All articles tagged with #primary
Texas Democrats are staging a high-stakes U.S. Senate primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, a high-profile, divisive race that has drawn national attention, massive fundraising, and concerns about party unity as the party targets flipping Texas in November.
With the Texas primary looming, Republicans fear the intra-party feud between Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn could jeopardize the GOP’s Senate hold. Paxton remains competitive and could win outright or force a runoff, while Cornyn is viewed by NRSC allies as stronger in a general election. About $100 million has already been spent in ads, and donors worry the money spent here could crowd out other battleground races. Trump’s endorsement decision is still undecided, keeping the outcome highly unpredictable.
House Speaker Mike Johnson says Rep. Tony Gonzales’ Texas GOP primary will serve as a referendum on serious sexual-harassment allegations against him, with Johnson not withdrawing his endorsement even as some Republicans call for Gonzales’ resignation; Gonzales denies the charges and says due process will play out, while the live updates also touch on Schumer defending Democrats who didn’t stand during the State of the Union and Trump’s stated policy asks.
The chair of the Congressional Democratic Women’s Caucus called for Rep. Tony Gonzales’s removal and an investigation into allegations of an affair with a staffer who died by suicide, which Gonzales denies. While some Republicans and his primary challenger press for resignation, Democrats largely defer to Republicans on handling the matter, and House Speaker Mike Johnson says it is too early to prejudge the situation.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launches her first TV ad for the Senate primary, using a bleeps-filled anti-Trump message to grab attention as she confronts rivals in a crowded race, backed by Gov. Pritzker and pro-Stratton spending levers, with early voting underway.
A Texas congressman, Rep. Tony Gonzales, is accused by the estranged husband of his former aide Regina Santos-Aviles of having had an affair with her before her death by self-immolation. Gonzales denies the relationship; a lawyer says he has seen texts to that effect, though The Washington Post could not verify them. The allegations surface as Gonzales fights a tight primary against Brandon Herrera and as critics question ethics and potential use of taxpayer funds, with the accuser’s lawyer framing the matter as a political issue rather than blackmail.
Despite more than $60 million in GOP-backed ads aimed at defeating him, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remains the front-runner in the March 3 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. Cornyn warns Paxton’s nomination could hurt Republicans in November, but Paxton maintains base loyalty, a favorable runoff dynamic with a third candidate, and late ads as he eyes a possible victory and general-election appeal. Trump has not endorsed Paxton.
Analilia Mejia and Tom Malinowski are in a razor-thin Democratic primary race in New Jersey’s 11th District, with Mejia leading by about 486 votes (28.8% to 28.0%) as roughly 91% of ballots are tallied; a prior call that Malinowski would win was retracted, and late-counted ballots could still tilt the outcome. Tahesha Way and Brendan Gill trail, while outside spending—most notably $2.3 million from AIPAC against Malinowski—helped shape the closings, though Mejia’s progressive surge complicates the race.
In New Jersey’s 11th District, former Rep. Tom Malinowski leads a crowded Democratic primary to replace Mikie Sherrill, with Analilia Mejia and Brendan Gill also in contention. Early live results show Malinowski ahead, about 59% of expected votes counted and roughly 27,000 ballots remaining. The district leans Democratic, so the winner is favored in the April 16 general election against Republican Joe Hathaway, who is unopposed for his party’s nomination.
Texas’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary was jolted by a dispute over race after James Talarico allegedly described Colin Allred as a “mediocre Black man,” a remark amplified by Allred and rejected by Crockett as inaccurate. Talarico said the description was a mischaracterization and that he praised Crockett while criticizing Allred’s campaigning method. The controversy thrust race and electability into the spotlight ahead of the March 3 primary, as national Democrats watch closely, fundraising signals shift, and endorsements split between the candidates in a closely watched race.
Michigan’s open Senate seat is playing out as a tight three-way Democratic primary among Mallory McMorrow, Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed, a contest many see as a test of the party’s next generation and its path to retaining the majority. The candidates clash on Medicare for All, ICE funding, and Israel/Gaza policy, while also showcasing different campaign styles—from Stevens’ traditional ground game to El-Sayed’s national online profile and McMorrow’s hybrid approach. Party leaders worry the extended primary could weaken the nominee against Republican Mike Rogers, with Whitmer’s endorsements and DSCC maneuvers adding to the stakes. The August outcome will help determine how Democrats balance ideological divisions with electoral pragmatism in a key swing state.
In Maine’s June 9 Democratic primary, 78-year-old Gov. Janet Mills faces 41-year-old Graham Platner, highlighting a Democratic split between experienced incumbency and a new generation of progressives seeking to unseat Sen. Susan Collins. Platner, backed by Bernie Sanders, pushes bold reforms while Mills emphasizes experience and a one-term pledge. The race also hinges on Platner’s past online controversies and the broader question of whether seniority or freshness best serves Maine in a possible bid to shape Senate control; outside groups are preparing for a tough general election wherever the primary goes.
Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow to challenge incumbent Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s GOP Senate primary after Cassidy voted to convict him on Jan. 6, signaling Trump’s continued willingness to intervene in Republican contests. The primary is May 16, with a potential June 27 runoff, making Cassidy’s path to reelection more difficult.
Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow announced a 2026 primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, setting up a high-stakes intraparty contest for the GOP’s Senate seat in the state.
Sen. John Cornyn raised $7 million in the fourth quarter, boosting his cash on hand to more than $15 million—the best quarterly total of his career—as he faces a tight Texas Republican primary against Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt. Cornyn has attacked Paxton, who faces investigations and personal baggage, while polls show a competitive race ahead of the early March primary; a runoff could follow in late May.