Three States Vote June 23: Maryland's Open Hoyer Seat, New York's House Primaries, and Utah's New Blue District

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 is primary day in three states: Maryland, New York, and Utah. None of the three has a U.S. Senate race this cycle, so the action is in the House and, in Maryland, the governor's race. The rules are not the same in each state, so check the section for yours before you go.

Maryland: an open seat after Hoyer's retirement, plus the governor's race

The marquee race is in the 5th District, where Steny Hoyer is retiring after 45 years, leaving an open seat for the first time in a generation. Nearly two dozen Democrats are running, led by former Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker. Two of the four federal workers DOGE fired whom we profiled in this feature are on the Maryland ballot: Tracy Starr in the 5th District and Alexis Goldstein in the 6th, both Safe Democratic seats decided by the primary. The governor's race is on the ballot too, where Democratic Governor Wes Moore runs for a second term and the contested primary is on the Republican side, led by 2022 nominee Dan Cox. The general election is rated Safe Democratic. Find your district at the Maryland ballot lookup.

New York: all 26 House seats, three open races, one Toss-up

Every New York House district is on the ballot, but the contests that matter are the open seats and the one Toss-up. In the 12th District in Manhattan, Jerrold Nadler's retirement opened a crowded Democratic primary that includes Micah Lasher and Alexander Bores. The 7th District in Brooklyn and Queens is open too, with Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the mix. Upstate, the 21st is open after Elise Stefanik left to run statewide.

The one race rated a Toss-up for November is the 17th District in the Lower Hudson Valley, where the Democratic primary picks who faces Republican incumbent Mike Lawler. The field includes Cait Conley and Mike Sacks. This is the seat most likely to flip in the fall. See every district at the New York ballot lookup.

Utah: a newly drawn seat Democrats can win

Utah's most interesting race is the 1st District, which after redistricting is now winnable for Democrats for the first time in years. Former Representative Ben McAdams is the best-known name in the Democratic primary, running against state Senator Nate Blouin and Liban Mohamed. Republicans hold a primary here as well. The state's other three districts have Republican incumbents favored to hold safe seats. Find your district at the Utah ballot lookup.

Before you go: the rules are different in each state

• Maryland is closed. Both parties hold closed primaries, so you must be registered with a party to vote its ballot, and the deadline to change party has passed. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
• New York is closed. You must already be enrolled in a party to vote its primary. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern.
• Utah is mixed. The Republican primary is closed to registered Republicans, while the Democratic primary is open, and unaffiliated voters can affiliate with a party at the polls. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mountain.
• If your name is missing from the rolls or you are told you are at the wrong polling place, ask for a provisional ballot (called an affidavit ballot in New York). It will be counted if you were eligible to vote. More in what to bring on Election Day.
• For your federal picks, you can mark your House selection ahead of time with a My Ballot account and pull it up on your phone in line. For state and local offices, your local board of elections sample ballot is the source of truth.

Not voting on June 23?

Check the election calendar for the next primary date in your state and its registration deadline.

Keep Reading