Key Senate Races and Intraparty Battles Highlight Tuesday’s Primaries

Voters in four states are heading to the polls on Tuesday for primaries that will shape key Senate races and settle intraparty battles. The races include a showdown featuring a Jan. 6 Capitol rioter and another with a police officer who battled the rioters that day.

Maryland, West Virginia, Nebraska, and North Carolina are holding primaries and runoffs to determine candidates for the upcoming elections. Former President Donald Trump’s endorsement is a significant factor in the West Virginia race, where he has influenced the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.

In West Virginia, the GOP primary has been a battle, testing Trump’s sway over primary voters. Meanwhile, in North Carolina, two of Trump’s preferred House candidates are the only ones left standing in a pair of primary runoffs.

Republican lawmakers are also facing primary challengers from their right, and open seats in Maryland will shape the Democratic caucus next year. Polls close at different times in each state, with West Virginia and North Carolina closing at 7:30 p.m. ET, Maryland at 8 p.m. ET, and Nebraska at 9 p.m. ET.

In the Senate races, Republicans are eyeing possible pickups in traditionally blue Maryland and red West Virginia. The retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin in West Virginia has made it a target for the GOP, with a competitive Republican primary underway.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan is a key player in Maryland’s Senate matchup, with Republicans touting him as a top recruit. The Democratic primary in Maryland is also crucial, with Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks vying for the nomination.

House Republicans are facing challenges from the right in multiple districts, including Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraska and a race in West Virginia featuring a former state Del. who was convicted for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn is running for Congress in Maryland’s open 3rd District, with a crowded field of candidates competing for the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Paul Sarbanes.

The race for West Virginia governor has been brutal, with a crowded field of candidates vying for the Republican nomination. The ad wars have been intense, with candidates and outside groups spending millions on ads.

Overall, the primaries in these four states will set the stage for key Senate races and intraparty battles, with significant implications for the upcoming elections.