Who are the winners and losers of the August 9 primary elections? Complete results by state
The results of Tuesday’s primary election have come in with four states electing candidates for the November midterms. Find them all here.
Another round of primary election voting has concluded. These elections gave voters a chance to select the candidates who will face off during the November midterm elections.
Until recently, many believed Democrats would suffer significant losses, but the tide seems to be turning in recent weeks. The overwhelming support for a ballot measure to protect abortion rights in Kansas highlighted the unpopularity of the overturning of Roe v. Additionally, with the Inflation Reduction Act passed and prices slowing their historic rise, Democrats have a more substantive legislative record to run on this fall.
One of the big Trump wins was the candidate for Wisconsin Governor, Tim Michels. The other candidate, Kleefisch, had been backed by Mike Pence, Trump’s former Vice President and now an enemy in the Republican party.
Here are the important primary results.
Connecticut
In an electoral surprise, Republican Leora Levy will face off against incumbent Senator Richard Blumenthal this November.
Levy was not favored to win, but with three major candidates competing, she received the highest number of votes. Themis Klarides, a pro-choice moderate Republican who serves as the Minority Leader in the Connecticut House, was expected to win. With Levy taking home the victory, many call the outcome an upset for the GOP establishment in the state. Levy’s win may have been supported by Donald Trump’s endorsement which came just a few days before voters took to the polls.
Minnesota
There were no significant primaries in the state, aside from a Special Election for the US House 1st Congressional District. Republican Brad Finstad won the seat over Democrat Jeff Ettinger in the red-leaning rural district.
One of the most closely watched races was incumbent Ilhan Omar’s, who faced a well-funded challenger Don Samuels. Omar came out on top, receiving slightly over fifty percent of the vote, with more than ninety-five percent of the vote counted.
Vermont
Senator Patrick Leahy will retire this year, meaning the race is wide open for outsider candidates. On the Democratic side, Peter Welch, the sole Congressman for the state, snatched the nomination with more than eighty-seven percent of the total vote. Gerald Malloy won the Republican primary and will face Welch.
Wisconsin
As previously mentioned, Trump favorite Tim Michels will face incumbent Governor Tony Evers this November. Michels’ win is another example of Donald Trump’s continued power within the GOP and over the Republican base. On the Senate side, Republican incumbent Ron Johnson will face Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes. Johnson has been in office since 2011.
What are the chances Democrats hold their majority in the Senate?
After the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, many progressives argued that it should have been expanded to cover more of the measures Democrats were elected on in 2020. Party leaders blamed the failure to deliver a bigger package on the demands of more conservative caucus members, Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kirsten Sinema (D-AZ). Many within the party have stated that with a larger majority, items like universal pre-K, expansion of Medicare to cover hearing, dental, and eye care, and other popular measures could be passed next year.
This November, Democrats have a chance to pick up seats in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and several other states. However, to maintain a majority, Dems must hold onto swing-state seats in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and New Hampshire.