Zohran Mamdani's Clout, a Double Trump Endorsement and More on the Line in Tuesday's High-Stakes Primaries
Espaillat, on the other hand, is facing a challenge from Mamdani-backed candidate, Yordanos Eyoel, who has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. The 13th district race has seen significant spending from outside groups, with the United Democracy PAC investing heavily in support of Espaillat. Meanwhile, in the 10th district, Goldman's opponent, Bilal Mahmood, has received backing from progressive groups and is running on a platform of increasing access to affordable healthcare and addressing income inequality.
In another closely watched race, Rep. Grace Meng is facing a primary challenge from progressive candidate, Sandra Choi, in New York's 6th district. Meng, who has been a vocal advocate for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, has the support of several key Democratic leaders, including Pelosi. However, Choi has gained traction among progressive voters, who are looking for a more liberal alternative to Meng's centrist stance.
The outcome of these primaries will not only determine the direction of the Democratic Party but also have significant implications for the balance of power in Washington. With several high-profile races on the ballot, Tuesday's primaries are expected to draw significant attention from voters and pundits alike. As the Democratic Party continues to grapple with internal divisions, the results of these primaries will provide valuable insight into the party's future trajectory.
But former City Comptroller Brad Lander has the backing of progressives like Mamdani and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The politics of Israel have become a significant issue in the race, with Goldman endorsed by AIPAC, but also backed by J Street, a more liberal pro-Israel group. Lander, on the other hand, has been critical of Israel's conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, which he describes as a genocide, and has expressed support for legislation to block certain arms sales to Israel.
Meanwhile, Espaillat is facing a challenge from Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who has framed her campaign as a call to action that meets the urgency of the moment. Avila Chevalier's platform includes abolishing ICE, criticizing Israel's conduct, supporting the "Block the Bombs" bill, and promoting "Medicare for All" and national tenant protections. Her backers include Mamdani and the progressive Justice Democrats.
The open seat in the 7th District, being vacated by the retiring Nydia Velázquez, has also drawn significant attention. Velázquez is backing Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a progressive who has leaned on his record on policing, the environment, housing, and other issues while calling to abolish ICE and backing "Medicare for All." Mamdani, on the other hand, is supporting state Assemblymember Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist who is calling for a dramatic expansion of unions, a "public option for housing," and "Medicare for All," while arguing that Israel is committing "genocide" and calling to abolish ICE.
On the Republican side, Trump's favored candidates have largely cruised through primaries, but he has experienced a few high-profile setbacks in recent weeks. In an effort to protect against a potential loss, Trump has double-endorsed in a key race. In South Carolina, Trump initially endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette before the June 9 gubernatorial primary, and she advanced to the GOP runoff with 29% of the vote. However, since then, lower-finishing candidates have endorsed state Attorney General Alan Wilson, prompting Trump to follow up with a new dual endorsement of both Wilson and Evette in the runoff.
In upstate New York, Trump is backing businessman Anthony Constantino to fill the 21st District, which is being vacated by the retiring Elise Stefanik. Constantino has gained prominence in conservative circles for his pro-Trump stunts, including erecting a massive "Vote for Trump" sign on top of a building in 2024. He is running against state Assemblyman Robert Smullen, a combat veteran who points to his appointment to the President's Commission on White House Fellows as a way to burnish his Trump credentials. The Democratic primary in the district is between farmer Blake Gendebien and businessman Stuart Amoreill, who will face long odds in trying to win the seat in November. Trump is also backing three incumbents in Utah — GOP Reps. Blake Moore, Celeste Maloy, and Mike Kennedy — who face primary challenges.
Maryland's 6th District is witnessing a competitive primary between Democratic Rep. April McClain Delaney and former Rep. David Trone. Delaney has received endorsements from top Maryland Democrats, including Gov. Moore, Sens. Chris Van Hollen, and Angela Alsobrooks, while Trone has lent his campaign $25 million. Trone has criticized Delaney's vote on the Laken Riley Act, accusing her of supporting Trump's ICE, whereas Delaney has highlighted Trone's past donations to Republicans as part of his business career.
In New York, several Democratic incumbents, including Reps. Grace Meng, Yvette Clarke, and Ritchie Torres, face primary challengers, although these contests have not garnered as much attention as other high-profile races. Two primaries on Tuesday are direct results of the national redistricting battle, which has played out differently across states.
In Utah, a court-ordered redistricting has created a new blue seat in Salt Lake City, giving Democrats a chance to break the GOP's hold on the state's congressional delegation. Former Rep. Ben McAdams, who previously represented a Utah swing district, is the top fundraiser and has positioned himself as a progressive who can deliver results. State Sen. Nate Blouin is vying for the progressive vote, backed by prominent endorsers like Sanders, but his campaign has been hindered by revelations of his past demeaning posts on internet message boards.
