Missouri, Michigan, Washington and Kansas primaries 2024: Cori Bush loses

Candidates of color are running in primaries across all four states tonight in both parties, although a majority of them are Democrats. They include groundbreakers, surprise winners from the last election and longshot candidates.

In Kansas, Rep. Sharice Davids, who in 2018 became the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Kansas and one of the first two Native American women ever elected to Congress, is running unopposed in her Democratic primary, but she'll find out who her opponent is this fall. The frontrunner is Dr. Prasanth Reddy, an Indian-American who immigrated with his family to Kansas as a child. Davids is a top target for the GOP in November and could have a tough time keeping her seat.

Criticism over the Israel-Hamas war is shaping up to be a decisive issue in many primaries. In Michigan, incumbent and "Squad"-member Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American to serve in Congress and a vocal critic of the Biden administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas war, is running unopposed in the 12th District seat. But next door in the 11th District, Ahmed Ghanim, an Egyptian-American who has called for a cease-fire, is making a long-shot bid to challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens. Stevens won against another incumbent and Israel critic, former Rep. Andy Levin, on a pro-Israel platfrom after redistricting forced them to face off in 2022.

Unlike Tlaib, Rep. Cori Bush, a fellow "Squad" member and outspoken critic of Israel's war in Gaza, is facing a serious challenge today. In one of today's most contentious races, Bush has two Black challengers for the Democratic nomination, including St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, who's notably been backed by pro-Israel super PACs.

Meanwhile, both party's primaries for the critical Michigan Senate race include a candidate of color, though both are seen as long shots to win their respective contests today: Former Rep. Justin Amash, a Syrian- and Palestinian-American and a vocal Trump critic who previously left the Republican Party, is running for the Republican nomination for Senate, while actor Hill Harper, who is Black, is running for the Democratic nomination.

It's a similar situation in Missouri's governor race, where two Black Democrats and one Black Republican are running for the chance to be their parties' nominees, though the state's Republican Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft, and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe are favorites to win the Republican primary. The winner will likely go on to win the general election in the safe red state.

Candidates of color are running for many positions across the state in Washington. Notable ones include Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Hispanic candidate who unexpectedly won against Republican Joe Kent in the state's 3rd District in 2022 and will face Kent once again this year. The crowded field in the open race for the state's governor also includes four Black Democrats and one Black Republican, but the frontrunner appears to be state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who is white.

—Monica Potts, 538

Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar faces a primary challenge in the Detroit-based 13th District — although not the one many expected. Thanedar, who is Indian American, won an open-seat race in this plurality-Black and solidly blue district in 2022, edging out then-state Sen. Adam Hollier thanks in part to a crowded primary field. As a result, the city of Detroit has no Black member of Congress for the first time since the early 1950s, which — along with criticisms about his professionalism in office — has helped prompt opposition to Thanedar among some in Detroit's Black community and the Congressional Black Caucus. However, while Hollier was set to challenge Thanedar in 2024, he failed to make the primary ballot due to invalid signatures, leaving Detroit City Council member Mary Waters as Thanedar's main opponent.

Hollier's absence has put Thanedar in the driver's seat for renomination. Personally wealthy, the incumbent has self-funded much of the $7.1 million that he's raised, putting him light years ahead of Waters's $153,000. On top of this, outside groups have come in big for Thanedar, whether directly or indirectly. Pro-cryptocurrency group Protect Progress has spent $1.0 million to back him while Blue Wave Action, which has unclear ties, has spent $2.3 million to, er, muddy the waters. BWA has attacked Waters as corrupt, pointing to an influence-peddling scheme that resulted in a one-year probation for her. But BWA has also promoted the third (and minor) candidate in the race, which could potentially help split the anti-Thanedar vote. Waters's campaign has accused BWA of being in cahoots with Thanedar, although there's no evidence — and the group won't have to file information about its donors until after the primary.

—Geoffrey Skelley, 538

The nonpartisan blanket primary race for governor has attracted no fewer than 28 candidates, after Democratic Washington Gov. (and one-time presidential candidate, remember that?) Jay Inslee announced last year that he would not seek reelection to a fourth term in office. However, very few of them have a shot of making one of the top two slots to advance to the November ballot.

The front-runner among Democrats appears to be Democrat Bob Ferguson, Washington's attorney general, currently in his third term (not to be confused with two other Bob Fergusons who had been running at the behest of a Republican activist, but later dropped out). Ferguson is leading the pack on fundraising, having raised close to $9 million according to the most recent financial disclosures, and has been getting plenty of support from state party leaders, including an endorsement from Inslee, though the party hasn't officially endorsed anyone. He does have some Democratic competition from Washington state Sen. Mark Mullet, though Mullet has struggled to get as much traction as the AG, and trails him in fundraising.

Another top contender is Republican Dave Reichert, a former member of Congress and former sheriff of King County — the most populous county in the state and home to Seattle. Reichert has raised the second-most funds of any candidate, with over $4.4 million. During his seven terms in Congress, he was a moderate with a record of being a consensus builder who wasn't afraid to buck the party line. That could serve him well in the Evergreen State, which hasn't had a Republican governor since the 1980s. Like Ferguson, Reichert is also facing some competition from within his own party — Semi Bird, a former Green Beret who made headlines when, as a member of the Richland School Board, he voted to overturn a mask mandate during the pandemic, in violation of state guidelines. Polls in this race show Reichert and Ferguson are likely to take the top two slots and be on the ballot in November, setting up a tight race between them for the governor's mansion.

—Kaleigh Rogers, 538

Democrats have a contested primary in the 10th District, a swingy seat held by Republican Rep. John James that covers much of Macomb County. In 2022, James defeated former Macomb County judge Carl Marlinga by only 0.5 points, and Marlinga is back for another go. Considering Marlinga has been around Macomb County politics and law for decades, the 77-year old may be favored in the Democratic primary. However, he's only raised $627,000, putting him just ahead of financial adviser Diane Young ($526,000) and gun safety activist Emily Busch ($481,000).

Most strikingly, Busch has run an ad in which she disclosed having had an abortion and claimed that Marlinga once tried to prevent a 12-year-old rape victim from receiving one. Marlinga has defended his record on abortion, saying that he only delayed action in that court case so the victim could first receive a psychological evaluation. Notably, attempts to portray Marlinga as insufficiently favorable toward abortion rights didn't work in the 2022 Democratic primary, which he won comfortably. State Board of Education Co-Vice President Tiffany Tilley is also in the race, although she's only raised $63,000.

—Geoffrey Skelley, 538