Six States Hold Primary Elections: What to Know | National News

Tuesday is Election Day in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, with voters weighing in on competitive primary races for federal and state office.

President Donald Trump is looking to advance Republicans who will support his agenda for the remaining two years of his term, while Democrats are working to put forward candidates who have the best chance to take power for their party at a time that public opinion is hardening against the White House.

Here’s what to watch for in Tuesday’s elections.

California’s governor is one of the highest-profile state politicians in the nation, which is why all eyes are on the Golden State as voters choose the Democratic and Republican candidates who will compete for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s seat in November.

When former Vice President Kamala Harris and other major California Democratic leaders decided not to run for governor, voters were left with a list of lesser-known candidates. The state’s “jungle primary” system means that all primary candidates for a given office appear on the same ballot, regardless of party, and the two with the most votes advance to the general election. With 61 names on the ballot for governor, Californians have a crowded field to choose from.

In April, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell – formerly the front-runner – dropped out of the governor’s race after sexual assault allegations against him surfaced. The presumptive new front-runner is Xavier Becerraa longtime member of Congress from California, the state’s former attorney general and secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. Billionaire and progressive populist Tom Steyer – who funded the most expensive political advertising campaign in the country this year – appears to be a close runner-up, but poll margins are small and offer limited insight.

Among Republicans, former Fox News political commentator Steve Hilton secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement and appears to be a top GOP candidate, though the president’s overwhelming unpopularity in many parts of California may neutralize Hilton’s support. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is one of Hilton’s Republican rivals, with a controversial reputation since his office seized 1,000 boxes of election material claiming a “criminal investigation.”

Democrats worry that if their votes are scattered among several candidates, Hilton and Bianco might both advance.

In addition to Becerra, the many Democratic competitors include San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Another highly-watched primary is the race for Greater Los Angelesin which Democrat Karen Bass is running for reelection against Republican former reality TV star Spencer Pratt and progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman. The three are competing for two spots on the general election ballot in a close race.

Former President Barack Obama in 2012 was the last Democrat running for federal office to win the Hawkeye State. But that isn’t stopping Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls from trying to flip a Republican seat held by retiring Sen. Joni Ernst this November.

Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medal winner in basketball, is backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, while Wahls, a 34-year-old state senator, has been critical of Schumer and secured the support of labor unions, progressive organizations and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Rep. Ashley Hinson is the likely Republican candidate that either Turek or Wahls will face in the midterm election.

Iowa will also vote in three competitive House primaries and a gubernatorial race. Trump on Friday posted a last-minute endorsement of Rep. Randy Feenstra to replace Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is not seeking reelection. The Republican primary is expected to be a toss-up – and yet another test of Trump’s power – with former state agency director Adam Steen, businessman Zach Lahn, state Rep. Eddie Andrews and pastor Brad Sherman competing against Feenstra.

Agriculture is a major part of Iowa’s economy, and Trump’s tariffs on top of the war in Iran hit the state’s economy hard. Iowa Democrats hope to take advantage of Trump’s plummeting popularity and do their part to gain control of Congress.

Montana voters will choose their candidates for one Senate race, two House races and many state-level positions.

With Republican Sen. Steve Daines not seeking a third term, the door is open for a new candidate. Daines endorsed former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme – who was then almost immediately endorsed by Trump – a move that The Associated Press said appeared to be carefully orchestrated. Republicans Lee Calhoun and Charles Walking Child are also running for the nomination.

On the Democratic side, former state Rep. Reilly Neill is a front-runner – at least in terms of fundraising – in the race against Michael Black Wolf, Michael Hummert, Alani Bankhead and Christopher Kehoe, though Montana’s solid-red standing presents an uphill battle to any eventual nominee.

The wild card in the Montana Senate race is former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar, who is running as an independent and outraised all of his Democratic and Republican opponents.

Trump’s pick to replace retiring Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke in Montana’s 1st District – one of the state’s two districts – is Aaron Flint, Army veteran and talk radio host. Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, former state Sen. Al Olszewski and former high school government teacher Ray Curtis round out the Republican ballot.

New Jersey is a small blue state, but its primary elections could have a big impact on midterms and beyond.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker – outspoken Trump critic and possible 2028 presidential contender – is running for reelection. Booker’s Republican challengers include Dr. Robert Lebovics, former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Murphy, Army veteran Richard Tabor and former political reporter Alex Zdan.

New Jersey’s 7th District will also see a competitive race as four Democrats – including fundraising front-runner and former healthcare executive Rebecca Bennett – compete to unseat Republican Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., who is seeking a third term in the House.

Kean garnered national attention after he mysteriously disappeared from the House floor for more than three months and missed over 100 votes on account of a “personal medical leave.” As constituents wonder where Kean has been, the Democrats vying to unseat him gain traction.

Elections in many deep-blue districts on Tuesday are expected to determine who represents New Jersey in the House, as Republican competition is minute.

The race in New Jersey’s 2nd District will be more of a toss-up as Democrats pick their candidate to challenge Republican incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew. And in the 4th DistrictDemocratic voters decide on an opponent for Trump-backed Rep. Chris Smith, who has held the seat since 1981. Navy veteran John Blake runs against young single mother Rachel Peace for the Democratic nomination.

New Mexicans will vote to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Former Rep. Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman face off in the Democratic primary. Haaland comes out on top in recent polls and, if elected, would become the first Native American woman governor in the U.S.

Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, former state Cabinet secretary Duke Rodriguez and small business owner Doug Turner are competing in the Republican primary for governor.

In another race, Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan seeks a second term, facing democratic socialist Matt Dodson. No names will appear on the Republican ballot, though Larry Marker is running as a certified write-in candidate. Marker must meet a vote threshold to be eligible to run as a Republican in the midterm election. The Senate race is also the first time unaffiliated voters in New Mexico can cast ballots.

South Dakota voters will also choose their candidates for governor in Tuesday’s primaries. Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden hopes to keep his seat as Rep. Dusty Johnson, state Rep. Jon Hansen and businessman Toby Doeden challenge him for the GOP nomination. Poll results are mixed, suggesting a competitive primary.

Former Democratic state Sen. Dan Ahlers was unopposed in his bid for his party’s nomination for governor and will face Terry Gleason, who is running as an independent.

South Dakota’s only seat in the House is up for grabs after Johnson, who held it since 2019, chose to run for governor. Republican state Attorney General Marty Jackley is expected to win the primary against gun store owner James Bialota, then in November face Democrat Nicole Gronli, who advanced unopposed.