Primary elections in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota: What you need to know
Voters will head to the polls on June 2 to decide the candidates in races that will help shape the political landscape for November
Tuesday, June 2, will be another key day on the U.S. electoral calendar. While California also holds primary elections, voters in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota will head to the polls to select candidates for governor, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and other state offices ahead of November’s midterm elections, which will help determine the balance of power in Washington during the final two years of Donald Trump’s term.
The elections come at a time when Republicans and Democrats are gearing up for the battle over control of a Congress that could change hands in November. Some of the most closely watched contests include open races resulting from the retirements of high-profile political figures, internal disputes within the parties, and legislative districts considered competitive heading into the midterm elections.
When are the primaries in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota?
The primaries will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Polling hours vary by state.
In Iowa and New Jersey, polling places will close at 8:00 p.m. local time.
In Montana, polls will close at 8.00 pm Mountain Time. New Mexico will close polls at 7.00 pm Mountain Time.
South Dakota will have different closing times depending on the time zone, with polls closing between 7.00 pm and 8.00 pm.
What’s on the ballot?
In Iowa, voters will elect candidates for governor and the Senate after Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst decided not to seek reelection. There will also be elections for the U.S. House of Representatives and the state legislature.
Montana will hold primaries to replace Republican Senator Steve Daines and Representative Ryan Zinke, both of whom have stepped down from their positions. In addition, several state legislative races reflect internal divisions within the Republican Party caused by disagreements between the party’s traditional wing and factions more aligned with the conservative movement led by Donald Trump.
In New Jersey, attention is focused on the 7th congressional district, considered one of the most competitive in the country. The race to determine who will face Democratic Senator Cory Booker in the general election will also be decided.
New Mexico will hold gubernatorial primaries after Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham reaches the term limit set by state law. There will also be primaries for the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, and various state offices.
South Dakota will hold a contested Republican primary for governor between incumbent Larry Rhoden, Congressman Dusty Johnson, State House Speaker Jon Hansen, and businessman Toby Doeden. Nominations for the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the mayor’s office in Sioux Falls will also be up for grabs.
Who can vote?
Iowa, New Jersey, and New Mexico use closed primary systems, meaning that voters registered with a particular party can only participate in that party’s primary. In Iowa, however, voters can change their party affiliation on Election Day.
Montana uses a more open system that allows any voter to participate in the primaries.
In South Dakota, Republicans can only vote in their party’s primary, while independents can participate in the Democratic primary but not the Republican primary.
How and where to vote?
Voters can find their polling place through their state’s election authorities, whose websites can be found at Vote.org.
Rules vary by jurisdiction, but in general, voters can verify their voter registration, locate their polling place, and obtain information on ID requirements through official state or county websites.
In addition to in-person voting on Election Day, all five states allow for various forms of early or mail-in voting. According to data from election authorities, tens of thousands of ballots had already been cast before Election Day.
When will the results be announced?
The first results will begin to be released shortly after the polls close. However, the pace of the count will depend on each state and the volume of early and mail-in ballots.