Voters head to the polls in New Hampshire, Delaware and Rhode Island today. Here are the storylines we are watching:
Which Democrat will succeed Kuster?
Retiring Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) endorsed her former campaign manager and local official Colin Van Ostern to fill her seat in New Hampshire’s 2nd District. But despite Kuster’s backing, Van Ostern is in a tough race against Maggie Goodlander. Goodlander is a former DOJ official, White House aide and impeachment counsel during former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment.
While Van Ostern won the endorsements of local unions and elected officials, Goodlander outraised Van Ostern and pro-Goodlander ads are dominating the airwaves.
“It’s very, very close. I think Colin has the strong grassroots campaign. Obviously Goodlander has that outside spending,” Kuster told us last week on the race. “He’s the one that lives here, has a strong connection to the district and will fight for them.”
Goodlander has only recently begun renting a home in Nashua, N.H. Goodlander grew up in New Hampshire but has worked in D.C. for much of her career. She is married to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
In New Hampshire’s 1st District GOP primary, Republican Russell Prescott is the favorite to advance from a crowded primary to take on Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in November.
History on the horizon in Delaware.
In deep-blue Delaware, the Democratic primary is the main show in town. In two major races, Democrats have the chance to make history when nominating their candidate.
In the state’s Senate race, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) has already advanced to the general election after no other Democratic candidate surfaced in the primary. If elected, Blunt Rochester will be the first woman or person of color to represent Delaware in the Senate.
In the Delaware at-large House seat, state Sen. Sarah McBride is the heavy favorite to advance to the general and become the first openly transgender member of Congress. While McBride has opponents in the Tuesday primary, she has locked up major endorsements from statewide and national leaders.
— Max Cohen
