Michigan will offer the country its clearest gauge yet on the direction of the Democratic Party, as primary voters in the battleground state choose between a standard-bearer and an candidate.
Although there have been similar contests around the country, this one will hold extra weight because Michigan is a key state in presidential races. Abdul El-Sayed, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is up against four-term Rep. Haley Stevens, supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
Democratic and Republican voters in Michigan are also deciding on their parties鈥� nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
In , , and state, voters are settling primaries in a host of races, including a key rematch between Democrats in a Missouri House contest. Also in play is whether Democrats, who tried to redraw districts in Virginia to their advantage but were rebuffed by the state supreme court, can pick candidates who can defeat Republicans in the fall.
Here is a look at the Latest:
El-Sayed voter says his progressive campaign appeals to younger voters eager for change
Jordan Snyder, 20, said she was voting for Abdul El-Sayed because of his advocacy for Palestinians, opposition to data centers and the fact that she views him as 鈥渁 candidate that I feel like I can trust.鈥�
El-Sayed鈥檚 progressive platform has proven , some of whom say they are disillusioned with both political parties.
鈥淧eople are feeling like a lot of the people that they鈥檝e trusted that have been in government haven鈥檛 really been living up to expectations,鈥� Snyder said.
She believes people are more willing to vote for a progressive candidate than in the past, citing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who ran a viral social media campaign and was . Snyder said she has heard more directly from El-Sayed on social media and thinks he has a good chance of winning against Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election, especially if a lot of younger people vote.
鈥淎s far as me and my friends are concerned, he鈥檚 kind of the only candidate we鈥檙e interested in,鈥� Snyder said.
Kansas voters are choosing party nominees for an open governor鈥檚 race
Two-term Democratic cannot run again, and both major parties had contentious campaigns ahead of Tuesday鈥檚 primaries.
The departing governor鈥檚 party has lost every open race for governor since 1962, but Democrats hope centrist voters unhappy with President Donald Trump and worried about the state shifting hard to the right will help them break that trend.
Republican candidates include Kansas Senate President Secretary of State Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and a Kansas City-area businessman Philip Sarnecki.
The Democrats running are state Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
Missouri ballot measure seeks to axe the income tax in favor of more sales taxes
The Missouri measure marks the first time since the modern income tax began over a century ago that a U.S. state legislature has asked voters whether to eliminate the tax.
would direct the legislature to as state revenue grows. To spur that along, it also allows lawmakers to expand the sales tax to 鈥渁ny goods and services.鈥� It gives them five years to decide which sales to tax without needing further voter approval.
Alaska is the only state so far to impose a general individual income tax and then repeal it, doing so in 1980 by a legislative vote.
Massachusetts voters rejected income tax eliminations in 2008 and 2002 that were initiated by citizens, not lawmakers.
Another Virginia voter says she鈥檇 鈥榥ever鈥� vote for a Democrat
Republican voter Chris Weymouth, 85, cast a ballot in a Richmond suburb for Bert Mizusawa in the Republican Senate primary. The winner of that three-way race will face a stiff general election challenge from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the longtime, well-funded incumbent.
Weymouth, who said Democrats have moved so far left she would 鈥渘ever鈥� consider voting for one, said Mizusawa 鈥� a decorated Army veteran 鈥� won her support in the primary because she believed he would put America first, support the Constitution and protect America鈥檚 freedoms. Her faith also guided her vote, she said.
One Virginia voter wants someone 鈥榞ung ho鈥� on supporting progressive issues
Devin Garcia, 30, voted in suburban Richmond for Salaam Bhatti, a public interest lawyer running for the Democratic nomination in Virginia鈥檚 1st Congressional District. The winner of the seven-way nomination contest will face longtime Republican incumbent Rob Wittman. The 1st district leans red, but Democrats are hopeful they can flip it.
Garcia backed Bhatti over more centrist candidates in the race, including establishment favorite Shannon Taylor, wanting someone 鈥済ung ho鈥� about supporting progressive politics, including diversity initiatives, abortion access and affordable health care.
鈥淚 do think that we need more bold people that are going to take a real stand. The Trump administration isn鈥檛 fighting fair, and I think caught the Democrats on the back foot,鈥� Garcia said.
Stevens voter wants to see bipartisan work, says AIPAC questions have overshadowed primary race
Birmingham resident Nessa Fuller, 51, said she voted for Stevens because she will 鈥渇ight to get the right things done, and she鈥檒l work with other people.鈥�
Fuller, who wore a Haley Stevens T-shirt outside her polling place, said she has progressive values but no longer identifies with the term as it has swung too far left. Rhetoric within the progressive wing that Fuller describes as antisemitic has overshadowed what she supports, she said, including in El-Sayed鈥檚 campaign.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 the deal with Abdul, I think, in the Jewish community. The question is, do you vote for your values? Do you take Israel out of the equation and say, these are social justice issues that we agree with, and I鈥檓 going to vote for you?鈥� Fuller, who is Jewish, said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think one issue should crowd out everything else. So it鈥檚 a conundrum.鈥�
While Fuller agrees with some elements of El-Sayed鈥檚 campaign and said she would vote for him in November if he wins the primary, she isn鈥檛 sure all Democratic voters will do the same.
