US Primaries: Busiest Day Across 6 States Shapes Midterm Race
Al Jazeera Staff
Voters in six US states went to the polls on June 3 for primary elections, selecting candidates for the November midterm contests that will determine control of Congress. Up to 74 House seats were on the ballot, shaping the race for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
Tuesday, June 3, marked one of the busiest primary election days of the year in the United States, as voters in six states—Iowa, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, South Dakota, and California—cast ballots to choose their party nominees for the November general election.
Up to 74 seats in the US House of Representatives were up for a vote on this day. The results could shape the political landscape for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term, as front-runners for the midterm elections are identified.
Control of Congress is at stake. All 435 House seats and about one-third of Senate seats will be decided in November. The Democratic Party hopes to secure majorities in both chambers, wresting control from the Republicans.
Typically, primaries allow voters to select each party's candidate for the general election, but variations exist. In California, most state-level primaries are nonpartisan: the top two vote-getters from any party advance to November.
Iowa
Iowa—the rural state that traditionally kicks off the presidential election season—is a key focus. Republican Senator Joni Ernst is retiring after more than a decade, leaving an open seat without an incumbent defending it.
Democrats see this as a golden opportunity to gain a seat. Their two leading candidates are state Representative Josh Turek (more moderate, backed by party leadership) and state Senator Zach Wahls. On the Republican side, the strong contender is Representative Ashley Hinson, a Trump loyalist who has repeatedly voted against curbing the president's military powers. If no candidate secures at least 35% of the primary vote, the Republican nomination will be decided at the state party convention on June 13.
New Jersey
The 11th most populous state holds 12 House seats. Notably, the seat of Republican Representative Tom Kean Jr. is in play. He is running unopposed in the GOP primary in the 7th district but has missed over 100 House votes and failed to attend local public events. In April, he cited “personal medical issues” for his absences, drawing criticism for vagueness. His seat is considered vulnerable to a Democratic pickup. Leading the Democratic primary in this district is Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, along with three rivals: Michael Roth (a former Biden administration official), Tina Shah (a doctor), and Brian Varela (a businessman).
Montana
Montana has two House seats and two Senate seats. Incumbent Republican Senator Steve Daines, who won the seat from Democrats in 2014, unexpectedly withdrew days before the March deadline, reportedly to clear the path for Kurt Alme (a former federal prosecutor backed by Trump). Five Democratic candidates are vying for the nomination to contest this open seat. A complicating factor: Seth Bodnar, a former Green Beret and former University of Montana president, is running as an independent, automatically advancing to November without a primary. However, press reports note that he uses the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, drawing criticism.
New Mexico
Candidates are competing for a House seat, a Senate seat, and various state offices, but the governorship is the most coveted. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is running for the Democratic nomination. She served as the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history under President Joe Biden. If she wins in November, she would become the first Native American woman elected governor in the United States.
South Dakota
This sparsely populated state has only one House seat. After Representative Dusty Johnson decided to run for governor, his seat became open. Republicans hope to retain it with prominent candidate state Attorney General Marty Jackley, who has Trump's endorsement.
California
The most populous state holds primaries for 52 House seats. Last year, California redrew its congressional districts to benefit Democrats—a move in response to Republican-led states. Consequently, only the 22nd district is expected to be competitive, with a hotly contested nonpartisan primary among incumbent Republican Representative David Valadao, moderate candidate Jasmeet Bains, and progressive candidate Randy Villegas.
The California governor's race is also expected to be intense. With Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited, 61 candidates have entered the race, including former Interior Secretary Xavier Becerra, progressive businessman Tom Steyer, Fox News personality Steve Hilton, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. A local race drawing national attention: in Los Angeles, reality TV star Spencer Pratt has unexpectedly entered the mayoral race against incumbent Karen Bass, capitalizing on public anger over wildfires and homelessness.
