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

Throughout the primary process, we've been checking in on how voters across the country are viewing the issues. In most cases, voters say that the economy is the most important issue, and Missouri is no different: in a mid-June survey from Emerson/The Hill, 34 percent of respondents said that the "economy (jobs, inflation, taxes)" was the most important issue facing the state. The next most important issue, "abortion access," was chosen by 12 percent of respondents, and "immigration" was chosen by 10 percent. No other issue was selected by more than 10 percent of respondents.

But, in what may be a first this year, the top issue for Democratic voters in the Show Me State was abortion access, chosen by 22 percent of Democratic respondents. This was followed by the economy at 21 percent and healthcare at 18 percent, with no other issue in double digits. Abortion is illegal in Missouri in almost all circumstances, including cases of rape and incest.

For Republicans in Missouri, on the other hand, only two issues were selected as most important by more than 10 percent of registered voters: the economy (45 percent) and immigration (16 percent). In stark contrast to Democrats, just 5 percent of Republicans listed abortion access as the top issue. But it was also important among independents, 12 percent of whom said it was their top issue (second only to the economy).

—Mary Radcliffe, 538

The 6th District, covering Washington's Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas and most of Tacoma, is home to an open primary after Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer announced his retirement. Democrat Hilary Franz, the state's public lands commissioner, suspended a gubernatorial bid to run for this seat and snagged Kilmer's endorsement for her trouble. For a moment it seemed like Franz, who is leading in fundraising, was a shoo-in for the seat, but this has actually shaped up to be a competitive race.

Democratic state Sen. Emily Randall isn't far behind Franz in funds — she's raised over $1 million, close to Franz's $1.3 million — and has collected a stack of high-profile endorsements, including Sen. Patty Murray and former Gov. Christine Gregoire. This is a race worth keeping an eye on as voters might end up seeing double with a Democrat-versus-Democrat general election between two candidates who agree on nearly all the issues.

—Kaleigh Rogers, 538

It's 8 p.m. Eastern, and polls just closed in Missouri as well as in most of Michigan and Kansas. (Polls close in an hour in parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a handful of western counties in Kansas.)

We're tracking about a dozen key races in those three states, so results may start coming fast and furious between now and 11 p.m. Eastern, when the last polls close in Washington state. Watch this space!

—Tia Yang, 538

A crowded primary emerged in eastern Washington's 5th District, after Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers opted not to seek reelection. Six Republicans and five Democrats are running, including Spokane County Treasurer and former state Sen. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican who is leading the pack in fundraising. As of mid-July, Baumgartner had raised over $790,000, more than double the next highest fundraiser, Republican state Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber. At a debate in June, Baumgartner was one of the few Republicans on stage who said he believed Biden legitimately won in 2020, while Maycumber said she had "grave concerns" about the 2020 results.

With McMorris Rodgers retiring relatively late (she made her announcement in February), there hasn't been much time for candidates to build funds or momentum, meaning other than Baumgartner's financial edge, it's hard to identify a frontrunner in the race. In this red-leaning district, which gave Trump 53 percent of the vote in 2020, there's a chance two GOP candidates could advance to the general election, although there are a few credible Democrats running too, such as former State Department officer Carmela Conroy and gynecologist Bernadine Bank.

—Kaleigh Rogers, 538