Primaries Show Democratic Splits, Trump Hold on GOP

Voters in five states delivered divided signals on party direction Tuesday, with progressive candidates advancing in some Democratic contests while establishment-backed Democrats prevailed in others and Trump-endorsed Republicans secured most of their nominations. The outcomes leave open questions about whether the Democratic Party can unify ahead of November contests that will determine control of Congress. In Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, Abdul El-Sayed held a narrow lead over Rep. Haley Stevens with nearly all votes counted, a result that could not be independently verified in every outlet’s final tally but appeared consistent across multiple reports. El-Sayed’s margin stood at roughly one percentage point, or fewer than 20,000 votes out of more than 1.5 million cast, according to contemporaneous counts. Stevens benefited from substantial outside spending by pro-Israel groups, while El-Sayed criticized that spending as undue influence. In Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush by 59 percent to 37 percent. Bell received national party support; Bush drew endorsements from progressive figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders. Trump-backed candidates won Republican nominations for governor in Michigan and Kansas and advanced in Washington’s 4th Congressional District. Voters in Kansas rejected a proposal to elect state Supreme Court justices, and Missouri voters defeated a measure that would have required majority support in each congressional district to pass constitutional amendments. The Michigan winner will face former Rep. Mike Rogers, who received Trump’s endorsement, in November. Several outlets noted the Michigan race remained too close to call at publication time, though later counts showed El-Sayed ahead.