Race Type IDs

For every race in the Elections response, the Elections API returns a race type ID (up to three letters) and a matching race type (raceTypeID and raceType in JSON; TypeID and Type in XML). For ballot measures, the race type ID is typically "G" or "W"; therefore, the matching race type of "General" or "Special General" respectively is returned.

Common race type names such as General, Dem Primary, GOP Primary, Special General, primary and GE runoffs as well as party primaries for third parties are self-explanatory. However, not all races fall into the common categories. Some states and other localities apply different rules to races and different requirements for winning or advancing. Some race types allow for an outright winner of a seat if candidate gets more than 50% of the vote without advancing to a GE or runoff.

Race Type ID	Race Type	Description	Associated Party Code (if applicable)
G	General	General Election
W	Special General	Special General Election
H	General Election Runoff	General Election Runoff
L	Nonpartisan Election	Candidates do not run under party lines and have no party designation. A candidate that gets more than 50% of the vote wins the seat outright, and a second-step election is not required. If no candidate has more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates advance to a General Election.	NP
T	Nonpartisan Special Election	The same as the Nonpartisan Election, but is used for special elections only.	NP
RET	Retention	Judicial Retention Election
APP	All-Party Primary	Multiple candidates from different parties can file and run. Candidates can run with an associated party label, like Dem or GOP, other party, no party, and in some cases a party name of their own creation. This race type is commonly used for CA and WA primary races, where the top two candidates advance to the General Election. A candidate cannot win the seat outright.
SAP	All-Party Special Primary	The same as the All-Party Primary, but is used for special elections only.
N	Nonpartisan Primary	Candidates do not run under party lines. The top two candidates advance to a General Election. No candidate can win the seat outright, regardless of their share of the vote. Commonly used in mayoral and judicial races.	NP
HNE	Hybrid Nonpartisan Election	Candidates can run under party lines. Multiple candidates from any party can file and run, so there can be multiple Republicans, multiple Democrats and an assortment of other candidates with third-party designation or no party designations. A candidate can win the seat outright with more than 50% of the vote in the race. If no candidate has more than 50%, the top two candidates advance to a General Election. Routinely used in Louisiana.	NP
HNS	Hybrid Nonpartisan Special Election	The same as the Hybrid Nonpartisan Election, but is used for special elections only.	NP
D	Primary	Democratic Primary	Dem
U	Runoff	Democratic Primary Runoff	Dem
J	Special Primary	Democratic Special Primary	Dem
A	Special Runoff	Democratic Special Primary Runoff	Dem
E	Caucus	Democratic Caucus	Dem
E	Convention	Democratic Convention	Dem
E	by Delegate	Democratic Delegate Election	Dem
E	First Alignment Caucus	Democratic Caucus (first alignment)	Dem
E	Final Alignment Caucus	Democratic Caucus (final alignment)	Dem
R	Primary	Republican Primary	GOP
V	Runoff	Republican Primary Runoff	GOP
K	Special Primary	Republican Special Primary	GOP
B	Special Runoff	Republican Special Primary Runoff	GOP
S	Caucus	Republican Caucus	GOP
S	Convention	Republican Convention	GOP
S	by Delegate	Republican Delegate Election	GOP
AHP	Primary	American Heritage Party Primary	AHP
AIP	Primary	American Independent Primary	AIP
AkI	Primary	Alaskan Independence Primary	AkI
Bst	Primary	Best Primary	Bst
Con	Primary	Conservative Primary	Con
Cst	Primary	Constitution Primary	Cst
FEP	Primary	Free Energy Party Primary	FEP
Grn	Primary	Green Primary	Grn
GRP	Primary	Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party Primary	GRP
IAP	Primary	Independent American Primary	IAP
Ind	Primary	Independent Primary	Ind
InP	Primary	Independence Party Primary	InP
IP	Primary	Independent Party Primary	IP
Lbl	Primary	Liberal Primary	Lbl
LFM	Primary	Farmer-Labor Primary	LFM
Lib	Primary	Libertarian Primary	Lib
Mnt	Primary	Mountain Party Primary	Mnt
Neb	Primary	Nebraska Primary	Neb
NLP	Primary	Natural Law Party Primary	NLP
NwP	Primary	New Perspective Primary	NwP
OTx	Primary	Orange Taxpayers Primary	OTx
PCH	Primary	Personal Choice Primary	PCH
PFP	Primary	Peace and Freedom Primary	PFP
Prg	Primary	Progressive Primary	Prg
RP	Primary	Reform Party Primary	RP
RpM	Primary	Republican Moderate Primary	RpM
RTL	Primary	Right to Life Primary	RTL
SAM	Primary	Serve America Movement Primary	SAM
Sta	Primary	Statehood Party Primary	Sta
SWP	Primary	Socialist Workers Party Primary	SWP
TLm	Primary	Term Limits Primary	TLm
UAd	Primary	United Advocacy Primary	UAd
UST	Primary	U.S. Taxpayers Party Primary	UST
UUt	Primary	United Utah Primary	UUt
UUt	Special Primary	United Utah Special Primary	UUt
WEq	Primary	Women's Equality Party Primary	WEq
WF	Primary	Working Families Primary	WF
C	Primary	Other Primary	Oth
I	Runoff	Other Primary Runoff	Oth
OS	Special Primary	Other Special Primary	Oth