Voters in Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington are casting primary ballots Aug. 4 in races that could shape control of Congress, governorships and several closely divided House districts.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Primary elections in five states Tuesday will test the strength of progressive and establishment candidates while setting the field for several contests expected to influence control of Congress.
Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington are holding primaries Aug. 4, with the greatest national attention focused on Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. The outcome of that race could help determine which party controls the Senate.
The elections follow a series of progressive victories in Democratic primaries from New York to Colorado, including wins by candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Several Tuesday contests feature establishment Democrats facing challengers further to the left, with immigration enforcement and U.S. support for Israel among the most prominent points of disagreement.
Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary pits Rep. Haley Stevens against epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018.
The candidates have taken different positions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Stevens has called for the agency to be reined in, while El-Sayed has supported abolishing it.
Their contest comes as ICE has expanded its presence in Michigan and Democrats have continued criticizing federal immigration operations while delaying funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Israel has also emerged as a major dividing issue. El-Sayed has accused Israel of committing a “genocide” in Gaza during military operations launched after Hamas carried out its deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The Israeli government has rejected that accusation.
The United Democracy Project, a super PAC associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has spent more than $30 million supporting Stevens.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is unopposed in the GOP contest. The Cook Political Report rates the general election as a toss-up.
The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who has represented Michigan since 2015, decided not to seek reelection.
Stevens’ current House district is considered safely Democratic and is expected to remain in the party’s hands. Other Michigan districts attracting attention include the Seventh, Tenth and 13th, which the Cook Political Report rates differently based on their competitiveness.
Another establishment-versus-progressive contest is unfolding in the Seventh Congressional District, where three Democrats are seeking the nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Tom Barrett.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam are campaigning on left-of-center platforms. William Lawrence, a co-founder of the environmental organization Sunrise Movement, is running as the progressive candidate.
The Cook Political Report rates the Seventh District as a toss-up.
Michigan voters are also choosing nominees for governor as Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to leave office. The Cook Political Report rates the race as leaning Democratic.
The Republican primary includes Rep. John James, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, and businessman Perry Johnson.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are competing for the Democratic nomination.
In Kansas, the most closely watched contest is the race to replace Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who cannot seek another term because of term limits.
The Republican field includes state Senate President Ty Masterson, former state Rep. Charlotte O’Hara, cafe manager Nick Reinecker, business owner Stacy Rogers, businessman Philip Sarnecki, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab.
Trump has endorsed Masterson.
The Democratic primary features state Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher, along with Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
The Cook Political Report rates the Kansas governor’s race as “Lean Republican.”
Virginia voters are deciding nominees in two competitive congressional districts.
Former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria is expected to win her party’s primary in the Second Congressional District and secure a likely rematch against Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans.
Kiggans defeated Luria in 2022. The Cook Political Report rates their district as a toss-up.
In Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District, Republicans Philip Harding, Douglas Ollivant and Rick Smithers are competing for the nomination to challenge Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman.
Harding is an entrepreneur, Ollivant is an Army veteran and Smithers is a pastor.
The Cook Political Report classifies the Seventh District as “Likely Democratic.”
Missouri’s most prominent primary is the Democratic contest in the First Congressional District, where Rep. Wesley Bell faces four challengers.
His strongest opponent is former Rep. Cori Bush, who represented the district from 2021 through 2025 before losing to Bell in the 2024 election.
The rematch is another test of divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel. Bell belongs to the party’s pro-Israel wing, while Bush has been a leading critic of the country.
Paul Berry and Andrew Jones Jr. are seeking the Republican nomination.
The Cook Political Report rates the district as “Solid Democratic.”
Washington is holding nonpartisan primaries in two congressional districts drawing national attention.
In the Third Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez faces challenges from three Democrats and three Republicans.
The Democratic challengers are Austin Braswell, businessman Brent Hennrich and Democratic Socialist Troy Rasband.
Trump has endorsed Republican state Sen. John Braun, who is running against pilot Lawrence Kellogg and John Roco.
The Cook Political Report rates the district as a toss-up.
In Washington’s Fourth Congressional District, candidates are competing to replace retiring Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse.
Republicans in the race include Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney, who has Trump’s endorsement, businessman and military veteran Jerrod Sessler and state Sen. Matt Boehnke, along with additional candidates.
Air Force veteran John Duresky is the only Democrat competing in the nonpartisan primary.
The Cook Political Report rates the Fourth District as “Solid Republican.”
Original article
Comments