Primary challengers threaten to unseat House members across the country

2026 ElectionPrimary challengers threaten to unseat House members across the countryComplaints about age and ideology are fueling an especially large number of contested primaries for Democratic House members.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., is among a group of endangered Democratic House members facing serious challengers this year.Samuel Corum / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 1, 2026, 5:00 AM EDTBy Ben KamisarFour House incumbents have already lost re-election bids so far this year, just a few months into primary season. And about a dozen more are facing legitimate threats in the coming months.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Two Republican incumbents are squaring off for one district in California next week, the latest example of redistricting changing not just general elections but primaries as well, after two Democratic members lost in Texas last week. Add NBC News to GoogleRep. Al Green loses seat to Rep. Christian Menefee in Democratic primary01:43But the heaviest upcoming primary action will be on the Democratic side. A handful of Democratic incumbents in California will also face energetic challengers arguing that voters want a fresh face, part of a national slate of anti-incumbent candidates focused on generational change. A wealthy incumbent Democrat in Maryland is running against an even wealthier former congressman in a primary there.And other Democrats in states like Colorado and Massachusetts face challenges from their party’s left flank, part of a running battle between progressives and the Democratic establishment. The incumbent primary danger stretches from Connecticut and New York to California and beyond: Hawaii’s oldest member of Congress is fighting for his political survival, too, from a challenger backed by a former governor. Incumbent members of Congress are notoriously difficult to defeat. But many Democrats...