Five primaries test Trump’s influence before US midterms
Voters in four states and Washington, DC, are choosing nominees in contests tied to Congress, governorships and local power.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
4 min read
Voters in Alabama, California, Georgia, Oklahoma and Washington, DC, are casting ballots in primaries that will shape November’s US midterm elections. Control of Congress is at stake, and several contests also offer a measure of President Donald Trump’s hold on Republican voters, according to Al Jazeera and The Associated Press.
The midterms are expected to serve as a judgment on Trump’s second term. Al Jazeera and AP reported that the president is facing weak approval numbers as the war with Iran and concerns over living costs weigh on voters.
Alabama Senate race heads to a runoff
In Alabama, Republicans are choosing a nominee to succeed Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor rather than seeking another Senate term. A May 19 first round produced no winner, sending Congressman Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson to a June 16 runoff.
Moore has Trump’s endorsement and led the first round with 39 percent of the vote, compared with 26 percent for Hudson, according to Al Jazeera and AP. Hudson owns a security and firearms training company and runs a nonprofit focused on human trafficking.
Democrats in Alabama are choosing between Dakarai Larriett, described by Al Jazeera and AP as a pet aromatherapy entrepreneur, and Everett Wess, a former municipal judge. Polls in the state run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
California fills Swalwell’s House seat
California is holding a special primary for the 14th Congressional District seat vacated by former Representative Eric Swalwell. Al Jazeera and AP reported that Swalwell resigned in April after allegations of sexual abuse and had earlier been a leading candidate for governor.
Governor Gavin Newsom set an August 18 special election, with the June 16 primary deciding who advances. Candidates include Democratic state Senator Aisha Wahab, former Dublin Mayor and Bay Area Rapid Transit board member Melissa Hernandez, and Republican real estate investor Wendy Huang.
The district is also part of a separate election track after redistricting. A June 2 primary for the full term under the new map put Wahab first and Hernandez second, while the special election will decide who serves through the end of the year.
Georgia Republicans choose Senate and governor nominees
Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff is among the closely watched races because Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is seeking re-election in a state central to the fight for Senate control. Representative Mike Collins faces former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley.
Collins led the first round with about 41 percent, according to Al Jazeera and AP. Trump endorsed Collins over the weekend, while outgoing Governor Brian Kemp has backed Dooley, who has said he did not vote in the 2016 or 2020 elections.
Republicans are also settling their nominee for governor. Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, backed by both Trump and Kemp, faces healthcare executive Rick Jackson after Jones fell short of a first-round majority. The winner will face Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won the Democratic primary with more than 50 percent.
Oklahoma picks candidates for governor and Senate
Oklahoma voters are choosing nominees in several state and federal races, including the contest to replace term-limited Governor Kevin Stitt. The Republican field includes Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former Public Safety Secretary Chip Keating, former state Senator Mike Mazzei and former state House Speaker Charles McCall.
Trump has endorsed Mazzei, and Al Jazeera and AP reported that polls show him in a close race with Drummond. Democrats are choosing from candidates including State House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson and former state Senator Connie Johnson.
A Senate primary is also on the ballot after Trump selected Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Alan Armstrong, appointed to replace Mullin, is not seeking a full term. Trump has endorsed Representative Kevin Hern, while Democratic candidate Jim Priest, a lawyer and minister, leads his party’s field in fundraising, according to Al Jazeera and AP.
Washington, DC, weighs a mayoral shift
Washington, DC, is holding a districtwide primary for local and federal offices, including mayor. Three-term Mayor Muriel Bowser is retiring, leaving a Democratic race shaped by divisions between progressive and establishment wings of the party.
Groups aligned with Senator Bernie Sanders support Ward 4 Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George, while Bowser and national Democratic figures have backed Councilman Kenyan McDuffie, according to Al Jazeera and AP. The city is also voting for its non-voting delegate to Congress.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.