In the United States, voters in six states are participating in primaries that will be the final round of the crucial midterm elections in November.
Tuesday is one of the busiest primary days of the year, with voting taking place in Iowa, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, South Dakota and California.
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Candidates for more than 74 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot today as voters decide who advances to the November general election.
Tuesday’s results could shape the political landscape for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term, as the front-runners for the midterm elections are decided.
At stake is control of Congress. All seats in the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate will be on the ballot in November. Democrats hope to gain a majority in both chambers and wrest control from Republicans.
Primaries typically allow voters to choose whether a Democratic or Republican candidate will advance to a showdown, but there are differences in the format.
In California, for example, most statewide primaries are held on a nonpartisan basis, with the top two vote-getters from either party advancing to November.
So what’s on your ballot this Tuesday?Here’s a breakdown of the race.
Things to see in Iowa
One of the most closely watched elections is in Iowa. Iowa, a rural state, often begins its presidential election season with an early election.
Iowa has long had a Republican majority, but Democrats believe they may have a chance to make the state Senate race competitive.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is retiring after more than 10 years in office. This leaves a vacant seat in the Senate, with no sitting member to defend it.
To take control of the Senate in November, Democrats will need to defend all existing seats and flip four. Iowa State offers a great opportunity to move up the rankings.
Two leading Democratic candidates are vying for Ernst’s seat: State Representative Josh Turek and State Senator Zach Walls. Mr. Turek is seen as a more moderate candidate than Mr. Walls, and the Democratic establishment has largely rallied around him as the front-runner in November.
The leading Republican candidate is expected to be Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Trump supporter who has repeatedly voted against limiting the president’s military powers.
If no candidate receives 35% or more of the primary vote, a Republican candidate will be elected at the state party convention on June 13th.
Things to see in New Jersey
The New Jersey primary is also attracting a lot of attention. As the 11th most populous state, it holds 12 seats in the House of Representatives.
One of those districts is represented by incumbent Congressman Tom Keene Jr. He is running unopposed in the Republican primary for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.
Incumbent candidates are usually seen as having an advantage in the November midterm elections. The problem is that Mr. Keene lost the House seat by more than 100 votes and did not attend any public events in his district.
Keane issued a statement in April, explaining that his absence was due to “personal health issues.” However, the explanation has been criticized as vague.
Therefore, his seat is vulnerable to a Democratic takeover in states that could tip purple.
Democrats hope to win a majority in the House of Representatives in November, but the House is currently in the minority with 212 of the 435 seats.
Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, is leading the Democratic primary in the 7th District.
However, there are three other candidates for Keene’s seat. One is former Biden administration official Michael Ross. Tina Shah, MD. and businessman Brian Barrera.
things to see in montana
The number of seats each state receives in the House of Representatives reflects the number of residents in the state.
Starting in 2022, Montana will have two House seats, reflecting its relatively small population.
But every state, regardless of size, has two senators. Also, unlike members of the House of Representatives, which are elected every two years, senators hold their seats for six years.
That makes the swings in Montana’s U.S. Senate race noteworthy. Incumbent Steve Daines first won the seat in 2014, wresting the seat from Democratic control.
But just days before the March deadline to participate in the primary ballot, Daines abruptly withdrew. Experts have speculated that the move may have been done to free up former U.S. attorney Kurt Alme, a Republican backed by President Trump.
But five Democrats are vying in party primaries for a chance to vie for Daines’ vacant Senate seat in November.
However, there are complicating factors. One of the biggest candidates is not running in any primaries at all.
Seth Bodnar, a Green Beret veteran and former president of the University of Montana, has come forward as an independent. Therefore, he will automatically advance to the November ballot without having to face a primary.
But critics say Bodnar is using the Democratic Party’s fundraising platform ActBlue to raise money, according to media reports.
Things to see in New Mexico
Candidates here are vying for seats in Congress, a seat in the U.S. Senate and a long list of statewide offices, but the most coveted job is the governor’s.
One of the most notable races for governor is former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who is running for the Democratic nomination. Previously, she made history as the first Indigenous Cabinet member in U.S. history under President Joe Biden.
If Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo state, wins the November gubernatorial election, she will become the first indigenous woman to be elected governor in the United States.
Things to see in South Dakota
South Dakota, one of the least populous states, has only one House seat at issue.
After Representative Dusty Johnson decided to run for governor this year, his seat in the House became vacant.
But Republicans hope to maintain control of the open seat. State Attorney General Marty Jackley is the front-runner in the right-wing party’s primary. He has the support of President Trump.
things to see in california
Left-leaning California is the biggest force in Tuesday’s primary.
As the most populous state, California holds primaries in more than 52 House races.
But many are unlikely to be competitive. California passed redistricting in favor of Democrats last year, following similar actions by Republican-led states.
As a result, only California’s 22nd Congressional District is expected to be competitive. The region is currently in the midst of a heated bipartisan three-way primary race between Republican incumbent David Valadao, moderate Jasmeet Bains, and progressive Randy Villegas.
The California gubernatorial race is also expected to be a fierce battle. Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing term limits, and more than 61 candidates are in the race to succeed him.
They include former Cabinet Secretary Xavier Becerra, progressive businessman Tom Steyer, Fox News personality Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
But some local races are attracting national attention. In Los Angeles, reality TV star Spencer Pratt has used local outrage over wildfires and homelessness to launch a surprising competitive bid for mayor against incumbent Karen Bass.
