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
Final thought: Progressives take a step back
I won't get cute: The big news from tonight was Bush's loss in Missouri's 1st District. Along with Bowman's loss back in June, two big-name progressive representatives have now lost renomination this year, and the Squad has been pared back from (arguably) nine members to (arguably) seven. That's a big deal for a group that, for years, has seemed ascendant.
That said, a lot of people will blame the Israel-Hamas war for Bush's and Bowman's defeats. While that's valid on some level — AIPAC probably wouldn't have spent so much money against them if it weren't for the Israel issue — both campaigns were fought over more local, domestic concerns. So while these losses were setbacks for the progressive movement, I don't think they were referenda on Israel or anything.
—Nathaniel Rakich, 538
Getting ready to wrap up!
There are just a few key races yet to be projected in Washington state (and um ... Michigan's 13th District, where only 9 percent of the expected vote is in). Those votes will keep trickling in overnight, but we're getting ready to close up shop for now!
What are everyone's final thoughts or takeaways from today's results?
—Tia Yang, 538
Marlinga secures a rematch in Michigan's 10th
The AP has projected that Carl Marlinga will once again be the Democratic nominee in Michigan's 10th District. The 2022 nominee won 48 percent of the vote tonight in the Democratic primary, while his closest competitor, Diane Young, got only 26 percent, with 37 percent of the expected vote reporting. Marlinga will face Republican Rep. John James in November in a district that Trump carried in 2020 by only 1 point.
—Nathaniel Rakich, 538
Hudson projected to win GOP primary in Michigan's 3rd District
The AP has projected that attorney Paul Hudson will defeat financial adviser Michael Markey in the Republican primary in Michigan's 3rd District. With 56 percent of the expected vote reporting, Hudson leads about 55 percent to 45 percent, and critically he holds a 16-point lead in Kent County (home to Grand Rapids), where most of the race's remaining votes will be tallied. That's left Markey with no potentially favorable turf to hope for a comeback. This sets Hudson up to face Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten in November in what could be a competitive tilt, although Scholten will start as a favorite in the blue-leaning seat.
—Geoffrey Skelley, 538