Today is a huge primary day, spanning six states: California, New Jersey, Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico and Iowa.
Both parties will land nominees in key House districts. Democrats will settle a contentious Senate battle in Iowa. The large field vying to replace former Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her San Francisco-based seat will winnow down to two.
Today will also settle a host of questions. Will a mysterious super PAC successfully meddle in the Democratic primary for Rep. Tom Kean’s (R-N.J.) seat? Can the DCCC get its preferred candidate to take on Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.)?
Here’s what we’re tracking.
California. The California gubernatorial primary is the most important race of the day, with former Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) in a strong position to advance to the general election. Republican Steve Hilton and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer are battling to finish in the top two.
House Democrats are eager to flip the 22nd and 48th districts, but they have bitter primaries in both seats. In the Central Valley, the DCCC is backing state Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains over progressive Randy Villegas, a move that has angered Latino leaders. One of them is likely to join Valadao in the top two.
In the open 48th District, three top contenders are the CPC PAC-backed Ammar Campa-Najjar, San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Republican Jim Desmond. Pro-Israel DMFI PAC is spending heavily to elect von Wilpert. President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Desmond helped consolidate the GOP behind him, easing fears of a Democratic shutout.
Other notable races: Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.) is running in the new 6th District in a crowded field that includes Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, physician Richard Pan and Planned Parenthood official Lauren Babb Tomlinson.
In Pelosi’s seat, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, state Sen. Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former congressional aide, are the leading Democrats vying for the top two slots. Pelosi endorsed Chan.
There’s also a special election for the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), but it’ll likely extend into an August runoff if no one gets more than 50% of the vote.
New Jersey. Real Change PAC, a mysterious pop-up group with ties to the GOP, has spent some $650,000 to try to thwart Democrat Rebecca Bennett in the 7th District primary and boost her rivals, Tina Shah and Brian Varela. Bennett is likely still the favorite to take on Kean. Trump endorsed Kean on Monday night despite the GOP lawmaker’s mysterious absence from public view for months.
And in the open 12th District, a crowded field is competing to replace Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.). The top contenders are surgeon Adam Hamawy and organizer Sue Altman.
Iowa. State Rep. Josh Turek and state Sen. Zach Wahls are facing off in the Democratic Senate primary for a chance to take on Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) in the general election. Turek has had millions of dollars in outside help and is the favorite here.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) faces a right-wing primary challenge but is expected to survive. And there’s a crowded Iowa GOP gubernatorial primary, but Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) got Trump’s endorsement and is in the driver’s seat.
