Tuesday’s primary elections all had a common thread: former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s endorsement could usher in a massive upset that may unseat House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.). Trump’s former political director won a runoff for a Georgia House seat. The Trump endorsement was enough for an establishment Oklahoma Republican to survive a big-money insurgent challenge. And in Virginia, a Democrat who starred in Trump’s first impeachment defeated multiple more seasoned state legislators.
Here are our top takeaways.
Good narrowly trails McGuire in a very tight 5th District primary.
Good may be gone from Congress, but it’s not over yet. His Republican primary remains too close to call as he trails state Sen. John McGuire by just over 300 votes with almost all precincts reporting as of Wednesday morning. A recount is expected, so this may take some time to sort out.
If Good loses, it would be a stunning embarrassment for the head of the far-right HFC. Trump endorsed McGuire, along with a contingent of national security hawks and more centrist House Republicans.
In a statement late Tuesday, Good said he’s “still waiting for the results of mail-in ballots and provisional ballots. We are doing what we can to ensure we have teams of observers and legal counsel to ensure all the votes are properly counted in the coming days.”
The eventual GOP winner will take on Democrat Gloria Witt this fall in the R+7 district.
Cole brushes away Bondar’s big-money challenge.
National Republicans were concerned enough about House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole’s (R-Okla.) primary challenge that they funneled millions of dollars into the race. In the end, Cole crushed his main opponent and easily avoided a runoff in Oklahoma’s 4th District.
Cole was backed by Trump, but Paul Bondar ran a far-right campaign that slammed Cole as too friendly to Democrats. This is a heavily Republican district, so light up a cigar, Mr. Cole!
Impeachment celebrity Vindman will take on GOP establishment pick Anderson in Virginia’s 7th District.
Former national security official Eugene Vindman will face retired Green Beret Derrick Anderson in the toss-up seat being vacated by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.).
Vindman, whose brother Alexander Vindman was a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment, crushed a field of more experienced state Democrats. Vindman benefited from a big fundraising advantage thanks to his coalition of national liberal donors.
Anderson, backed by Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leadership, beat the House Freedom Caucus-aligned Cameron Hamilton in a close race.
Wexton’s preferred pick triumphs in a crowded Democratic field.
State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam beat 11 other Democrats to succeed retiring Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.). Wexton’s endorsement was crucial in the packed field for the northern Virginia area open seat.
In other Virginia news, Republican Hung Cao — who lost to Wexton in 2022 — won the Republican Senate nomination and will face Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in November.
Trump’s political director set to join the House in deep-red Georgia seat.
Brian Jack, who served in Trump’s White House, won a runoff in Georgia’s safe Republican 3rd District. He’s almost certain to win the election in November.