Key Primary Elections in Maryland and West Virginia with Senate Majority at Stake

Maryland and West Virginia are gearing up for key primary elections on Tuesday, with significant implications for the fight for Senate majority this fall. Voters in these states will have the opportunity to choose their nominees for a slate of fall elections, with Senate primaries in Maryland and West Virginia being particularly consequential.

In Maryland, Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan is expected to dominate the state’s GOP Senate primary, despite his criticism of former President Donald Trump. Hogan, who describes Trump as a threat to democracy, would be the state’s first Republican senator in over four decades. On the Democratic side, Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks are locked in a contentious battle for the nomination.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the Republican Senate primary is likely to determine the replacement for retiring Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Republican Gov. Jim Justice and U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney are the leading candidates, with the seat expected to turn red in November. On the Democratic side, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and Marine Corps veteran Zach Shrewsbury are vying for the nomination.

The presidential primaries in these states are expected to be less dramatic, with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump already securing enough delegates for their respective nominations. However, voters on both sides hope to register protest votes to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the Biden-Trump rematch.

Additionally, Tuesday’s elections include candidates who were involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In West Virginia, former House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, who participated in the storming of the Capitol, is running for the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District. In Maryland, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who was present during the insurrection, is among the Democrats running in the state’s 3rd Congressional District.

Overall, Tuesday’s primaries in Maryland and West Virginia are shaping up to be crucial in determining the political landscape for the upcoming fall elections. Voters will have the opportunity to make their voices heard and choose the candidates they believe will best represent their interests.