Primaries Today: Six States Vote as California, Iowa Lead
Primaries today are drawing millions of voters to the polls in California, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, Montana and South Dakota. California is choosing a successor to term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, while New Mexico Democrat Deb Haaland is seeking the party’s nomination for governor.
Polls have already closed in Iowa, New Mexico and all of South Dakota, putting those contests further along than the others. The day also includes a closely watched New Jersey House race, where voters are choosing the Democrat who will face Republican Tom Kean Jr. in November.
California and Iowa Ballots
California’s ballot includes the race for Los Angeles mayor and a series of high-stakes US House contests in newly redrawn congressional districts. The state’s governor’s race sits at the top of the ticket because Newsom cannot run again, and the House races add another layer of competition in a state that sends the largest delegation to Washington.
Iowa is drawing attention for a possible Democratic comeback. Democrats want to win back control of both the US House and the Senate, and Rob Sand is running for governor. Party strategists are also watching three US House seats and a Senate race they believe could be competitive.
New Jersey And New Mexico
In New Jersey, Adam Hamawy has won endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as he seeks the Democratic nomination against Kean’s seat. Kean has missed more than 100 House votes because of an undisclosed illness, giving the district added attention as voters choose his November challenger.
New Mexico combines primaries for congressional seats, a US Senate seat and a long list of statewide offices. Haaland’s campaign for governor stands out inside that field, and her run places a Native American leader on a path that would be unusual in state politics if she advances.
Montana And South Dakota
Montana has a five-way Democratic fight for the seat held by retiring Republican senator. Independent Seth Bodnar is outraising the Democratic candidates, adding a complication to a contest that could otherwise have looked like a standard party primary.
South Dakota voters are choosing nominees for governor, Sioux Falls mayor, a US Senate seat and one House seat. Governor Larry Rhoden faces three primary challengers in his first run for a full term after stepping up when Kristi Noem left for the Department of Homeland Security. For voters, that makes today’s ballot a test of whether each party can translate its own turnout into November positions with the clearest path forward.
