{"id":463464,"date":"2026-09-16T12:05:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T16:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&#038;p=463464"},"modified":"2026-09-16T12:05:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T16:05:19","slug":"2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/09\/16\/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 primary season yields greatest preelection House turnover in over 3 decades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=463476\"><img data-dominant-color=\"302525\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #302525;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?resize=480,270 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?resize=782,440 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?resize=1280,720 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?w=640\" alt=\"Then-incoming members of the 119th Congress stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-463476 not-transparent\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Then-incoming members of the 119th Congress stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With primary season in the United States now over, control of the House of Representatives is still very much <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\">up for grabs<\/a>. But before a single general-election vote has been tallied, 74 House members are already heading out the door \u2013 more than before any general election since 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignright wp-block-prc-chart-builder-synced-chart\"><figure class=\"wp-chart-builder\">\t\t<div style=\"max-width:310px\" class=\"wp-chart-builder-wrapper alignnone wp-block-prc-chart-builder-controller--freeform wp-block-prc-chart-builder-controller\" id=\"7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/controller\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4&quot;,&quot;postId&quot;:463464,&quot;postUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/short-reads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/16\\\/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades\\\/&quot;,&quot;chartPostUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/chart\\\/near-record-number-of-house-members-already-on-their-way-out-the-door\\\/&quot;,&quot;postPubDate&quot;:&quot;2026-09-16&quot;,&quot;rootUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org&quot;,&quot;featuredImageId&quot;:465079,&quot;featuredImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/20\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/near-record_number_of_house_members_already_on_their_way_out_the_door-430678-1789574771.png&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Near-record number of House members already on their way out the door&quot;,&quot;subtitle&quot;:&quot;Number of House members who lost or gave up their seats&quot;,&quot;note&quot;:&quot;Note: 2006 figure for Democrats includes one independent who caucused with them. 2026 figures are as of Sept. 14.&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Source: Pew Research Center analysis of election results.&quot;,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;PEW RESEARCH CENTER&quot;,&quot;tableData&quot;:{&quot;header&quot;:[&quot;Year&quot;,&quot;Democrat&quot;,&quot;Republican&quot;,&quot;Libertarian&quot;],&quot;rows&quot;:[[&quot;1992&quot;,&quot;57&quot;,&quot;29&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;1994&quot;,&quot;30&quot;,&quot;22&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;1996&quot;,&quot;30&quot;,&quot;23&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;1998&quot;,&quot;17&quot;,&quot;17&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2000&quot;,&quot;9&quot;,&quot;26&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2002&quot;,&quot;22&quot;,&quot;24&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2004&quot;,&quot;14&quot;,&quot;19&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2006&quot;,&quot;12&quot;,&quot;21&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2008&quot;,&quot;7&quot;,&quot;29&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2010&quot;,&quot;20&quot;,&quot;22&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2012&quot;,&quot;31&quot;,&quot;26&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2014&quot;,&quot;19&quot;,&quot;29&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2016&quot;,&quot;19&quot;,&quot;29&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2018&quot;,&quot;22&quot;,&quot;41&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2020&quot;,&quot;13&quot;,&quot;35&quot;,&quot;1&quot;],[&quot;2022&quot;,&quot;37&quot;,&quot;29&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2024&quot;,&quot;29&quot;,&quot;24&quot;,&quot;--&quot;],[&quot;2026&quot;,&quot;32&quot;,&quot;42&quot;,&quot;--&quot;]],&quot;footer&quot;:[]},&quot;isFreeformChart&quot;:true}\" data-wp-init--detect-web-share-support=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\" data-wp-init--sync-table-height=\"callbacks.syncTableHeight\" data-wp-init--watch-chart=\"callbacks.watchChart\" data-wp-init--reset-tab-on-navigation=\"callbacks.resetTabOnNavigation\" data-png-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/near-record_number_of_house_members_already_on_their_way_out_the_door-430678-1789574771.png\" data-has-csv=\"true\" data-allow-data-download=\"true\" data-post-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/09\/16\/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades\/\" data-chart-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/chart\/near-record-number-of-house-members-already-on-their-way-out-the-door\/\" data-chart-title=\"Near-record number of House members already on their way out the door\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-allow-overlay=\"true\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__text-wrapper\" style=\"max-width:310px;width:100%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 0 0 10px; max-width:310px;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\" data-meta-field=\"title\">Near-record number of House members already on their way out the door<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\" data-meta-field=\"subtitle\">Number of House members who lost or gave up their seats<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-chart-builder-freeform-chart has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=456953\"><img data-dominant-color=\"decfd1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #decfd1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/incumbents_420px-copy-6-4.png?resize=480,364 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/incumbents_420px-copy-6-4.png?resize=646,490 646w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"485\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/incumbents_420px-copy-6-4.png?