This morning, FairVote published a new report on the 2026 primary elections. We identified 125 candidates who won congressional and statewide primary elections with a plurality – less than 50% – of votes. That is the highest number since FairVote started tracking in 2018.

Keeping an eye on control of Congress? 21 likely new U.S. House members nominated without majority support will win uncompetitive seats in November. These new members – effectively elected by a fraction of a fraction of voters – will likely represent between 20% and 40% of the incoming House freshman class.

Wondering whether the record number of congressional retirements and unprecedented mid-decade gerrymandering have made this phenomenon worse? Yep.

Read FairVote’s Fewest Votes Wins report, where we dive deeper into the numbers and the solutions: ranked choice voting (RCV) and proportional representation. Or watch FairVote researcher Bryan Huang’s summary in the video below:

Read on for more election reform news.

• When should we expect results in Alaska’s elections? FairVote answers in a new article on Alaska’s election results timeline.
• Read FairVote’s analysis of the updated California Voting Rights Act. The bill strengthens protections for voters, and paves the way for more election innovation from municipalities.
• This Congress has been the least productive in modern history. FairVote CEO Meredith Sumpter shares how RCV can lead to better government:

• In a new survey from the University of Maryland, 66% of Americans in battleground states and districts support RCV for congressional elections – including 70% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans.