Republican Party battleground primaries, 2020

2022 →

<- 2018

2020 Republican Party primary elections

Battleground primaries
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
State executive battlegrounds
Federal primaries
U.S. Senate primaries
U.S. House primaries
State primaries
Gubernatorial primaries
Attorney General primaries
Secretary of State primaries
State legislative primaries
Primary overviews
Republican Party primaries, 2020
Democratic Party primaries, 2020
Top-two battleground primaries, 2020
Primaries by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubmit

Last updated: September 11, 2020
General elections are often the focal point of election-year media coverage as they determine control of elected offices up and down the ballot. Primary elections, however, can provide insight on future elections as they help dictate the direction each party takes.

Although many of the most competitive primaries take place for open seats or offices that are held by a different party, even high-ranking federal officeholders can lose renomination to primary challengers. In the 2014 primary for Virginia's 7th Congressional District, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R), ranked behind only then-Speaker John Boehner (R) in Republican House leadership, was defeated by economics professor Dave Brat (R).

On this page, you will find information on noteworthy and notable Republican Party primaries taking place across the country for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state executive offices, and state legislatures. The page also includes information about notable top-two primaries for Republican seats.

Ballotpedia identified 75 Republican battleground primaries in 2020.

Click here for information on Democratic Party battleground primaries in 2020.

## Contents

* 1 Criteria
* 2 U.S. Senate primaries
* 3 U.S. House primaries
* 4 State executive primaries
* 5 State legislative primaries
* 6 Top-two primaries for Republican seats
* 7 Change log
* 8 2018 battlegrounds
* 8.1 Top 10 Republican primaries in 2018
* 9 See also

## Criteria[edit]

It is typically difficult to predict how competitive primaries will be until after filing deadlines take place. However, Ballotpedia used a number of factors to give insight into the most interesting 2020 primary elections. Factors that were used to determine the competitiveness of primaries included:

* Whether or not the seat was open (retiring or resigning incumbent)
* Notable endorsements of multiple candidates
* Significant fundraising from multiple candidates
* Number of candidates
* Incumbent's years in office (if seeking re-election)
* Whether or not the district's general election was expected to be a battleground

## U.S. Senate primaries[edit]

The following map shows each state with a Republican battleground primary for U.S. Senate in 2020. Use the buttons in the upper-right hand corner of the map or your mouse's scroll wheel to zoom in and out. Hover over or tap a state to view the incumbent's name. There were seven U.S. Senate Republican battleground primaries in 2020.

U.S. Senate Republican battleground primaries, 2020

State  | Primary date  | Primary winner  | Incumbent  | Open seat?  | MOV in 2014[1]
Alabama | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff |  Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville

* * *

Tommy Tuberville |  Doug Jones | d | D+1.7
Arizona | August 4, 2020 | Martha McSally |  Martha McSally | d | R+13.0
Kansas | August 4, 2020 | Roger Marshall |  Pat Roberts |  | R+10.6
New Hampshire | September 8, 2020 | Bryant Messner |  Jeanne Shaheen | d | D+3.3
Oregon | May 19, 2020 | Jo Rae Perkins |  Jeff Merkley | d | D+23.3
Tennessee | August 6, 2020 | Bill Hagerty |  Lamar Alexander |  | R+30.0
Wyoming | August 18, 2020 | Cynthia Lummis |  Mike Enzi |  | R+54.8

## U.S. House primaries[edit]

The following map shows each U.S. House district with a Republican battleground primary in 2020. Use the buttons in the upper-right hand corner of the map or your mouse's scroll wheel to zoom in and out. Hover over or tap a district to view the incumbent's name. There were 53 U.S. House Republican battleground primaries in 2020.