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-456953 not-transparent\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--note\" data-meta-field=\"note\">Note: 2006 figure for Democrats includes one independent who caucused with them. 2026 figures are as of Sept. 14.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--source\" data-meta-field=\"source\">Source: Pew Research Center analysis of election results.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\" data-meta-field=\"tag\">PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0px; max-width:310px;\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- register a callback on this div to see if the native share is supported -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__overlay\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"share-modal__overlay-7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t><\/div>\n\t\t\t<!-- TODO: I would like to be able to use the social share block here. Need to modify it to work with the share modal. -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal\" id=\"share-modal-7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"share-modal__title\">Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"share-modal__close\" aria-label=\"Close Share Modal\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--twitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on X<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\" id=\"7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4-table\" style=\"max-width:310px;\">\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 310px;\">\n\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\" data-meta-field=\"title\">Near-record number of House members already on their way out the door<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\" data-meta-field=\"subtitle\">Number of House members who lost or gave up their seats<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table__inner\" style=\"max-width: 310px !important; margin-bottom: 0; overflow: auto;\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table is-scroll-on-pc is-scroll-on-mobile chart-builder-data-table has-sans-serif-font-family has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout is-sticky-first-column\"><colgroup><col\/><col\/><col\/><col style=\"width:68px\"\/><\/colgroup><thead><tr><th>Year<\/th><th>Democrat<\/th><th>Republican<\/th><th>Libertarian<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1992<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">57<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">29<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1994<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">30<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">22<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1996<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">30<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">23<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1998<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">17<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">17<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2000<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">9<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">26<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2002<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">22<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">24<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2004<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">14<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">19<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2006<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">12<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">21<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2008<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">7<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">29<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2010<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">20<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">22<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2012<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">31<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">26<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2014<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">19<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">29<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2016<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">19<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">29<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2018<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">22<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">41<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2020<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">13<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">35<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2022<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">37<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">29<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2024<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">29<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">24<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2026<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"1\">32<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"2\">42<\/td><td data-prc-v-col=\"3\">&#8212;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__download-data-button-hr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__download-data-button\">\n\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"has-sans-serif-font-family\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\tDownload data as .csv\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--note\" data-meta-field=\"note\">Note: 2006 figure for Democrats includes one independent who caucused with them. 2026 figures are as of Sept. 14.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--source\" data-meta-field=\"source\">Source: Pew Research Center analysis of election results.