Ohio and Indiana mark the start of a particularly rugged stretch of the midterm election gantlet, one flush with bitter and costly primaries that will help determine control of Congress and governors’ offices.
Some states don’t hold their primaries until September, including New Hampshire, which features a fiercely contested Senate race.
Circle these dates:
May 17: Pennsylvania and North Carolina
In Pennsylvania, a race for an open Senate seat is poised to play a key role in determining whether Democrats maintain control of the chamber. The G.O.P. field is headlined by the celebrity physician Mehmet Oz.
In North Carolina, the impending retirement of Senator Richard Burr, a Republican, has drawn a frenzy of candidates.
May 24: Georgia
Georgia, which helped Democrats flip the Senate in 2021 and delivered a victory to Joseph R. Biden Jr. in 2020, features marquee contests for governor and Senate. Stacey Abrams, a Democrat running for governor, is back. And the secretary of state’s race is notable, too.
June 14: Nevada
The last time Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina senator, was on the ballot, outside groups flooded Nevada with more than $90 million. Now, she is up for re-election.
Adam Laxalt, a former Nevada attorney general who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018, must get past the G.O.P. primary to challenge her.
Aug. 2: Arizona and Michigan
Arizona has emerged as one of the top prizes this year, with an open seat for governor and a fiercely contested Senate race. The Senate seat is held by Mark Kelly, a Democrat who won a special election in 2020 to fill the seat once held by John McCain.
In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat and focus of conservatives’ ire over pandemic restrictions, is running for re-election. In addition to selecting a nominee for governor, Republicans have been grappling with internal tensions and the influence of former President Donald J. Trump, who made a string of endorsements in House races.
Both states have noteworthy secretary of state races, too.
Aug. 9: Wisconsin
Wisconsin has potential for both parties, with contests for governor and Senate drawing a crowded field of candidates.
Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican whose approval rating has cratered as television ads are barraging him with criticism for casting doubts about Mr. Biden’s election, is a top target of Democrats. Republicans are focused on taking the seat of Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat.
Sept. 13: New Hampshire
The winner of the G.O.P. primary for Senate will have less than two months to mount a general election campaign against Senator Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, who is considered vulnerable.