U.S. House Republican battleground primaries, 2020

District  | Primary date  | Primary winner  | Incumbent  | Open seat?  | MOV in 2018
Alabama's 1st District | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff |  Jerry Carl and Bill Hightower

* * *

Jerry Carl |  Bradley Byrne |  | R+26.4
Alabama's 2nd District | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff | Barry Moore |  Martha Roby |  | R+23.0
Florida's 3rd District | August 18, 2020 | Kat Cammack |  Ted Yoho |  | R+15.2
Florida's 13th District | August 18, 2020 | Anna Paulina Luna |  Charlie Crist | d | D+15.2
Florida's 15th District | August 18, 2020 | Scott Franklin |  Ross Spano | d | R+6.0
Florida's 19th District | August 18, 2020 | Byron Donalds |  Francis Rooney |  | R+24.6
Florida's 26th District | August 18, 2020 | Carlos Gimenez |  Debbie Mucarsel-Powell | d | D+1.8
Georgia's 7th District | June 9, 2020 | Rich McCormick |  Rob Woodall |  | R+0.2
Georgia's 9th District | June 9, 2020

* * *

August 11, 2020 runoff |  Matt Gurtler and Andrew Clyde

* * *

Andrew Clyde |  Doug Collins |  | R+59.0
Georgia's 14th District | June 9, 2020

* * *

August 11, 2020 runoff |  Marjorie Taylor Greene and John Cowan

* * *

Marjorie Taylor Greene |  Tom Graves |  | R+53.0
Illinois' 6th District | March 17, 2020 | Jeanne M. Ives |  Sean Casten | d | D+7.2
Illinois' 14th District | March 17, 2020 | Jim Oberweis |  Lauren Underwood | d | D+5.0
Illinois' 15th District | March 17, 2020 | Mary Miller |  John Shimkus |  | R+41.8
Indiana's 5th District | June 2, 2020 | Victoria Spartz |  Susan Brooks |  | R+13.6
Iowa's 4th District | June 2, 2020 | Randy Feenstra |  Steve King | d | R+3.3
Kansas' 1st District | August 4, 2020 | Tracey Mann |  Roger Marshall |  | R+36.2
Kansas' 2nd District | August 4, 2020 | Jacob LaTurner |  Steve Watkins | d | R+0.8
Kansas' 3rd District | August 4, 2020 | Amanda Adkins |  Sharice Davids | d | D+9.7
Kentucky's 4th District | June 23, 2020 | Thomas Massie |  Thomas Massie | d | R+27.6
Maine's 2nd District | July 14, 2020 | Dale Crafts |  Jared Golden | d | D+1.2
Michigan's 3rd District | August 4, 2020 | Peter Meijer |  Justin Amash |  | R+11.2
Michigan's 10th District | August 4, 2020 | Lisa McClain |  Paul Mitchell |  | R+25.3
Minnesota's 7th District | August 11, 2020 | Michelle Fischbach |  Collin Peterson | d | D+4.3
Mississippi's 3rd District | March 10, 2020 | Michael Guest |  Michael Guest | d | R+25.6
Montana's At-Large District | June 2, 2020 | Matt Rosendale |  Greg Gianforte |  | R+4.7
Nevada's 3rd District | June 9, 2020 | Dan Rodimer |  Susie Lee | d | D+9.1
New Hampshire's 1st District | September 8, 2020 | Matt Mowers |  Chris Pappas | d | D+8.6
New Jersey's 2nd District | July 7, 2020 | Jeff Van Drew |  Jeff Van Drew | d | D+7.7
New Jersey's 3rd District | July 7, 2020 | David Richter |  Andrew Kim | d | D+1.3
New Mexico's 2nd District | June 2, 2020 | Yvette Herrell |  Xochitl Torres Small | d | D+1.8
New York's 2nd District | June 23, 2020 | Andrew Garbarino |  Peter King |  | R+6.2
New York's 27th District | June 23, 2020 | Christopher Jacobs | Vacant |  | R+0.3
North Carolina's 11th District | March 3, 2020

* * *

June 23, 2020 runoff | Madison Cawthorn |  Mark Meadows |  | R+20.5
Oklahoma's 5th District | June 30, 2020

