On Tuesday, June 25th, primary elections were held in Colorado, New York, South Carolina, and Utah. In Colorado, incumbent Republican House member Lauren Boebert is in a strong position, while in New York, the current Democratic progressive incumbent in the House suffered defeat in this round of primaries.
Here are the key points from Tuesday’s primary election results:
In Colorado, Lauren Boebert, known as the “political lightning rod,” has almost secured her position in Congress for November. Despite facing criticism and controversy, Boebert capitalized on a safer opportunity for reelection in the more secure red district of the fourth district after Representative Ken Buck announced his retirement.
Her opponent in the special election to fill Buck’s seat decided to only campaign for the remaining part of the term, not the full term, which played in Boebert’s favor with the support of former President Trump, elevating her name to the top of the ballot.
With these strategic adjustments and opposition voices not solely rallying against a single candidate, Boebert’s victory in the primary seems likely, ensuring her continued service in the House.
In the most tumultuous primary so far, incumbent Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) lost to moderate George Latimer, the Westchester County Executive, dealing a blow to the Progressive faction within the Democratic Party.
Bowman’s loss may not come as a surprise, given his controversial positions on various issues and divisive headlines. His defeat marks a significant setback for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, which publicly supported him both days and weeks before the primary.
The election drew national attention as a test on the Democratic Party’s internal divisions exposed after the Hamas war erupted last October. Latimer’s attacks on Bowman largely revolved around the Israel issue, criticizing Bowman’s votes against increasing aid to Israel, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and dismissing reports of sexual violence during Hamas’s attacks on October 7 as “propaganda” and “lies,” despite Bowman later retracting those statements and apologizing.
Bowman defended his stance on Israel, accusing Israel of carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and criticizing pro-Israel organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for investing millions to hinder his reelection.
As both candidates tried to portray each other as out of touch with the district, Bowman ultimately failed to convince voters that he deserved another two-year term.
Given that Bowman is the first member of the “Squad” to lose in a primary since its formation, his defeat could serve as a wake-up call for other critics of Israel within the party.
The next test for the progressive wing arrives in August, with another member of the “Squad,” Representative Cori Bush (D-MO), facing a fiercely competitive primary in Missouri.
One of the main storylines in the Latimer-Bowman race was the significant financial support from pro-Israel organizations like AIPAC against the incumbent.
Bowman frequently criticized these groups’ expenditures, accusing them of being part of right-wing efforts to undermine his work. This primary became one of the most expensive in US history, with a majority of the spending coming from pro-Israel groups.
Latimer outspent Bowman by a 7-to-1 margin.
Latimer defended his fundraising sources, emphasizing that most of his funds came directly from within the district and highlighting his deep ties to the area. He also attacked Bowman, claiming his funds came from outside the district.
These pro-Israel organizations had indicated willingness to intervene in elections to support their preferred candidates, with a more prominent role in this election than in previous instances.
Two years ago, Democrat Adam Frisch narrowly defeated Boebert by just a few hundred votes, causing a heated surprise. Frisch is again running for the Democratic nomination in Colorado’s third district, with a different opponent this time due to Boebert moving to Buck’s district.
To boost Frisch’s chances, Democrats intervened in the Republican primary between establishment-backed lawyer Jeff Hurd and former state senator Ron Hanks, positioning Hurd as the more easily beatable opponent through ads supporting him, attacking Hanks, or critiquing Hurd’s policy stances.
However, these efforts ultimately failed as Hurd defeated Hanks and several other candidates, easily securing the nomination.
Nevertheless, Frisch still stands a chance in the election, but the competition now poses a tougher challenge for Democrats. The Cook Political Report rates this race as “Leans Republican.”
In a decisive election in South Carolina on Tuesday, practicing nurse Sheri Biggs narrowly defeated pastor Mark Burns to secure the nomination and potentially become the final House member in the third congressional district.
In Colorado’s fifth congressional district, Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams was defeated by Jeff Crank in the primary, with support from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders.
Utah witnessed an open Senate seat left by retiring Senator Mitt Romney. Lehi Mayor Trent Staggs was unable to secure the Republican Senate primary, with moderate candidate and Utah Representative John Curtis emerging as the victor.
In Colorado’s eighth district, Trump-supported candidate Gabe Evans triumphed over the state GOP-backed candidate in the primary.
(Credit to the Congressional Mountain News for reference)