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\" data-meta-field=\"tag\">PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 310px;\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons\" style=\"max-width:310px;\"><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__tabs\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-chart-id=\"7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Chart<\/button><button class=\"view-button view-button--table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-chart-id=\"7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Data<\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__actions\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--download-image\" data-chart-id=\"7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.downloadImage\">Download Image<\/button><button class=\"view-button view-button--share\" data-chart-view=\"share\" data-chart-id=\"7d08d7fb-17c7-46ba-8388-08e52aa3eaa4\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Share<\/button><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of now, 42 Republicans and 32 Democrats won\u2019t be returning to the House next year. That\u2019s because they ran or are running for some other office instead; failed to win their primaries; resigned and haven\u2019t been replaced via special election; or simply decided to retire from the House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1992, 86 members were on their way out before the general election \u2013 more than in any election since. That election year was the first after House districts were redrawn following the 1990 census, which on its own created churn as states gained or lost seats and many incumbents found themselves in unfamiliar territory. In addition, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1992\/04\/20\/us\/1992-campaign-political-memo-house-members-can-only-guess-voters-will-react-bank.html?searchResultPosition=2\">House banking scandal<\/a> fueled widespread public outrage. In the end, 110 members either gave up or lost their seats, including 24 losses in the general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-style-plus-icon has-border-color has-ui-gray-light-border-color has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-background has-sans-serif-font-family is-layout-flow wp-container-core-details-is-layout-4031d49d wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(0.875em, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2em) * 0.009), 0.88em);\"><summary>About this research<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Pew Research Center analysis looks at how many U.S. House members have lost or given up their seats during primary season and how that compares with previous election cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"why-did-we-do-this\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center does research to help the public, the media and decision-makers understand important topics. This research builds\u00a0on prior work we\u2019ve done on <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2018\/04\/11\/near-record-number-of-house-members-not-seeking-re-election-in-2018\/\">House reelection decisions<\/a>, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/10\/30\/decade-after-decade-more-than-three-quarters-of-us-house-districts-have-consistently-been-won-by-the-party-that-holds-them\/\">long-term trends in House elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"how-did-we-do-this\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How did we do this?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We looked at the outcomes of every individual House race for each election year since 1992 (the modern record for House turnover). For each year, we determined whether each incumbent sought reelection; ran for some other office instead; won or lost their primary; and won or lost the general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We treated representatives elected in special elections before the general election the same as other incumbents. We counted House members who resigned, died, or were expelled and whose seats had not been filled by special election before the general election as non-returning incumbents.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A notable driver of this year\u2019s departures is the 28 members who chose to run for other offices rather than seek reelection. That\u2019s the most in any election cycle we studied. By comparison, only 15 House members ran for other offices in the record-turnover year of 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignright wp-block-prc-chart-builder-synced-chart\"><figure class=\"wp-chart-builder\">\t\t<div style=\"max-width:310px\" class=\"wp-chart-builder-wrapper alignnone wp-block-prc-chart-builder-controller--freeform wp-block-prc-chart-builder-controller\" id=\"4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\" data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/controller\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c&quot;,&quot;postId&quot;:463464,&quot;postUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/short-reads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/16\\\/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades\\\/&quot;,&quot;chartPostUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/chart\\\/most-departing-house-members-are-retiring-or-running-for-another-office\\\/&quot;,&quot;postPubDate&quot;:&quot;2026-09-16&quot;,&quot;rootUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org&quot;,&quot;featuredImageId&quot;:465081,&quot;featuredImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/alpha.pewresearch.org\\\/pewresearch-org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/20\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/most_departing_house_members_are_retiring_or_running_for_another_office-430798-1789574787.png&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Most departing House members are retiring or running for another office&quot;,&quot;subtitle&quot;:&quot;House members whose departure was determined before each year&#039;s general election, by type of departure&quot;,&quot;note&quot;:&quot;Note: \\u201cRetired\\u201d means the incumbent neither sought reelection to the House nor ran for any other elective office. \\u201cVacant\\u201d includes incumbents who resigned or died before their terms ended and were not replaced via a special election, and incumbents who sought office in a different district. 