Other candidates in the Democratic primary include attorney Michael Farrell and political newcomer Liban Mohamed, who won the vote of delegates at the party's state convention. Meanwhile, in Maryland's 46th Senate District, state Senate President Bill Ferguson faces his first serious primary challenger in 12 years after refusing to support a new partisan redistricting push in the state. Army veteran and community activist Bobby LaPin is running to Ferguson's left, accusing him of not fighting hard enough against Trump and not prioritizing his constituents.
The top battleground on the map Tuesday is in New York's 17th District, where GOP Rep. Mike Lawler's campaign is expected to be one of the most closely watched and expensive races of the cycle. Local politician Beth Davidson and former cybersecurity official Cait Conley are the top candidates in a contentious Democratic primary, while Lawler prepares for the general election in a district that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in 2024. Davidson is framing herself as a battle-tested candidate and a strong voice for Israel, while opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his government's actions.
Conley, an Army veteran and former National Security Council official, has worked at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during the 2024 election. Her campaign has been boosted by VoteVets, although her opponents have attacked her over past work with defense contractors. In the nearby 19th District, freshman Democratic Rep. Josh Riley is facing a primary challenge from attorney Brandon Wolf, who has been critical of Riley's voting record on issues like healthcare and the environment.
Josh Riley will be on defense in a district Harris won by less than 2 points in 2024, the year Riley narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent. But the primary may not be as interesting as the general election, as state Sen. Peter Oberacker has Trump’s endorsement and is the top GOP fundraiser by far.
Republicans want to go on offense in two Long Island swing seats represented by Democrats Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen. Primary challenges against both incumbents have sputtered, leaving the GOP primaries as the main contests there. Trump-backed former Assemblyman Michael LiPetri is running again in the 3rd District after he narrowly lost to Suozzi last cycle, but he faces conservative lawyer and Air Force veteran Gregory Hatch in a primary.
In the 4th District, Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll and Air Force veteran and minister Marvin Williams face off in the Republican primary, but both have struggled in fundraising so far compared with the incumbent.
And in South Carolina, runoff elections will decide the matchup in a district on the fringe of the battleground, the 1st District, which is represented by Republican Nancy Mace, who unsuccessfully ran for governor. The Republican runoff features state Rep. Mark Smith, who is backed by some South Carolina legislative leaders, mayors and former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Jenny Costa Hunnycutt, a lawyer backed by the Winning for Women Action Fund, a group that supports Republican women.
Trump won the district by 13 points in 2024, but some Democrats think they can make the seat competitive. Their party’s runoff is between retired Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore — who was fired last year and is backed by groups like VoteVets and The Bench — and Coast Guard veteran and lawyer Mac Deford, whose backers include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.
In another closely watched race, Rep. Grace Meng is facing a primary challenge from progressive candidate, Sandra Choi, in New York's 6th district. Meng, who has been a vocal advocate for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, has the support of several key Democratic leaders, including Pelosi. However, Choi has gained traction among progressive voters, who are looking for a more liberal alternative to Meng's centrist stance.
The outcome of these primaries will not only determine the direction of the Democratic Party but also have significant implications for the balance of power in Washington. With several high-profile races on the ballot, Tuesday's primaries are expected to draw significant attention from voters and pundits alike. As the Democratic Party continues to grapple with internal divisions, the results of these primaries will provide valuable insight into the party's future trajectory.
But former City Comptroller Brad Lander has the backing of progressives like Mamdani and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The politics of Israel have become a significant issue in the race, with Goldman endorsed by AIPAC, but also backed by J Street, a more liberal pro-Israel group. Lander, on the other hand, has been critical of Israel's conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, which he describes as a genocide, and has expressed support for legislation to block certain arms sales to Israel.
Meanwhile, Espaillat is facing a challenge from Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who has framed her campaign as a call to action that meets the urgency of the moment. Avila Chevalier's platform includes abolishing ICE, criticizing Israel's conduct, supporting the "Block the Bombs" bill, and promoting "Medicare for All" and national tenant protections. Her backers include Mamdani and the progressive Justice Democrats.
The open seat in the 7th District, being vacated by the retiring Nydia Velázquez, has also drawn significant attention. Velázquez is backing Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a progressive who has leaned on his record on policing, the environment, housing, and other issues while calling to abolish ICE and backing "Medicare for All." Mamdani, on the other hand, is supporting state Assemblymember Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist who is calling for a dramatic expansion of unions, a "public option for housing," and "Medicare for All," while arguing that Israel is committing "genocide" and calling to abolish ICE.
On the Republican side, Trump's favored candidates have largely cruised through primaries, but he has experienced a few high-profile setbacks in recent weeks. In an effort to protect against a potential loss, Trump has double-endorsed in a key race. In South Carolina, Trump initially endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette before the June 9 gubernatorial primary, and she advanced to the GOP runoff with 29% of the vote. However, since then, lower-finishing candidates have endorsed state Attorney General Alan Wilson, prompting Trump to follow up with a new dual endorsement of both Wilson and Evette in the runoff.
