All articles tagged with #primary elections
Massachusetts voters head to Tuesday’s Democratic primaries where longtime Senator Ed Markey faces Rep. Seth Moulton in a high-profile Senate contest; in a state that leans strongly Democratic, the primary outcome is likely to determine who represents Massachusetts in Washington next year, with the race framing questions about Markey’s tenure against Moulton’s challenge and broader party dynamics.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon asked the state attorney general to investigate what he called aggressive and irregular behavior by Justice Department election monitors observing his state's primary, signaling concerns over their conduct and possible overreach of authority. The DOJ defends its monitoring program as a long-standing practice, noting monitors in several states and preparing more for November, while CNN sought comment from officials.
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus suffered a sweeping primary setback, losing its House majority and seeing backsliding in the Senate. With about 10 reliable House votes and perhaps five in the Senate, the caucus’ influence is waning after failing to secure a supermajority; several allied lawmakers left to pursue state-wide offices. Governors Gordon and other supporters frame the result as a push back toward practical governance, noting many of the caucus’ policy wins remain intact despite the losses.
In the wake of a disappointing budget session, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus lost most of its House incumbents and backslid in the Senate, likely leaving about 10 reliable votes in the House and a diminished Senate bloc. After gaining a House majority in 2024, the group failed to secure a supermajority or meaningful leverage, with several leaders and allies defeated in the primaries and others pursuing statewide offices; non-Freedom Caucus candidates won in most districts, reshaping the caucus’s influence on budget legislation and introductory votes.
A court battle over Missouri’s new congressional map, drawn by Republicans to gain an extra GOP seat, could be blocked by a referendum in November. If the referendum proceeds, questions may arise about whether Tuesday’s primary winners under the new map are official nominees, potentially complicating the midterm elections.
Voters in Michigan, Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Washington state headed to the polls for primaries, with Michigan hosting a high‑stakes Democratic Senate contest and several House races. Missouri, Kansas and Virginia feature notable district contests (and Kansas includes a ballot measure on electing Supreme Court justices), while Washington relies on mail ballots. Poll closures are staggered by time zone—7 p.m. ET in Virginia, 8 p.m. ET in Missouri and Kansas, 9 p.m. ET for Michigan and parts of Kansas, and 11 p.m. ET in Washington—with first results expected soon after polls close (though Michigan may take longer for tight races).
Sen. Darline Graham says she will seek a full six-year term after Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to succeed her late brother Lindsey Graham, following Trump’s urging; she will face a competitive Republican primary in August (with a possible runoff).
A Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll shows Haley Stevens ahead of Abdul El-Sayed by about seven points in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary (48% to 41%), with Stevens strongest among Black, non‑college‑educated and Detroit‑area voters, while El‑Sayed leads among college‑educated and White voters as the race serves as a test of the party establishment versus its progressive wing.
The piece argues that a wave of insurgent Democrats in 2026 isn’t driven solely by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). While figures like Zohran Mamdani and Melat Kiros have DSA backing, many nominations come from candidates who don’t identify as socialist. The analysis likens the movement to a Tea Party–style factional shift, noting that nonideological factors such as age, race, leadership attitudes, and positions on Israel/Palestine help shape primaries. If Democrats win a narrow House, DSA members could be pivotal, but the broader insurgent cohort—DSA or not—will likely intensify internal divisions and force the party to reckon with diverse approaches to representing constituents.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) lost the Democratic primary for Colorado governor to Attorney General Phil Weiser, making him one of a small number of sitting senators to run for governor and fall short; the piece notes this isn’t unprecedented, citing past examples such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry defeating Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2010 and Indiana’s Sen. William Jenner in 1948, after which Jenner remained in the Senate.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his backed primary wins reflect a return to Democratic tradition focused on New Deal-inspired, working-class priorities and pragmatic democratic socialism that delivers for ordinary people, not a manifesto; he highlighted Chevalier’s and Lander’s victories as partners in practical governance.
Two New York Democrats, including Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair Adriano Espaillat, were defeated by left‑wing challengers in Tuesday’s primaries, signaling a surge in Democratic Socialists of America influence in Congress. Brad Lander defeated Dan Goldman by a wide margin, Darializa Avila Chevalier toppled Espaillat, and Claire Valdez won the race to replace Nydia Velázquez, all backed by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The results underscore rising tensions between centrists and progressives as leadership braces for November and tries to recalibrate strategy in a more left‑leaning party landscape.
Three states—Utah, Maryland and New York—vote this week with redistricting shaping the races: Utah’s Democratic contest in the 1st District centers on map disputes, Maryland’s Bill Ferguson faces a primary challenge over his redistricting stance, and New York’s 12th District to replace Nadler features a high-profile, crowded field; the piece also notes South Carolina’s gubernatorial runoffs and the broader impact of endorsements and map battles on the midterms.
At the Texas GOP convention, Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to eviscerate Democrats in November and framed the race as a fight against “Bernie Sanders socialism,” detailing priorities like closing the primaries to Republicans, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, regulating data centers, cutting property taxes, and taking a hard line on immigration including freezing new H-1B visa applications for state and local governments. He also attacked Democrat James Talarico and urged a broader crackdown on Sharia law, while Democrats criticized the rhetoric as out of touch with Texans’ concerns.
Graham Platner won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary by a wide margin, overcoming controversy over past behavior and moving forward to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. National Democrats offered cautious support while Republicans faced mixed results in South Carolina’s GOP contests. Maine also uses ranked-choice voting for several races, with governor and other contests still being tallied as votes continue.