August Key Events & Countdown to Midterms

[Christina Paulos]

With only 94 days until the midterm elections, voters will play a crucial role in shaping Congress, state and local governments ... ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

View in browser   More About The Well Saturday, August 1, 2026 More About The Well is sent on the first of each month, giving you important dates in the month ahead and TWN's most-read stories. You can click "Manage preferences" at the bottom of any email we send you to update what emails you'd like to receive from us. If this email was forwarded, subscribe here. Hi John—   Since the 2018 midterms, we've been keeping our readers up to date on anticipated elections. With only 94 days until the midterm elections, voters will play a crucial role in shaping Congress, state and local governments, as 35 U.S. Senate seats and every seat in the U.S. House are up for election, as well as 36 gubernatorial races, and many more vital down-ballot state and local elections.   TWN’s Electorate Empowered will have a series of emails in the coming months spotlighting our elections coverage, the latest polls, what races to watch headed into Nov. 3 and post-election analysis including introductions to newly elected leaders.   Send me election emails! On Aug. 1, the voting kicks off this month with primaries, locals and runoffs in Delaware, Guam, Texas & the U.S. Virgin Islands. Check with local officials for details since voting deadlines can vary by county, and stay up to date with broader electoral activity by bookmarking TWN's Electorate Empowered.   Happy reading, happy voting, and have a great August!    Cheers, Christina  --  Christina Paulos Managing Director @TheWellNews Your donations help make our work possible. Feel free to pass this newsletter along to someone you think may benefit from it.  Happening in August   1 — Bonneville Speed Week begins 1 — Elections: Delaware: locals Guam: territory-wide primary Texas: special general runoff for Lubbock City Council District 4 U.S. Virgin Islands: territory-wide primary  1 — U.S. Air Guitar Championships National Finals 2 — National Farmers Market Week begins 3 — Maryland General Assembly special session convenes to consider a state constitutional amendment to allow mid-decade congressional redistricting ahead of 2028 elections (if approved by three-fifths of both chambers, the amendment would appear on the Nov. 3 ballot) 4 — 2026 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment begins in Washington, D.C. 4 — Elections: Arkansas: special general for State House District 44 Kansas: statewide primary, with one Senate race, four congressional races, and the gubernatorial race and "Elections for Supreme Court Justices Amendment" ballot measure (which makes the Kansas Supreme Court an elected office and abolishes the current nominating commission); special primaries for State Senate Districts 24 & 25 Michigan: statewide primary, with one Senate race, 13 congressional races and the gubernatorial race; special primary for Wayne County Commission District 5 Missouri: statewide primary, with eight congressional races; special primary for Platte County Treasurer Oregon: Jefferson County recall Virginia: statewide primary, with one Senate race and 11 congressional races  Washington: statewide primary, with 10 congressional races 4 — Leagues Cup, with all MLS and Liga MX clubs competing for CCL places, begins 4 — National Night Out - America's "night out against crime" 5 — Locarno Film Festival begins in Switzerland 6 — Critics Choice Super Awards winners announced 6 — Elections: Tennessee: statewide primary, with one Senate race, nine congressional races, the gubernatorial race and state judicial and local generals on the ballot; special generals for 20th Judicial District Criminal Court Division III and 20th Judicial District Circuit Court Division III; special generals for the 30th district's chancery court & circuit court; special generals for Shelby County's General Sessions Court & Criminal Court; special general for Davidson County General Sessions Court Division VI 6 — NASA astronauts on board ISS conduct spacewalk with additional spacewalks scheduled for the 13th and 25th 6 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues updated forecast to its 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season outlook 6 — U.S. Gymnastics Championships begin in Phoenix 7 — FAN EXPO Boston begins 7 — International Beer Day 7 — July jobs report released 7 — Pretrial hearing for LA Councilmember Price charged with embezzlement of government funds 7 — U.S. Senate breaks for Labor Day State Work Period 8 — Elections: Delaware: locals Hawaii: statewide primary, with two congressional race and the gubernatorial race; special primary for State Senate District 19 8 — Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony  9 — 2026 Patriot Games begin in Ohio 10 — Rhode Island Victory Day statewide holiday 11 — Elections: Alabama: special primary, with the state's 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional District races on the ballot. Election called after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to vacate the state's court-ordered congressional map and allow for use of a 2023 map which alters these districts Connecticut: statewide primary, with five congressional races and the gubernatorial race  Minnesota: statewide primary, with one Senate race, eight congressional races, and one gubernatorial race South Carolina: locals & special Republican senatorial primary, to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died July 11; special primary runoff scheduled for 25th, if required Vermont: statewide primary, with one congressional race and the gubernatorial race Wisconsin: statewide primary, with eight congressional races and the gubernatorial race 12 — Made by Google event to launch Google's latest devices 12 — National Association of Black Journalists / National Association of