Key Results from This Week’s Primaries: Maryland Senate Matchup Set, West Virginia Governor and Senate Races Decided

The results of this week’s primaries have set the stage for some exciting matchups in the upcoming general election. In Maryland, former Gov. Larry Hogan secured the GOP nomination for the Senate race, while Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks emerged victorious in a hard-fought Democratic primary. Alsobrooks now has the opportunity to make history as just the third Black woman elected to the Senate in U.S. history.

Meanwhile, in Maryland’s 3rd District, state Sen. Sarah Elfreth clinched the Democratic primary, defeating former Capitol Hill police officer Harry Dunn. Elfreth’s win adds to the growing number of women in the House, where they currently make up only 29 percent of members.

Over in West Virginia, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey won the Republican primary for governor in a close race against former state Del. Moore Capito. Morrisey is expected to be a hardline conservative governor, aligning with the tea party wing of the party.

In the GOP primary for West Virginia senator, Gov. Jim Justice easily defeated Rep. Alex Mooney and is now favored to win the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Additionally, incumbent Rep. Carol Miller successfully defended her seat in the Republican primary for West Virginia’s 1st District against a far-right challenger.

The results also saw state Treasurer Riley Moore emerge victorious in the Republican primary for West Virginia’s 2nd District, succeeding Mooney who ran for Senate. Moore, who comes from a political family, is expected to comfortably hold onto the deeply Republican seat in the general election.

In Maryland’s 6th District, Democrats nominated April McClain Delaney to run for the seat vacated by Rep. David Trone, while Republicans once again chose Neil Parrott as their candidate. The race could get competitive under the right circumstances for Republicans.

In Maryland’s 2nd District, Democratic voters selected Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. to face off against Republican political commentator Kimberly Klacik. With Biden winning general election voters in this district in 2020, Olszewski is likely to become the next representative of this northern-Baltimore seat.

Lastly, in Nebraska’s 2nd District, Rep. Don Bacon successfully defended his seat against a primary challenge from right-wing Republican Dan Frei, setting the stage for a competitive general election in this swing district.

Overall, the results of this week’s primaries have set the stage for some exciting and closely-watched races in the upcoming general election.