Primaries in Five States Set Stage for Congressional Control Battles
Primaries in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington on Tuesday feature key Senate and House contests, with redistricting and intra-party battles influencing the outlook for next year’s congressional control.
Voters in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington will cast ballots in primary elections on Tuesday, shaping several competitive U.S. Senate and House races that could affect party control of Congress next year. The contests include a Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, where progressive Abdul El-Sayed faces moderate Rep. Haley Stevens for the nomination to challenge Republican Mike Rogers, who is unopposed for his party’s ticket.
In Michigan’s 13th House district, multimillionaire Democrat Shri Thanedar is challenged by state Rep. Donavan McKinney, who has the backing of Senators Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib. The Cook Political Report rates the district as heavily Democratic, making the primary winner the likely victor in November.
Washington’s 4th Congressional District, a solidly Republican area, will choose among three GOP candidates: Yakima County commissioner Amanda McKinney, endorsed by President Trump; businessman Jerrod Sessler, running as an anti-establishment outsider; and state Sen. Matt Boehnke, positioned as a moderate.
Missouri’s 1st District, which includes St. Louis, features a rematch between incumbent Democrat Wesley Bell and former Congresswoman Cori Bush. Bell, supported by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has opposed cuts to military aid for Israel, while Bush, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, favors ending such aid.
In Virginia, the primary election was moved from June to August after a redistricting referendum and a court-blocked attempt by Democrats to redraw the maps. Michelle Moffit of the non-partisan Virginia Civic Engagement Table said the change is expected to boost voter participation.
Other notable races include a Kansas Senate primary that will determine the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Roger Marshall, and a Michigan gubernatorial primary in which Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leads the Democratic field, while Republican John James, endorsed by Trump, competes against businessman Perry Johnson.
These primaries provide early indicators of voter enthusiasm and could set the stage for pivotal contests in the November general election.