Democrats split between establishment and progressives while Trump-backed Republicans secure nominations
Primary contests showed establishment Democrats edging out progressives in several races, a close Senate primary in Michigan, and continued influence of President Trump among Republican nominees.
Primary elections on Tuesday produced mixed outcomes for both major parties. Establishment Democrats secured a handful of key nominations, while progressive candidates also won in select contests, and Republican hopefuls endorsed by President Donald Trump captured several party nominations.
In Michigan, the Democratic Senate primary remains too close to call, with former county health director Abdul El-Sayed leading Rep. Haley Stevens early Wednesday. El-Sayed’s campaign emphasizes progressive policies such as Medicare for All, whereas Stevens is backed by the party establishment and has taken a more moderate stance. The winner will face Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election.
Progressives did claim a victory in Michigan’s 13th congressional district, where William Lawrence won the Democratic nomination and will challenge incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in November. In Missouri’s 1st district, establishment-aligned Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush, who had the support of Democratic socialists and high-profile progressives.
Virginia voters also favored establishment candidates for the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, seats that Democrats hope to flip in the November election.
Campaign financing drew attention, particularly in the Michigan Senate race where outside groups spent $52 million, the highest outside-spending total outside of Texas. El-Sayed criticized a pro-Israel political action committee for its influence, noting that the group backed Stevens with substantial funds.
Among Republicans, Trump-endorsed candidates won nominations in Washington’s 4th congressional district, Michigan’s gubernatorial race, and Kansas’s gubernatorial contest. Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County commissioner, secured the Republican nod in Washington’s open seat, while Rep. John James and state Sen. Ty Masterson won their respective gubernatorial primaries.
Despite Trump’s backing, the outcomes for Republican-led ballot initiatives were unfavorable. Kansas voters rejected a proposal to elect state supreme court justices rather than appoint them, and Missouri voters turned down a measure that would have made it harder to amend the state constitution.
These results highlight a divided Democratic electorate, a competitive Senate race in a swing state, and the continued sway of Trump’s endorsement within the Republican base, even as some Republican policy proposals faced voter rejection.