* * *

August 25, 2020 runoff |  Stephanie Bice and Terry Neese

* * *

Stephanie Bice |  Kendra Horn | d | D+1.4
Oregon's 2nd District | May 19, 2020 | Cliff Bentz |  Greg Walden |  | R+16.9
Pennsylvania's 1st District | June 2, 2020 | Brian Fitzpatrick |  Brian Fitzpatrick | d | R+2.6
Pennsylvania's 7th District | June 2, 2020 | Lisa Scheller |  Susan Wild | d | D+8.0
South Carolina's 1st District | June 9, 2020 | Nancy Mace |  Joe Cunningham | d | D+1.4
Tennessee's 1st District | August 6, 2020 | Diana Harshbarger |  Phil Roe |  | R+56.1
Texas' 7th District | March 3, 2020 | Wesley Hunt |  Lizzie Pannill Fletcher | d | D+5.0
Texas' 11th District | March 3, 2020 | August Pfluger |  Mike Conaway |  | R+61.7
Texas' 12th District | March 3, 2020 | Kay Granger |  Kay Granger | d | R+30.4
Texas' 13th District | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff | Ronny Jackson |  Mac Thornberry |  | R+64.6
Texas' 17th District | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff | Pete Sessions |  Bill Flores |  | R+15.5
Texas' 22nd District | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff | Troy Nehls |  Pete Olson |  | R+4.9
Texas' 23rd District | March 3, 2020

* * *

July 14, 2020 runoff |  Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes Jr.

* * *

Tony Gonzales |  Will Hurd |  | R+0.5
Texas' 32nd District | March 3, 2020 | Genevieve Collins |  Colin Allred | d | D+6.5
Utah's 1st District | June 30, 2020 | Blake Moore |  Rob Bishop |  | R+36.7
Utah's 4th District | June 30, 2020 | Burgess Owens |  Ben McAdams | d | D+0.2
Virginia's 2nd District | June 23, 2020 | Scott Taylor |  Elaine Luria | d | D+2.3
Virginia's 5th District | June 13, 2020 | Bob Good |  Denver Riggleman | d | R+6.6
Virginia's 7th District | July 18, 2020 | Nick Freitas |  Abigail Spanberger | d | D+1.9
Wisconsin's 5th District | August 11, 2020 | Scott Fitzgerald |  Jim Sensenbrenner |  | R+24.0

## State executive primaries[edit]

The following map shows each state with Republican state executive battleground primaries in 2020. Hover over or tap a state for information on which primaries are battlegrounds and who the incumbent is in each. There were eight Republican state executive battleground primaries in 2020.

Republican state executive battleground primaries, 2020

State  | Primary date  | Primary winner  | Incumbent  | Open seat?  | MOV in 2016
Indiana Attorney General | June 22 - July 9, 2020[2] | Todd Rokita |  Curtis Hill | d | R+23.9
Governor of Missouri | August 4, 2020 | Mike Parson |  Mike Parson | d | R+5.9
Governor of Montana | June 2, 2020 | Greg Gianforte |  Steve Bullock |  | D+3.9
Secretary of State of Montana | June 2, 2020 | Christi Jacobsen |  Corey Stapleton |  | R+14.5
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina | March 3, 2020 | Mark Robinson |  Dan Forest |  | R+6.6
Governor of Utah | June 30, 2020 | Spencer Cox |  Gary R. Herbert |  | R+38.1
Attorney General of Utah | June 30, 2020 | Sean Reyes |  Sean Reyes | d | R+40.3
Governor of West Virginia | June 9, 2020 | Jim Justice |  Jim Justice | d | D+6.8

## State legislative primaries[edit]

The following map shows each state with a Republican state legislative primary battleground chamber in 2020. Hover over or tap a state for more information on which chambers are battlegrounds and how many seats Democrats control in each. There were seven Republican primary battleground chambers in 2020.

Republican state legislative primary battleground chambers, 2020

Chamber  | Primary date  | Seats controlled by Republicans  | Seats controlled by Republicans that are up for election in 2020  | Number of contested Republican primaries
Alaska State Senate | August 18, 2020 | 13/20 | 7/13 | 7
Alaska House of Representatives | August 18, 2020 | 23/40 | 23/23 | 15
Kansas State Senate | August 4, 2020 | 28/40 | 28/28 | 11
Kansas House of Representatives | August 4, 2020 | 84/125 | 84/84 | 29
Ohio House of Representatives | April 28, 2020 | 61/99 | 61/61 | 16
South Dakota State Senate | June 2, 2020 | 30/35 | 30/30 | 10
Texas House of Representatives | March 3, 2020 | 82/150 | 82/82 | 29

## Top-two primaries for Republican seats[edit]

See also: Top-two battleground primaries, 2020

There were two top-two battleground primaries for Republican-held seats in 2020.