Hispanic Journalists Convention & Career Fair, including Salute to Excellence Awards Gala held in Atlanta through 16th 12 — Total solar eclipse visible in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, Russia and Spain; partial visible in most European countries, including the U.K., as well as parts of Canada and northern Africa 13 — 2026 Patriot Games finale airs on ABC 13 — Perseids meteor shower due to peak 13 — PGA FedExCup golf playoffs begin with the St. Jude Championship — the first of three FedExCup events — the BMW Championship begins on the 20th and the PGA Tour Championship begins on the 27th 13 — Television Academy's Hall of Fame induction ceremony 14 — Disney D23 Expo opens in Anaheim, California 14 — VJ Day, marking the anniversary Japan's surrender to the Allies in 1945 15 — Assumption Day 15 — Chicago Air and Water Show begins 15 — Elections: Texas locals 15 — Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2026 Enshrinement Ceremony 17 — Black Reel Television Awards 18 — Elections: Alaska: statewide primary, with one Senate race, one congressional race and the gubernatorial race Arkansas: special primary for State Senate District 1 California: special election for 14th congressional District to complete the term of former Rep. Eric Swalwell upon his resignation in April Florida: statewide primary, with 28 congressional races, the gubernatorial race, and one U.S. Senate special election race Iowa: locals Delaware: locals Pennsylvania: special general State House District 12 Wyoming: statewide primary, with one congressional race, one Senate race and the gubernatorial race; special primary for State Senate District 6 19 — Academy of Country Music Honors 19 — National Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Mobilization through Sept. 7 19 — U.S. set to enact 50% tariffs on most Canadian imports, with the exclusion of energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals 20 — U.S. Open tennis championships draw with first round beginning on 30th 20 — White House Correspondents' dinner shooting suspect in court for status conference 21 — Hawaii Statehood Day 22 — Cris Cyborg defends her PFL featherweight world title against Ketlen Vieira in what is set to be the final MMA fight of her career in Florida 22 — IndyCar race through Washington, D.C. — marking 250 years since U.S. independence — begins 22 — Library of Congress National Book Festival 22 — National Park Week — free entrance into parks on 25th to celebrate NPS's 110th birthday 24 — Birthday of Prophet Muhammad, known as Mawlid or Mawlid al-Nabi, celebrated throughout the Muslim world on various dates between the 24th and 31st 24 — Motion hearing for defendants charged in connection with alleged roles in the 9/11 terror attacks begins 25 — Elections: Georgia: special runoff for 13th Congressional District to complete the term of Democratic Rep. David Scott upon his death in April, between Democrats Marcye Scott (the late representative's daughter) vs. Everton Blair Oklahoma: statewide primary runoff, with the Democratic senatorial, Republican gubernatorial and Republican 1st Congressional District races on the ballot; Ballot measures include: State Question 844, which requires the state legislature establish methodology for reimbursing schools, local governments, service districts, and other local organizations for revenues lost due to a manufacturing tax exemption; and State Question 846, which requires voters provide proof of identity when voting in any election in the state; general in Tulsa, Oklahoma; special primary for State Senate District 17; special primary runoff for State House District 9 26 — 53rd annual National Press Club Journalism Awards Dinner 26 — Women's Equality Day, on the anniversary of passing of 19th Amendment 27 — "Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction — Los Angeles 2026," annual film and television memorabilia auction begins 27 — Jackson Hole economic policy symposium opens 27 — NCAA college football season technically begins — known as "Week Zero" 27 — World Science Fiction Convention opens in Anaheim, California 28 — March on Washington 2026 28 — Partial lunar eclipse visible over the Americas, Europe, Africa and western Asia 28 — Steamboat Institute Annual Freedom Conference & Festival begins in Colorado 29 — International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 29 — Olivia Rodrigo presents inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival featuring an all-female lineup 30 — Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launches 30 — Sydney Marathon 30 — The Official Ramones 50th Anniversary Tribute event in Los Angeles 31 — U.S. House of Representatives returns from summer District Work Period   For more information on politics and election dates, and filing deadlines, visit our Electorate Empowered page.  Your donation makes a difference.  Donate to TWN Most Read in July Graham to Be Honored in US Capitol Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will be honored in a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on July 28. Thune said the ceremony will recognize Graham’s more than three decades of congressional service and a public career that also included military service and state government. Plans were finalized for two funeral services, one in Washington, D.C., and one in South Carolina.   Spanberger Unveils First-in-Nation Initiative to Help Residents Embrace Solar Energy Gov. Abigail Spanberger revealed that Virginia will become the first state to offer residents statewide access to a voluntary group-purchasing program designed to reduce the cost of residential and business solar installations through competitive bidding among approved contractors. The initiative requires no direct state spending and is intended to help homeowners and businesses lower electricity costs, expand renewable energy generation and reduce exposure to future utility rate increases.   