Voters in California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota voted Tuesday as the focus shifts from major contests in the U.S. Senate that dominated the May calendar, where influence of former President Donald Trump was repeatedly tested. – in the competitive races for the House that will offer a window on how many voters intend to blame the ruling party for its current unease over the state of the economy and the country. These dynamics are most evident in California, an overwhelmingly blue state where Democrats currently hold all state positions and dominate the Congressional delegation. The new map drawn by the state’s non-partisan district redistribution commission last year resulted in up to ten competitive races for the California House, where Democrats were optimistic about the potential for pickups. But Golden State voters are struggling with the country’s highest gas prices and are nervous about the rise in violent crime, as well as an overwhelming crisis of homelessness that many say seems to be getting worse, even though billions of dollars are flowing. dollars to build housing for those. living on the street. All of these issues have arisen in the closed races here, encouraging Republicans who are moving forward with the idea that things are getting out of hand. Under California’s “top two” system, the two candidates who receive the most votes, regardless of party, will go to the November vote regardless of party.
Two prominent local races in California’s most democratic cities: the race to replace Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and the effort to remember San Francisco District Progressive Prosecutor Chesa Boudin, have also shown the extent to which has oscillated the pendulum with respect to the 2020. cycle, when criminal justice was a central issue for Democrats after the police assassination of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In San Francisco, Boudin’s progressive policies as a proponent of national criminal justice reform have become a central point of discussion, as residents have seen increases in burglaries and car thefts, fueling calls. of his expulsion.
Los Angeles Mayor’s career has pitted six-term U.S. MP Karen Bass against mall developer Rick Caruso, a former Republican and billionaire who has spent more than $ 40 million to boost his message that Los Angeles career politicians are incapable of tackling the rise of crime or the crisis of homelessness. While Bass says he would return the Los Angeles Police Department to its authorized force of 9,700 officers, in part by hiring more civilians to release 250 officers to return to the street patrol, Caruso has pledged to hire an additional 1,500 police officers. Several California Republicans headlines on Tuesday faced their own challenges as different GOP factions continue to fight for dominance. U.S. Rep. David Valadao, one of ten GOP members who supported Trump’s 2021 impeachment, faced a challenge on his right in his Democratic-leaning Central Valley seat: the new 22nd District of Congress. Former Fresno City Councilman Chris Mathys said he decided to run because of Valadao’s dismissal vote, but Trump has not been involved in the race.
Republican Rep. Young Kim also faces stiff competition from her right flank in the new 40th District of Orange County from Navy veteran Greg Raths, another Trump loyalist.
On the other hand, Democrats hope to use Republican Rep. Mike Garcia’s ties with Trump against him in California’s 27th district after district redistribution made his seat in northern Los Angeles County more democratic. (Garcia voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election in Arizona and Pennsylvania.) Two Democrats, former state assembly Christy Smith and Quaye Quartey, a former Navy intelligence officer, are playing to have a chance to take it on in November.
In Montana, Trump is backing his former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, despite his controversial history, as the candidate tries to return to Congress. The state won a second seat in Congress after the results of the 2020 census. It faces four more candidates in Tuesday’s Republican primary, including former state senator Al Olszewski and Pastor Mary Todd, as questions turn about Zinke’s residence. Politico recently reported that Zinke’s wife claimed a home in Santa Barbara as her primary residence in tax records, but Zinke claims she lives in Whitefish, Montana.
In Iowa, former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer leads the Democratic field in fundraising as she tries to face veteran Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley two years after losing her re-election campaign to Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson. He faces the adm. of the Navy retired Mike Franken and Glenn Hurst, a member of the City Council of Minden, in the primaries of the Democratic Senate. Finkenauer was in danger of not voting after an Iowa lower court questioned some of the signatures on his nomination petition, but ultimately the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that his name could appear.
One of the most competitive races in Hawkeye State is in the 3rd District, where incumbent Cindy Axne, the only Democrat in the Congressional delegation, hopes to keep her seat in a district that Trump would have won by less than half point. . Potential GOP challengers in the Des Moines district include State Sen. Zach Nunn, an Air Force veteran, and financial planner Nicole Hasso.
The House’s other two competitive races in Iowa are scheduled. Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks will face Democratic State Rep. Christina Bohannan in the new 1st District. In the 2nd District, Hinson will face Democratic State Sen. Liz Mathis, who is also a former local television news presenter.
There are also several high-profile Congressional races in New Jersey. In the 7th District of the state, Republican Tom Kean Jr., the former leader of the state Senate minority and son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, is the favorite in his primaries while trying challenge Democrat Rep. Tom Malinowski on a swing. seat that became more Republican in the redistricting.
In District 8 in northern New Jersey, Democrat Rob Menendez Jr., the son of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, is well positioned to win the primary while seeking the seat of retiring Democratic Representative Albio Sires.
Acting Republican Rep. Chris Smith, who voted in favor of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, is defending a number of major rivals in the fourth district in central New Jersey, including Mike Crispi, a talkative backer endorsed by Trump as Roger Stone and Rudy. Giuliani. In South Dakota, State Rep. Taffy Howard is challenging Republican Rep. these elections. South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, a potential candidate for 2024, faces a major challenge from state Rep. Steven Haugaard, who has accused her of not being conservative enough and of spending too much time as a governor. his ambitions for a higher position.