New Hampshire, Delaware, and Rhode Island will hold their primary elections on Tuesday, September 10th, which marks the final round of party primaries before the November elections in the United States.
In these three states, voters from both parties will select their respective gubernatorial or congressional candidates this week, who will then advance to the showdown on November 5th.
One of the main points of interest in this Tuesday’s primaries includes the stepping down of incumbent Governor Chris Sununu from the Republican Party in New Hampshire after serving four terms. The state’s independent leaning has created an opportunity for both parties to vie for the vacant position.
The competition for this position has narrowed down to two Democrats and two Republicans.
On the Democratic side, the two frontrunners are former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and New Hampshire Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington. Recent polls indicate that Craig is likely to defeat Warmington.
Among the Republicans, the two main contenders are former state Attorney General and US Senator Kelly Ayotte, and former New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse. Recent polls show Ayotte maintaining a lead, with endorsements from Sununu, former Governor Craig Benson, and several other prominent Republicans in the state, while Morse has garnered support from some current or former state legislators.
Former President Trump has yet to endorse either of the two candidates.
The Cook Political Report, an election analysis online newsletter, believes that the competition for this position is too close to call for both parties.
In the 2nd Congressional District of New Hampshire, Democratic Representative Annie Kuster is set to retire, leading to a heated battle between Biden administration Justice Department official Maggie Goodlander and former New Hampshire Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern for this open seat.
The competition is intense, with Goodlander being endorsed by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Van Ostern receiving support from the current holder of the seat, as well as being Kuster’s former campaign manager. Recent polls indicate a lead for Goodlander.
Although there are over a dozen Republicans vying for Kuster’s seat, according to the Cook Political Report’s rating, this seat is likely to favor the Democratic Party.
Due to term limits, Delaware Democratic Governor John Carney cannot seek reelection, opening up the field for three Democratic candidates – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, former Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Collin O’Mara, and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer – to compete for the position.
Hall-Long has received endorsement from Governor Carney.
Three Republicans are also participating in the race, but the Cook Political Report has classified the position of Delaware Governor as a “solid Democratic” one.
This election in Rhode Island is one of the most important in the current cycle, but like other elections in the state, it lacks strong competitiveness. The two Republican candidates running face a challenging task to rival for this seat.
Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has been serving in the US Senate since 2007 and faces a challenge from Mike Costa in the party’s primary on Tuesday in Rhode Island. In 2022, Costa ran as a Republican for the gubernatorial race.
(*This article references reporting from The Hill)