Missouri Republicans are picking a candidate in a congressional district reshaped at Trump鈥檚 request
A six-way Republican primary will settle who will try to unseat Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver in
Missouri was the second Republican state, after Texas, to respond to Trump鈥檚 call last year to to the GOP鈥檚 advantage ahead of the midterms. The revamped map stretches Cleaver鈥檚 Kansas City district eastward into rural central Missouri to give the a Republican tilt.
The GOP race features state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Marine veteran and founding member of the conservative Missouri Brattin and fellow primary contestant Taylor Burks both ran unsuccessfully in 2022 for an open seat in Missouri鈥檚 4th District.
Burks is a Navy officer who once served as a local election official in the University of Missouri鈥檚 home of Boone County.
Cleaver is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Abdul El-Sayed dances to Michigan Democratic Senate primary finish line
El-Sayed stopped by Detroit鈥檚 Eastern Market to talk to voters, going at one point to dance with a group of ladies in a Zumba class at the market.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 generally how we operate,鈥� El-Sayed told AP about the joyful tone to end his campaign. 鈥淭he hope here is we build a world where people are free to actually fully enjoy their lives.鈥�
Michigan lawmaker wants Detroit to have a Black representative in Congress again
Rep. Shri Thanedar is trying to fend off a primary challenge from state Rep. Donavan McKinney in a heavily Democratic district representing Detroit.
Thanedar first won election in 2022, marking the first time since the early 1950s that Detroit had in Congress.
McKinney wants to change that. He鈥檚 trying to win office in the 13th District, which includes most of Detroit and other parts of Wayne County.
Thanedar was born in Indian. Since 2022, Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian American, has represented the 12th Congressional District, which also includes other parts of Detroit.
McKinney, who is Black, first was elected in 2022 to Michigan鈥檚 state House. He has been endorsed by influential progressive U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and several Detroit-area state lawmakers.
Wildfires disrupt primary voting in eastern Washington
The elections office in Spokane County, where wildfires have forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of structures, says some voters are reporting that they had left their ballots behind when their homes were evacuated.
The secretary of state鈥檚 office says any voter who needs a replacement ballot should print one off the state鈥檚 website or go to a county elections office to receive one. Election officials say they have two centers open in Spokane County to help affected voters.
鈥淲e are here to assist them and ensure they can cast a ballot,鈥� Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said in an online post. 鈥淭his is one small aspect of normalcy we can offer in what is otherwise a traumatic and overwhelming situation.鈥�
The state鈥檚 most closely watched primary, in the 3rd Congressional District, was far south of the major wildfires.
Washington conducts its elections almost entirely with mail ballots.
Stevens casts her ballot, says she will focus on local priorities
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens cast her ballot Tuesday afternoon at a public library in her hometown of Birmingham, Michigan, amid a slow trickle of voters.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting everybody all excited and we鈥檙e ready for tomorrow,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e seeing a lot of great turnout.鈥�
While speaking to the press, she positioned herself as someone who will focus on local priorities.
鈥淥ur voices often times get drowned out. They get drowned out by podcasts. They get drowned out by, you know, Twitch streamers. They get drowned out by other national priorities,鈥� she said.
Democrats expect to hold Warner鈥檚 Senate seat
Both parties are focused on the open U.S. Senate race to the south, in North Carolina, but Virginia is not expected to be a battleground this year.
Democrats are confident that Sen. Mark Warner, a moderate who was first elected in 2008, will win reelection in November, and independent analysts rate the seat as safely blue. Voters will be deciding among three Republicans who hope to take on Warner in the fall.
The GOP contenders are: Kim Farington, an accountant who has touted her work over decades in the federal government; Bert Mizusawa, a decorated retired Army major general; and David Williams, a Marine Corps reservist.
Warner, who does not have a primary challenger, is a well-known former governor who currently serves as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He will have a massive cash advantage and name recognition in a state where Trump has proven deeply unpopular.
House retirement creates a crowded Washington primary
Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse鈥檚 retirement created a frenzy of interest to replace him.
Eleven candidates will be on the ballot for the 4th Congressional District, a Republican stronghold in Washington鈥檚 agricultural center, including Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Six are Republicans, one is a Democrat, and the other four are from minor parties or unaffiliated.
The GOP dominates the district, so the primary could prove decisive if the top-two structure creates a traditional Republican vs. Democrat matchup in November.
Newhouse is one of two remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump. The other is Rep. David Valadao of California, whose district is a top pickup target for Democrats.
