaning voters can only vote in the primary of their registered party.
Pennsylvania generally does not require voters to show identification. However, if you are voting at a polling place for the first time, you will need to present a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.
What time does voting start?
Voting will open at 7am local time (11am GMT) and close at 8pm local time (midnight GMT).
What positions are being contested and why is this election important?
Many races are attracting attention due to their importance to national politics, including the gubernatorial race, which could showcase the political ambitions of incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
State Democrats are also seeking a majority in both chambers of the state Legislature for the first time in decades, with all seats in the state House of Representatives and half of the state Senate seats up for grabs in November. Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the state House of Representatives, but they haven’t held a majority in the state Senate in more than 30 years.
There are 228 congressional primaries this year, many of them uncontested, according to Pennsylvania news outlet Spotlight PA, which tracks the state’s primaries. The tracker ranks the 16th and 36th districts as primaries for the November general election for control of the state Senate.
Pennsylvania is also likely to play an important role on a national level in the midterm elections, where voters will decide candidates for all 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. All but one of the state’s U.S. House members are up for re-election.
Voters will also choose their party’s candidate for lieutenant governor.
Who are the gubernatorial candidates?
Both the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates are running unopposed in the primary.
Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, often talked about as a future presidential candidate, is running as the incumbent, while state Treasurer Stacey Garrity is running uncontested on the Republican ticket.
“Everyone knows he’s more interested in Pennsylvania Avenue than helping Pennsylvania families,” Garrity said of Shapiro’s possible White House bid in a recent interview. “He thinks that if he can turn Pennsylvania over to the Democrats, maybe they’ll look at him more harshly.”
Supporters of former Republican gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Doug Mastriano have launched a write-in campaign to replace Garrity, whom Trump endorsed in January.
The Trump administration announced last week that it would appoint Mastriano as ambassador to Slovakia.
What about the lieutenant governor?
The Democratic candidate is incumbent Austin Davis, while the Republicans are choosing between Jason Ritchie and John Ventre.
Local National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate WESA reported that Allegheny County attorney Ritchie, Garrity’s leading running mate, is facing a challenge from Ventre, a former UPS executive whom Garrity’s campaign has accused of spreading false claims on social media and misleading voters.
Ventre shared an image on social media that said he and Garrity were Republican candidates “effective May 20,” but the gubernatorial candidate’s statement said the two had never met and accused Ventre of sharing a “misleading image.”
What other races are attracting attention?
As Democratic Congressman Dwight Evans nears retirement, the primary race for the state’s 3rd Congressional District, which represents part of Philadelphia, the state’s largest city, is in full swing.
The race pits progressive candidate Chris Love against Ara Stanford and Sharif Street, both of whom are seen as closer to the party’s traditional wing. Mr. Love has the support of progressive figures, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
News organization Axios recently reported that Mr. Shapiro is using his influence to encourage support for candidates other than Mr. Love. Love has previously criticized the governor from the left on issues such as immigration, and his pro-Palestinian politics are at odds with those of Shapiro, who is pro-Israel.
What are the polls saying?
Most polls show Mr. Shapiro leading his rivals in the gubernatorial race by a wide margin, with a February Quinnipiac poll showing him receiving 55% of the vote to Garrity’s 37%.
An April Susquehanna Poll also showed Mr. Shapiro winning with 58% to Mr. Garrity with 36%.
