Primary elections in North Dakota, South Carolina, Maine and Nevada
Ahead of the midterm elections in November, candidates in four states will be on the ballot in primary elections on Tuesday, 14 June.
This November Americans will go to the polls for the 2022 midterm elections, a key moment in the Joe Biden presidency which could shift the balance of power in Washington in the Republicans’ favour.
Before then, primary elections are being held across the country to choose the shortlist of candidates going on the ballot for 8 November. On Tuesday 14 June there are primary elections in North Dakota, South Carolina, Maine and Nevada.
Here’s what you need to know about those races…
Trump influence could be crucial in South Carolina
One of the most interesting things about the upcoming midterms will be seeing the impact that former President Donald Trump has on proceedings. Unwilling to stay out of political disputes, as former Presidents are typically expected to do, Trump has thrown his weight behind certain candidates with mixed results.
In South Carolina the GOP primary ballot sees two Trump-endorsed candidates, Katie Arrington and Russell Fry, take on Republican incumbents. Fry is facing Rep. Tom Rice, who has publically supported the impeachment of Donald Trump and has been under severe pressure. Rice is thought to be one of the GOP representatives most at-risk this November but he remains confident that he can beat Trump’s pick.
Money pours into Las Vegas’ primary races
One location where the Republicans could make significant gains in the midterms is Nevada where all three Las Vegas districts voted for Biden by a single-digit margin, suggesting that they could be flipped. Despite leaning Democrat, midterms often see a swing away from the party in power and towards the other.
Politico reports that the House races alone have received a collective $34 million in TV reservations in Las Vegas alone. This is by far the most money received in a single media market in this election cycle to date.
Political analyst Zach Montellaro explains: “The primary in Nevada is another reminder of the unusually high stakes in this year’s campaigns for election administration positions — longtime political backwaters that have gotten little attention in the past.”
Early voting numbers are up in North Dakota
Election Day in North Dakota for the midterm primaries is Tuesday, 14 June but many people have opted to utilise the early voting options this year. The state allows in-person early voting up to one day before Election Day.
In 2020 the only way to vote for the primaries was by absentee ballots, due to covid-19 and the related social distancing restrictions. These rules have long since been removed but some believe that the experience of voting before Election Day has changed the way people submit their ballots.
Tim Mihalick, an early voter in Ward County, told KX News: “Early voting, it’s so convenient and makes things easier. Especially for myself, I’m traveling next week so to be able to come in and early vote is just a great convenience.”