2026 figures are as of Sept. 14.&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;Source: Pew Research Center analysis of election results.&quot;,&quot;tag&quot;:&quot;PEW RESEARCH CENTER&quot;,&quot;tableData&quot;:{&quot;header&quot;:[&quot;Year&quot;,&quot;Retired&quot;,&quot;Ran for another office&quot;,&quot;Lost primary&quot;,&quot;Vacant&quot;],&quot;rows&quot;:[[&quot;1992&quot;,&quot;50&quot;,&quot;15&quot;,&quot;19&quot;,&quot;2&quot;],[&quot;1994&quot;,&quot;26&quot;,&quot;21&quot;,&quot;4&quot;,&quot;1&quot;],[&quot;1996&quot;,&quot;34&quot;,&quot;16&quot;,&quot;2&quot;,&quot;1&quot;],[&quot;1998&quot;,&quot;19&quot;,&quot;14&quot;,&quot;1&quot;,&quot;0&quot;],[&quot;2000&quot;,&quot;20&quot;,&quot;10&quot;,&quot;3&quot;,&quot;2&quot;],[&quot;2002&quot;,&quot;18&quot;,&quot;17&quot;,&quot;8&quot;,&quot;3&quot;],[&quot;2004&quot;,&quot;17&quot;,&quot;12&quot;,&quot;2&quot;,&quot;2&quot;],[&quot;2006&quot;,&quot;11&quot;,&quot;16&quot;,&quot;2&quot;,&quot;4&quot;],[&quot;2008&quot;,&quot;24&quot;,&quot;8&quot;,&quot;3&quot;,&quot;1&quot;],[&quot;2010&quot;,&quot;19&quot;,&quot;17&quot;,&quot;4&quot;,&quot;2&quot;],[&quot;2012&quot;,&quot;24&quot;,&quot;15&quot;,&quot;13&quot;,&quot;5&quot;],[&quot;2014&quot;,&quot;24&quot;,&quot;17&quot;,&quot;4&quot;,&quot;3&quot;],[&quot;2016&quot;,&quot;27&quot;,&quot;14&quot;,&quot;5&quot;,&quot;2&quot;],[&quot;2018&quot;,&quot;31&quot;,&quot;21&quot;,&quot;4&quot;,&quot;7&quot;],[&quot;2020&quot;,&quot;26&quot;,&quot;10&quot;,&quot;8&quot;,&quot;5&quot;],[&quot;2022&quot;,&quot;33&quot;,&quot;16&quot;,&quot;14&quot;,&quot;3&quot;],[&quot;2024&quot;,&quot;28&quot;,&quot;18&quot;,&quot;4&quot;,&quot;3&quot;],[&quot;2026&quot;,&quot;33&quot;,&quot;28&quot;,&quot;11&quot;,&quot;2&quot;]],&quot;footer&quot;:[]},&quot;isFreeformChart&quot;:true}\" data-wp-init--detect-web-share-support=\"callbacks.detectWebShareSupport\" data-wp-init--sync-table-height=\"callbacks.syncTableHeight\" data-wp-init--watch-chart=\"callbacks.watchChart\" data-wp-init--reset-tab-on-navigation=\"callbacks.resetTabOnNavigation\" data-png-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/most_departing_house_members_are_retiring_or_running_for_another_office-430798-1789574787.png\" data-has-csv=\"true\" data-allow-data-download=\"true\" data-post-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/09\/16\/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades\/\" data-chart-url=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/chart\/most-departing-house-members-are-retiring-or-running-for-another-office\/\" data-chart-title=\"Most departing House members are retiring or running for another office\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-allow-overlay=\"true\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__text-wrapper\" style=\"max-width:310px;width:100%;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 0 0 10px; max-width:310px;\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\" data-meta-field=\"title\">Most departing House members are retiring or running for another office<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\" data-meta-field=\"subtitle\">House members whose departure was determined before each year&#8217;s general election, by type of departure<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-chart-builder-freeform-chart has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=457431\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c6e0db\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c6e0db;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/incumbents_c042de.png?resize=480,398 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/incumbents_c042de.png?resize=646,536 646w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"531\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/incumbents_c042de.png?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-457431 not-transparent\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--note\" data-meta-field=\"note\">Note: \u201cRetired\u201d means the incumbent neither sought reelection to the House nor ran for any other elective office. \u201cVacant\u201d includes incumbents who resigned or died before their terms ended and were not replaced via a special election, and incumbents who sought office in a different district. 2026 figures are as of Sept. 14.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--source\" data-meta-field=\"source\">Source: Pew Research Center analysis of election results.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\" data-meta-field=\"tag\">PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__hr\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0px; max-width:310px;\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- register a callback on this div to see if the native share is supported -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__overlay\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"share-modal__overlay-4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.hideModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t><\/div>\n\t\t\t<!-- TODO: I would like to be able to use the social share block here. Need to modify it to work with the share modal. -->\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal\" id=\"share-modal-4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--web-share-supported=\"state.webShareSupported\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-chart-view=\"share\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"share-modal__title\">Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"share-modal__close\" aria-label=\"Close Share Modal\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.hideModal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share-modal__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--twitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareTwitter\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on X<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"share-modal__button share-modal__button--facebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.shareFacebook\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share on Facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\" id=\"4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c-table\" style=\"max-width:310px;\">\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 310px;\">\n\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__title\" data-meta-field=\"title\">Most departing