Here are our top takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries.
It’s not all bad news for the Menendez family. Rep. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) survived a primary challenge from Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla in the 8th District. Bhalla tried to tie the younger Menendez to his indicted father. But Menendez successfully argued that he shouldn’t be held accountable for Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-N.J.) alleged misdeeds.
Elsewhere in New Jersey, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) easily won the Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican Curtis Bashaw in November. The elder Menendez is also trying to run as an independent for his seat. State assemblymember Herb Conaway won the Democratic primary for Kim’s 3rd District seat.
Iowa Republicans fend off far-right challenges. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) both survived challenges from hardline conservatives. Both members consider themselves part of the governing wing of the GOP and faced criticism from their opponents that they were insufficiently right-wing for their districts.
Downing emerges from a crowded Montana field. Montana State Auditor Troy Downing won the 2nd District Republican primary in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.). Downing beat former Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) and retired DEA agent Stacy Zinn.
Buckeye State news: The Ohio Democratic Party is launching a statewide press tour trying to paint Ohio GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno as a liar. Moreno beat back a number of more establishment candidates in the Republican primary for a chance to take on Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). Democrats are hammering Moreno on statements he’s made about his car dealerships, his immigration story and his business career.
The effort — labeled the “Pants-on-Fire Tour” — will make stops in Toledo, Youngstown, Lima, Columbus and Cleveland, and it will feature local elected officials and labor leaders.
— Max Cohen