Michigan Democratic voter supports El-Sayed, messaging by progressives
Madison Francis voted Tuesday in Southfield, Michigan, for Abdul El-Sayed saying she especially supports his views on things like inclusion.
鈥淛ust having somebody that sees everybody and wants the best for everybody,鈥� said Francis, a 19-year-old student at Michigan State University. 鈥淚 feel like the world is very divided, right now.鈥�
Francis also believes that if El-Sayed wins Tuesday鈥檚 Democratic primary over U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, Michigan voters are open-minded enough to elect him over Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election.
She said the United States is being run by 鈥渟ome interesting Republicans,鈥� and that the Democratic party should focus on unity before the nation spirals 鈥渇urther out of control.鈥�
Young voters also are having a hard time hearing what traditional Democrats are saying and that messaging by progressives appear more fluid.
鈥淚 think they鈥檙e taking more of a progressive and proactive stance,鈥� she said of young voters. 鈥淏oth the Republicans and Democrats can sometimes (come across as) being too rigid on their stances.鈥�
Missouri voters weigh the nation鈥檚 most difficult standard for constitutional amendments
Proposed would require future constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition to pass by a majority in each of the state鈥檚 congressional districts instead of a simple statewide majority. No other state has a standard that high.
The Republican-led legislature referred the measure to the ballot after voters in recent years narrowly passed several controversial amendments proposed through citizen initiatives. Those measures enshrined abortion rights into the state constitution, legalized recreational marijuana, allowed sports betting and expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income adults.
None of those measures would have passed under a requirement for amendments to win approval in all congressional districts.
Under Amendment 4, the higher standard would apply only to citizen-initiated amendments 鈥� not ones placed on the ballot by the legislature.
A Stevens voter says he鈥檒l vote Republican in the general if El-Sayed wins the Democratic nomination
David Salama says he typically votes as an independent, but the U.S. Senate race between U.S. Rep. Stevens and El-Sayed prompted him to vote Tuesday in Michigan鈥檚 Democratic primary.
He voted for Stevens. 鈥淗aley is somebody who has experience legislating and because she understands the fight of good versus evil, that is extremely important about what鈥檚 going on in this world,鈥� said Salama, 48, an anesthesiologist from West Bloomfield.
鈥淚 would vote for Haley in November if she were to win today, but if Abdul wins today, I will vote for Mike Rogers in November,鈥� he said, noting, 鈥淚n the extremes lie trouble.鈥�
Michigan business where Stevens held an event says it doesn鈥檛 endorse her
The Democratic Senate hopeful held a campaign event at Pux Cider Taphouse in Grand Rapids on Monday night.
In an Instagram post, representatives of the business said later Monday that the event was booked as a private gathering for Democratic women and that Pux was 鈥渘ever advised鈥� it was connected to Stevens.
鈥淲e are heartbroken,鈥� they wrote, adding they 鈥渉ave advocated and continue to call for a free Palestine. We DO NOT endorse Haley Stevens.鈥�
The congresswoman鈥檚 campaign has received roughly $30 million in support from AIPAC, which backs pro-Israel candidates. Pux said it will donate proceeds from the event to the Grand Rapids Pride Center.
Trump endorsed a top Kansas lawmaker for governor, but the GOP field is crowded
State Senate President has faced repeated attacks ahead of Tuesday鈥檚 primary election from one of his rivals, Kansas City businessman Philip Sarnecki. Other candidates in the race include Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.
Kansas doesn鈥檛 have runoff elections, so a candidate can become the GOP nominee with a relatively small percentage of the vote, and Trump鈥檚 endorsement of Masterson in May didn鈥檛 clear the field.
Three Democrats from the Kansas City area are running for their party鈥檚 nomination. They are state Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher, and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog.
Incumbent Democratic Gov. is term-limited.
Washington鈥檚 primary lacks a marquee race
Washington state has a primary tonight, but without a Senate contest or a race for governor, it lacks a marquee race to drive enthusiasm.
But the primary will set up a general election matchup in one of the nation鈥檚 top U.S. House battlegrounds 鈥� Southwest Washington鈥檚 3rd District, represented by moderate Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Gluesenkamp Perez has faced opposition from the left, but progressive challenger Brent Hennrich has struggled to gain traction.
In the 4th District, a crowded field of candidates is looking to replace retiring Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse. The district is safely Republican and is likely to stay in GOP hands regardless of tonight鈥檚 results.
It could take some time for the results to be finalized. Washington conducts elections entirely by mail and will count ballots postmarked on Election Day.
Washington was the first state to adopt a top-two nonpartisan primary, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election in November, even if they鈥檙e from the same party.
California later adapted the system, which was meant to give independents more of a political voice.
These Michigan districts could decide which party controls the House
Republicans control the U.S. House by a slim margin, and three of Michigan鈥檚 races are among the most competitive in the country.
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