House members are retiring or running for another office<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__subtitle\" data-meta-field=\"subtitle\">House members whose departure was determined before each year&#8217;s general election, by type of departure<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-chart-builder-table__inner\" style=\"max-width: 310px !important; margin-bottom: 0; overflow: auto;\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-prc-block-table is-scroll-on-pc is-scroll-on-mobile chart-builder-data-table has-sans-serif-font-family has-small-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout is-sticky-first-column\"><colgroup><col\/><col\/><col\/><col\/><col\/><\/colgroup><thead><tr><th style=\"width:50px\">Year<\/th><th style=\"width:100px\">Retired<\/th><th style=\"width:100px\">Ran for another office<\/th><th style=\"width:100px\">Lost primary<\/th><th style=\"width:100px\">Vacant<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1992<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">50<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">15<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">19<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1994<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">26<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">21<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">4<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1996<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">34<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">16<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">2<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">1998<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">19<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">14<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">1<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2000<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">20<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">10<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">3<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2002<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">18<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">17<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">8<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2004<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">17<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">12<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">2<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2006<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">11<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">16<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">2<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">4<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2008<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">24<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">8<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">3<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2010<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">19<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">17<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">4<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2012<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">24<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">15<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">13<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2014<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">24<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">17<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">4<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2016<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">27<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">14<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">5<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2018<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">31<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">21<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">4<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">7<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2020<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">26<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">10<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">8<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2022<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">33<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">16<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">14<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2024<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">28<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">18<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">4<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"width:50px\" data-prc-v-col=\"0\">2026<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"1\">33<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"2\">28<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"3\">11<\/td><td style=\"width:100px\" data-prc-v-col=\"4\">2<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"cb__download-data-button-hr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__download-data-button\">\n\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.downloadData\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"has-sans-serif-font-family\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\tDownload data as .csv\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-wp-interactive=\"prc-chart-builder\/chart\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c-chart&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--note\" data-meta-field=\"note\">Note: \u201cRetired\u201d means the incumbent neither sought reelection to the House nor ran for any other elective office. \u201cVacant\u201d includes incumbents who resigned or died before their terms ended and were not replaced via a special election, and incumbents who sought office in a different district. 2026 figures are as of Sept. 14.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__note cb__note--source\" data-meta-field=\"source\">Source: Pew Research Center analysis of election results.