California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[3][4]

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of October 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system for some or all statewide primaries. See here for more information.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Top-two battleground primaries for Republican-held seats, 2020

Office  | Primary winners  | Incumbent  | Open seat?  | MOV in 2018
California's 22nd |  Devin Nunes
Phil Arballo |  Devin Nunes | d | R+5.4
California's 50th |  Ammar Campa-Najjar
Darrell Issa | Vacant (Previous:  Duncan Hunter) |  | R+3.4

## Change log[edit]

This section lists every change that was made to our battleground list since we launched the page in September 2019.

* August 7, 2020: Removed two battleground races from the list: MN-02 and WI-07.

* July 27, 2020: Removed one battleground race from the list: AZ-04.

* July 10, 2020: Added three battleground races to the list: FL-13, FL-26, and Alaska State Senate.

* July 6, 2020: Added one battleground race to the list: NH-01.

* May 18, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: OR-Sen and NJ-03. Removed two races: IA-02 and Montana Attorney General.

* April 26, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: AZ-04 and South Dakota State Senate.

* April 8, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: VA-02 and VA-05.

* March 31, 2020: Added one battleground race to the list: Utah Attorney General.

* March 23, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: FL-15 and NV-03.

* March 15, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: TX-23 and Montana Attorney General.

* March 1, 2020: Added five battleground races to the list: NM-02, NY-02, OR-02, UT-04, and Montana Secretary of State.

* February 14, 2020: Removed two battleground races from the list: TX-23 and TX-24.

* February 7, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: TN-Sen and TX-12.

* January 31, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: GA-09 and GA-14.

* January 24, 2020: Added nine battleground races to the list: KY-04, MS-03, Indiana Attorney General, North Carolina Lieutenant Governor, Alaska House of Representatives, Kansas State Senate and House of Representatives, Ohio House of Representatives, and Texas House of Representatives

* January 13, 2020: Added eight battleground races to the list: IA-02, MN-02, NC-11, OK-05, TN-01, TX-13, TX-32, and VA-07. Removed NC-Sen.

* January 3, 2020: Added two battleground races to the list: FL-03 and NJ-02. Removed two battleground races from the list: GA-06 and NC Gov.

* December 3, 2019: Added one battleground race to the list: PA-7.

* November 15, 2019: Added one battleground race to the list: FL-19.

* September 18, 2019: Added five battleground races to the list: NH Senate, GA-6, GA-7, KS-3, and TX-23.

* September 12, 2019: Launched initial battlegrounds list with 35 races.[5]

## 2018 battlegrounds[edit]

See also: Republican Party battleground primaries, 2018

Ballotpedia identified 78 Republican federal and state battleground primaries in 2018. There were eight senate battleground primaries, 43 house battleground primaries, and 27 state executive battleground primaries.

Disputes between potential members of the House Freedom Caucus and other members of the Republican Party occurred in U.S. House primaries in 2018.

Led by U.S. Reps. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the House Freedom Caucus supported candidates who were likely to join its ranks if elected to the House.[6][7] Other wings of the Republican Party, including those aligned with House Republican leadership, often preferred candidates not aligned with the Freedom Caucus.

The Freedom Caucus said it "gives a voice to countless Americans who feel that Washington does not represent them" and supported "open, accountable and limited government, the Constitution and the rule of law, and policies that promote the liberty, safety and prosperity of all Americans."[8] The Pew Research Center said the group formed in January 2015 "with the declared aim of pushing the House GOP leadership rightward on certain fiscal and social issues" and wanted "power shifted away from the leadership to the rank-and-file."[9]

Other House Republican caucuses more closely allied with leadership included the Republican Main Street Partnership, which aimed for "conservative, pragmatic, solutions-oriented policies that can gain support from legislators on both sides of the aisle," and the Republican Study Committee, which "is dedicated to a limited and Constitutional role for the federal government, a strong national defense, the protection of individual and property rights, and the preservation of traditional family values."[10][11]