Prosecution of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Vandalism Suspects Begins to Weaken A former Olympic athlete was bound over in Washington, D.C., for a trial that might never happen as repair work at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool demonstrates allegations of vandalism appear to be unfounded. One of the five people arrested on charges of vandalizing the lining was David Hearn, 67, who competed as a canoeist in three Olympics.   Senate Democrats Launch Probe Into Administration Bid to Kill Offshore Wind More than a dozen Senate Democrats are launching an investigation into the Trump administration’s efforts to kill offshore wind energy projects, specifically targeting a series of lease buyout agreements signed by project developers. The investigation is being led by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Angus King, I-Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.   Vice President Targets H-1B Visas for Anti-Fraud Campaign Vice President JD Vance announced plans for a crackdown on alleged H-1B visa fraud in a new direction for the White House task force trying to halt looting of government programs. H-1B visas authorize highly skilled foreigners to work in the United States. The visas allow the workers to stay in the United States for three years initially but with extensions to as much as six years.   Bipartisan Housing Bill Becomes Law Without Trump’s Signature A sweeping bipartisan housing bill became law without President Donald Trump’s signature after he allowed the constitutional 10-day signing period to expire. Trump declined to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act after demanding that Congress first approve the SAVE America Act, a voting bill that Senate Republicans have acknowledged lacks enough support to overcome a Democratic filibuster.   US-Based Innovator in Energy Storage Selected to Power Missile Defense System Eos Energy Enterprises has been selected to provide long-duration energy storage technology for the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative under a new partnership with the Department of War. The announcement of the deal marked an early contracting milestone for infrastructure supporting the administration’s proposed nationwide missile defense shield.   COMMENTARY | How America Finds Its Way After Trump Richard T. Herman, immigration attorney and founder of Herman Legal Group, writes on America after Trump, arguing that replacing the current president won't be enough. He says America must rebuild its weakened institutions, restore congressional authority, and create durable legislation that no single president can unilaterally undo.   GOP Lawmakers Join White House in Blasting Smithsonian Over Its Portrayal of History Republican members of the House Oversight Committee grilled the director of the National Museum of American History, pressing her on allegations contained in a recent White House report painting her as a “radical activist” intent on undermining “faith in American institutions.” That report, released on Independence Day, argued that the National Museum of American History did not properly tell the story of the nation’s founders.   COMMENTARY | Rail Merger Could Advance a More Equitable Freight Future Juan Roberto Madrid, sustainable communities program manager at GreenLatinos, writes on the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern rail merger. Noting the merger could cut truck pollution, create union jobs and benefit Latino communities, he urges regulators to approve it with strong environmental and safety conditions.   States Sue EPA Over Delayed Timeline for Refrigerant Gas Compliance A coalition of 18 Democratic states sued the Trump administration to block a new ‌federal regulation that would give companies more time to stop using hydrofluorocarbons in commercial refrigeration equipment. Hydrofluorocarbons are powerful greenhouse gases that in high concentrations also are linked to nausea and respiratory problems.   COMMENTARY | The Right, and Wrong, Ways to Lower Electric Bills Ed Towns, former New York congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, writes on lowering electric bills, noting that cutting a utility’s “return on equity” is a policy that misses the mark by harming credit ratings and raising borrowing costs. He argues instead for demand response programs and reining in retail electricity suppliers.   Trump Goes Long on Humor, Digs, as White House Reporters Get Their Night “Good evening, everybody. Let’s try this again.” With that, White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang opened a dinner that almost everyone in the room understood was about considerably more than the menu. The feeling inside the room was different. Jiang thanked the president for supporting the decision to reschedule the dinner. She then turned to the journalists who had been in the Washington Hilton on the night the original gathering was abandoned. “You came as guests, but within moments, you went to work,” she said.   COMMENTARY | What FDA’s MRTP Decision Signals for Public Health Matt Holman, Ph.D., vice president of U.S. Scientific Engagement and Regulatory Strategy at PMI U.S., writes on the Food and Drug Administration's modified-risk designation for ZYN nicotine pouches marking a milestone in tobacco harm reduction, affirming that combustion-free alternatives meaningfully differ from cigarettes and deserve evidence-based public health recognition.   Energy Department Selects Genesis Mission Project Winners A total of 278 research projects from across the nation have been chosen to begin work under the federal Genesis Mission, a program designed to use artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific research in energy, national security and other fields, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced.   View all of our most-read articles, as chosen by our readers, on our Spotlight page. 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