Five states held their primaries on August 4th: Kansas, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington state. Arizona and Michigan were the most-watched elections because of the importance of these states for the battle for the Electoral College on November 3rd.
Photo by: Al Seib / MCT
Republican Roger Marshall has defeated conservative Kris Kobach to win the Republican nomination for the open Senate seat in Kansas. Marshall, an obstetrician, was leading the 11-way GOP primary with 37 percent of the vote when The Associated Press called the race at 9:07 p.m. Central time.
Marshall, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, was endorsed by retiring Sen. Pat Roberts and former Sen. Bob Dole. Both once held Marshall’s current House seat in Kansas’ sprawling “Big 1st” District, which is seen as a stepping stone to higher office in the state. Marshall also had the backing of the Kansas Farm Bureau and the Kansas Livestock Association, which represent powerful agricultural interests in the state.
In the Arizona Senate race, Republican Senator Martha McSally will face Democrat Mark Kelly, the retired NASA astronaut, and gun control activist, in the general election in November. AZCentral has reported that both candidates have agreed to a debate in Phoenix at an event hosted by The Arizona Republic and the state's public radio and television stations. McSally accepted the invitation in a letter Wednesday but did not commit to a specific date. She is calling for a total of seven debates around the state. A Kelly campaign official on Tuesday confirmed he had accepted the invitation for an Oct. 6 debate. Hiral Tipirneni wins Democratic primary in AZ-06, will face Rep. Dave Schweikert. The congressional district went for President Donald Trump by a 10-point margin in 2016.
In Michigan, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, defeated Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones in the Democratic primary. The Associated Press called the race for Tlaib in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th Congressional District shortly after 9:30 a.m. With 87% of the precincts counted it looks like Talib will face David Dudenhoefer on November 3rd.
Also in Michigan, Military veteran Peter Meijer will be the GOP nominee in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, in West Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.
With 67% of precincts reporting, Meijer of Grand Rapids had nearly 50% of the vote. The Associated Press projected the win, while the Michigan Republican Party congratulated Meijer on what it called a "big victory." Many pundits viewed Meijer, the 32-year-old grandson of the retail chain founder, as the favorite to win the heated GOP primary.
Meijer will face Democrat Hillary Scholten, an immigration attorney from Grand Rapids. In other races, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton will face Democrat Jon Hoadley for District 6.
Fox2Now in Missouri, is reporting that Soros-funded St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner won a primary challenge from former city prosecutor Mary Pat Carl by a 61-39 margin. Gardner will face Republican Daniel Zdrodowski in the general election this fall.
Progressive Cori Bush, defeated longtime representative William Lacy Clay in the state’s Democratic primary election on Tuesday. Voters in Missouri also approved expanding the government health insurance program for low-income Americans, Medicaid passing the measure by six points, 53% to 47% which was opposed by Governor Mike Parson. Bush will face off against Republican Anthony Rogers on November 3rd.
U.S. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer will run against Democrat Megan Rezabek and Libertarian, Leonard Steinman for District 3.
In Washington, a state that predominantly votes-by-mail, all candidates compete on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliation. The Associated Press is reporting in the governor's race incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, who is seeking to become the first incumbent elected to a third term in the state in more than 40 years, advanced to the general election with 52% of the vote. With nearly 17% of the vote, Republican Loren Culp, the police chief of the small city of Republic, had the largest share among 35 other candidates.
Washington's 3rd Congressional District Republican incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler will face off against Democrat Carolyn Long. With 31% of the expected vote in, Herrera Beutler was leading with 54.8% of the vote and Long had 41.2% of the vote.
