Progressives and moderate Democrats both see wins in primary races while Trump flexes power over GOP

Primary Elections Yield Mixed Outcomes for Democratic Candidates in Key States; Trump-Backed Republicans Advance in Several Contests

LANSING, Mich. — Voters participated in primary elections on August 4, 2026, across multiple states including Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington. Several races for House and Senate seats are viewed by analysts as relevant to party control of the next Congress. The Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan remained too close to call early on August 5, with former county health director Abdul El-Sayed holding a narrow lead over Rep. Haley Stevens.

Results from the contests showed varied performance among Democratic candidates associated with different factions within the party. In Michigan’s Senate race, El-Sayed led Stevens as of early Wednesday. The contest has drawn attention because of differing policy emphases, with El-Sayed supporting measures such as Medicare for All and Stevens, who won a suburban district in 2018, receiving support from national Democratic organizations.

In Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a seat rated as competitive, William Lawrence secured the Democratic nomination over two other candidates. Lawrence will face first-term Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the general election.

In Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in a rematch. Bell received support from national Democratic groups, while Bush was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and organizations aligned with democratic socialists. The district is rated solidly Democratic by the Cook Political Report. Bell will face Republican nominee Paul Berry in November.

In Virginia, Democratic voters selected candidates backed by party organizations for the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, both of which are targeted by Democrats for potential gains in November.

Outside spending in the Michigan Senate primary reached $52 million by mid-July, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finance data. This total exceeded spending in most other 2026 primaries except for a Senate race in Texas. Groups aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent several million dollars supporting Stevens. El-Sayed publicly criticized the level of spending by such organizations. In Missouri’s 1st District, AIPAC-supported groups backed Bell.

In Washington state’s 4th Congressional District, Amanda McKinney, endorsed by President Trump, won the Republican nomination in a field of 11 candidates. The seat is open following the decision of Rep. Dan Newhouse not to seek re-election. McKinney will face Democrat John Duresky in November.

In Michigan, Rep. John James won the Republican nomination for governor and will face Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. In Kansas, state Sen. Ty Masterson secured the Republican nomination for governor and will face state Sen. Cindy Holscher. Both states were carried by Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Voters in Kansas rejected a ballot measure that would have changed the selection process for state Supreme Court justices from appointment by the governor, based on a nominating commission, to direct election. The current system has produced a court whose members were largely appointed during Democratic administrations.

In Missouri, voters rejected a measure that would have required proposed constitutional amendments to receive majority support in each of the state’s eight congressional districts rather than a statewide majority. The proposal followed voter-approved changes to abortion policy and Medicaid expansion in prior years.

The Michigan Senate primary outcome, once finalized, will determine the Democratic nominee to face former Rep. Mike Rogers in the general election.