Scott Wong wrote for The Hill that the primaries were a "proxy battle over how much influence...the Freedom Caucus can exert over the House GOP conference next year— and who might lead Republicans after retiring Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) steps down."[10] Jordan emerged as a speaker contender and announced he would run for the position against Ryan's preferred candidate, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).[10] After Republicans lost their majority in the general elections, McCarthy defeated Jordan in a contest for Republican minority leader. The vote was 159 to 43.[12]

To detail this fight, we identified competitive open Republican primaries where the Freedom Caucus or its leaders backed a candidate.[13] We also considered primaries where candidates said they would join the Freedom Caucus if elected.

The chart below shows a summary of results in the competitive open Republican primaries we tracked where either the Freedom Caucus or its leaders backed a candidate.[14]

U.S. House Republican factions

Faction  | Primary victories in 2018  | Seats held prior to primaries  | Performance
Affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus | 8 | 6 | +2
Not affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus[15] | 10 | 12 | -2

### Top 10 Republican primaries in 2018[edit]

The list below was selected by Ballotpedia staff at the end of the 2018 primary season. Click the links to learn more about each primary.

1. Arizona Senate (August 28)

2. South Carolina's 1st Congressional District (June 12)

3. Florida governor (August 28)

4. Georgia governor (May 22) & runoff (July 24)

5. Kansas governor (August 7)

6. Ohio's 12th Congressional District (May 8)

7. Wyoming governor (August 21)

8. Minnesota's 1st Congressional District (August 14)

9. Texas state legislative Republican primaries (March 6 and May 22)

10. Michigan's 11th Congressional District (August 7)

## See also[edit]

* Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering primary elections

Election information

Resources

Sample Ballot Lookup • Elections calendar • State poll opening and closing times • Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • Elections by state and year • State voter ID laws • Absentee voting • Early voting • Online voter registration • Election result canvassing • Where do I vote • List of absentee/mail-in ballot request websites by state • List of official voter registration websites by state • State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Elections
by state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

2026 elections

U.S. Congress • U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2025 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2024 elections

U.S. President • U.S. Congress • U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2023 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2022 elections

U.S. Congress • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2021 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

How to vote
in each state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • Washington, D.C. • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

1. ↑ 2016 for Arizona and 2017 for Alabama.
2. ↑ Note: Candidates for Indiana state executive offices (other than governor and lieutenant governor) are nominated at party conventions rather than selected in primaries.
3. ↑ California Legislative Information, "California Constitution, Article II, Section 5," accessed October 29, 2025
4. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed October 29, 2025
5. ↑ The original 35 races identified were: AL Senate, AZ Senate, KS Senate, NC Senate, WY Senate, AL-1, AL-2, IL-6, IL-14, IL-15, IN-5, IA-4, KS-1, KS-2, ME-2, MI-3, MI-10, MN-7, MT-AL, NY-27, PA-1, SC-1, TX-7, TX-11, TX-17, TX-22, TX-24, UT-1, WI-5, WI-7, MO Gov, MT Gov, NC Gov, UT Gov, and WV Gov.
6. ↑ House Freedom Fund, "Endorsements," accessed May 15, 2018
7. ↑ McClatchy DC, "House Freedom Caucus looks to gain members as Texas GOP voters head for polls," March 5, 2018
8. ↑ Facebook, "House Freedom Caucus," accessed May 29, 2018
9. ↑ Pew Research Center, "What is the House Freedom Caucus, and who’s in it?" October 20, 2015
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 The Hill, "Freedom Caucus bruised but unbowed in GOP primary fights," May 22, 2018
11. ↑ Politico, "Conservatives split off from Republican Study Committee," January 13, 2015
12. ↑ The Hill, "McCarthy defeats Jordan for minority leader in 159-to-43 vote," November 14, 2018
13. ↑ We chose to focus on open primaries in order to see how many new members the caucus could potentially add after the 2018 elections.
14. ↑ We chose to focus on open primaries in order to see how many new members the caucus could potentially add after the 2018 elections.
15. ↑ This includes all seats not held by members of the Freedom Caucus prior to the 2018 elections, including those held by Democrats.