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cb__tag\" data-meta-field=\"tag\">PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<hr style=\"margin: 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 310px;\">\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons\" style=\"max-width:310px;\"><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__tabs\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--chart\" data-chart-view=\"chart\" data-chart-id=\"4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Chart<\/button><button class=\"view-button view-button--table\" data-chart-view=\"table\" data-chart-id=\"4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Data<\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-chart-builder-view-buttons__actions\"><button class=\"view-button view-button--download-image\" data-chart-id=\"4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.downloadImage\">Download Image<\/button><button class=\"view-button view-button--share\" data-chart-view=\"share\" data-chart-id=\"4097a34a-bd99-43ba-a0c6-d79a7fd8200c\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.setActiveTab\" data-wp-class--active=\"state.isActive\">Share<\/button><\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, 16 House members have gone after Senate seats, 10 have aimed for governorships and two have sought other offices. Only 13, though, will be on general election ballots; the other 15 didn\u2019t make it past their primaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only state yet to hold its House primary is Louisiana, whose unique \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sos.la.gov\/media\/dcvl5ojl\/051426-fall-house-races.pdf\">jungle primary<\/a>\u201d is on Nov. 3, the same day as <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/07\/02\/8-ways-that-us-style-democracy-stands-out-globally\/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20Election%20Day%20is%20a%20regular%20day.\">the general election<\/a> nationally. Across all other states, 11 representatives who had sought reelection have lost their primaries, the fourth-most since 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another 33 representatives have decided to retire from the House. This is well below the 50 retirements in 1992, but it\u2019s still more than in most other years we studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texas has by far the most departing incumbents of any state. When the 120th Congress takes office in January, at least 13 of Texas\u2019 38 representatives will be new. That\u2019s due in no small part to the redrawn congressional map Texas adopted last year, which prompted several House members to retire or seek other offices and ultimately could flip <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/redistricting\/2025-26-mid-decade-map\">as many as five seats<\/a> from Democratic to Republican. Texas\u2019 move set off an unusual\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2025\/08\/28\/redistricting-between-censuses-has-been-rare-in-the-modern-era\/\">wave of mid-decade redistricting<\/a>, prompting multiple members from other states not to seek reelection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"what-does-this-mean-for-control-of-the-house\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What does this mean for control of the House?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we barrel toward Election Day, bear in mind that a lot of <em>incumbents<\/em> giving up or losing their seats doesn\u2019t always mean a major shift in <em>party<\/em> control. Departing incumbents can be replaced by new members from the same party, and this often happens when they retire from \u201csafe\u201d seats or lose a primary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1992, for instance, that 110-member turnover led to a <em>net<\/em> shift of just nine seats from Democrat to Republican. It was the next election, in 1994, that swung control of the House to the GOP: Though \u201conly\u201d 86 incumbents left Congress that year, Republicans picked up 54 seats \u2013 enough to end the Democrats\u2019 four-decade lock on the House.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>74 House members won&#8217;t return next Congress \u2013 more than before any general election since 1992. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":658,"featured_media":463476,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_id":"4303410b-520a-440d-a0a8-51d643f24285","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-09-16T16:05:26Z","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-09-16T16:05:26Z","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AQwNBC1IKRA2gqFHWQ_JChQ","apple_news_api_pending":"","apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_hidden":false,"relatedPosts":[],"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0},"categories":[79,3132,25],"bylines":[842],"datasets":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[467],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[],"workflow-status":[],"collection":[],"class_list":["post-463464","short-read","type-short-read","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-congress","category-election-2026","category-politics-policy","bylines-drew-desilver","formats-short-read","regions-countries-united-states"],"label":"Short Read","post_parent":0,"word_count":1047,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/09\/16\/2026-primary-season-yields-greatest-preelection-house-turnover-in-over-3-decades\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":463476,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"chartArt":false,"caption":"Then-incoming members of the 119th Congress stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2025. 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(Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)"},"social":{"id":463476,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/SR_26.09.16_house-incumbent_featured.jpg?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"chartArt":false,"caption":"Then-incoming members of the 119th Congress stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 3, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla\/Getty Images)"}},"_embeds":[],"prc_checklist":{},"watchChildPosts":false,"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[],"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"2026 primary season yields greatest preelection House turnover in over 3 decades","description":"74 House members won't return next Congress \u2013 more than before any general election since 1992. 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