Missouri, Michigan, Washington and Kansas primaries 2024: Cori Bush loses
The fields are set for Michigan's Senate and Missouri's governor contests.
Three months out from the big November election, around a third of all states had yet to hold (non-presidential) primaries. On Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans in Missouri, Michigan, Washington and Kansas went to the polls to pick which candidates will appear on their ballots in the fall.
The electoral fate of a couple endangered House incumbents hung in the balance on this packed primary day. In Missouri, a progressive "Squad" member was defeated by centrist forces, and in Washington, one of only two remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump was challenged by not one but two Trump-endorsed opponents from his right.
Meanwhile, both parties locked in their nominees for Michigan’s critical Senate race, and the outcomes of Republican primary contests are likely to determine Missouri’s next governor and attorney general. In battleground House districts, the fields were set for competitive fall contests, while in safe red and blue districts, ideological lines were drawn as candidates duke it out in primaries tantamount to election.
As usual, 538 reporters and contributors broke down the election results as they came in with live updates, analysis and commentary. Check out our full live blog below!
Latest headlines:
- McDonald Rivet projected winner in Michigan's 8th District Democratic primary
- Marlinga secures a rematch in Michigan's 10th
- Hudson projected to win GOP primary in Michigan's 3rd District
- Will Washington's 6th District get a bipartisan matchup or two Democrats in November?
- Baumgartner advances in Washington's 5th District
Schmidt has won the GOP primary for LaTurner's open seat
In the GOP primary for Rep. Jake LaTurner's open seat, the AP projects that former state Attorney General Derek Schmidt has secured his spot on the ballot this fall — and most likely a seat in Congress in this safe red district. With 43 percent of expected votes reporting, Schmidt has taken in 50 percent of the vote, while his main opponents, former LaTurner staffer Jeff Kahrs and rancher and feedlot owner Shawn Tiffany are each sitting around 20 percent.
Both Kahrs and Tiffany tried to run to Schmidt's right and were close on his tail in fundraising, but Schmidt — who was also Kansas Republicans' gubernatorial nominee in 2022 — benefited from statewide name recognition, Trump's endorsement and the support of over $300,000 in outside spending, including $186,000 from Americans for Prosperity's super PAC. That was enough to secure him a win tonight.
—Tia Yang, 538
Kehoe's margin would be a blow to polls
Nathaniel, if that margin holds in the Missouri gubernatorial race, pollsters will have some 'splaining to do. For most of the year, Ashcroft had a comfortable lead, and Kehoe pulled even only at the beginning of July. Since then, the two have been neck and neck in one of the most-polled primary races of the cycle.
—Mary Radcliffe, 538
Bailey has a comfortable lead for Missouri AG
According to the AP, 13 percent of the estimated vote is counted in the Republican primary for Missouri attorney general, and Bailey leads Scharf 63 percent to 37 percent. This is shaping up to be an easy win for the staunchly conservative incumbent.
—Nathaniel Rakich, 538
Don't count Cori Bush out just yet
As our friends at Daily Kos Elections pointed out, Bush's margin right now is almost the exact same as it was at this point in her 2020 primary race, which she ended up narrowly winning. A good reminder to be careful about jumping to conclusions based on early returns!
—Cooper Burton, 538