In upstate New York, Trump is backing businessman Anthony Constantino to fill the 21st District, which is being vacated by the retiring Elise Stefanik. Constantino has gained prominence in conservative circles for his pro-Trump stunts, including erecting a massive "Vote for Trump" sign on top of a building in 2024. He is running against state Assemblyman Robert Smullen, a combat veteran who points to his appointment to the President's Commission on White House Fellows as a way to burnish his Trump credentials. The Democratic primary in the district is between farmer Blake Gendebien and businessman Stuart Amoreill, who will face long odds in trying to win the seat in November. Trump is also backing three incumbents in Utah — GOP Reps. Blake Moore, Celeste Maloy, and Mike Kennedy — who face primary challenges.
Maryland's 6th District is witnessing a competitive primary between Democratic Rep. April McClain Delaney and former Rep. David Trone. Delaney has received endorsements from top Maryland Democrats, including Gov. Moore, Sens. Chris Van Hollen, and Angela Alsobrooks, while Trone has lent his campaign $25 million. Trone has criticized Delaney's vote on the Laken Riley Act, accusing her of supporting Trump's ICE, whereas Delaney has highlighted Trone's past donations to Republicans as part of his business career.
In New York, several Democratic incumbents, including Reps. Grace Meng, Yvette Clarke, and Ritchie Torres, face primary challengers, although these contests have not garnered as much attention as other high-profile races. Two primaries on Tuesday are direct results of the national redistricting battle, which has played out differently across states.
In Utah, a court-ordered redistricting has created a new blue seat in Salt Lake City, giving Democrats a chance to break the GOP's hold on the state's congressional delegation. Former Rep. Ben McAdams, who previously represented a Utah swing district, is the top fundraiser and has positioned himself as a progressive who can deliver results. State Sen. Nate Blouin is vying for the progressive vote, backed by prominent endorsers like Sanders, but his campaign has been hindered by revelations of his past demeaning posts on internet message boards.
Other candidates in the Democratic primary include attorney Michael Farrell and political newcomer Liban Mohamed, who won the vote of delegates at the party's state convention. Meanwhile, in Maryland's 46th Senate District, state Senate President Bill Ferguson faces his first serious primary challenger in 12 years after refusing to support a new partisan redistricting push in the state. Army veteran and community activist Bobby LaPin is running to Ferguson's left, accusing him of not fighting hard enough against Trump and not prioritizing his constituents.
The top battleground on the map Tuesday is in New York's 17th District, where GOP Rep. Mike Lawler's campaign is expected to be one of the most closely watched and expensive races of the cycle. Local politician Beth Davidson and former cybersecurity official Cait Conley are the top candidates in a contentious Democratic primary, while Lawler prepares for the general election in a district that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in 2024. Davidson is framing herself as a battle-tested candidate and a strong voice for Israel, while opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of his government's actions.
Conley, an Army veteran and former National Security Council official, has worked at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during the 2024 election. Her campaign has been boosted by VoteVets, although her opponents have attacked her over past work with defense contractors. In the nearby 19th District, freshman Democratic Rep. Josh Riley is facing a primary challenge from attorney Brandon Wolf, who has been critical of Riley's voting record on issues like healthcare and the environment.
Josh Riley will be on defense in a district Harris won by less than 2 points in 2024, the year Riley narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent. But the primary may not be as interesting as the general election, as state Sen. Peter Oberacker has Trump’s endorsement and is the top GOP fundraiser by far.
Republicans want to go on offense in two Long Island swing seats represented by Democrats Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen. Primary challenges against both incumbents have sputtered, leaving the GOP primaries as the main contests there. Trump-backed former Assemblyman Michael LiPetri is running again in the 3rd District after he narrowly lost to Suozzi last cycle, but he faces conservative lawyer and Air Force veteran Gregory Hatch in a primary.
In the 4th District, Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscoll and Air Force veteran and minister Marvin Williams face off in the Republican primary, but both have struggled in fundraising so far compared with the incumbent.
And in South Carolina, runoff elections will decide the matchup in a district on the fringe of the battleground, the 1st District, which is represented by Republican Nancy Mace, who unsuccessfully ran for governor. The Republican runoff features state Rep. Mark Smith, who is backed by some South Carolina legislative leaders, mayors and former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Jenny Costa Hunnycutt, a lawyer backed by the Winning for Women Action Fund, a group that supports Republican women.
Trump won the district by 13 points in 2024, but some Democrats think they can make the seat competitive. Their party’s runoff is between retired Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore — who was fired last year and is backed by groups like VoteVets and The Bench — and Coast Guard veteran and lawyer Mac Deford, whose backers include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.
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