Happy primary day to those celebrating in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina! Here are the top questions on our minds today.
Will the late Trump endorsement make it a cakewalk for Sam Brown?
Sam Brown has long been seen as the frontrunner in the Nevada Republican Senate primary, but an elusive endorsement from former President Donald Trump had escaped him. That was until late Sunday evening.
The former president issued a Truth Social post backing Brown after oddly not endorsing the Republican during a Las Vegas rally hours before. But now that Trump is on board, Brown appears to be on a glide path to prevail over Trump’s former ambassador to Iceland, Jeff Gunter.
Brown is supported by the NRSC and most major Republicans. The party establishment is betting he’s the right choice to topple vulnerable Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in the critical swing state.
Will scandal-hit Nancy Mace survive a stiff primary challenge?
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is trying to fend off a challenge from Catherine Templeton, the former director of the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Mace, of course, is one of the eight House Republicans who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, so that dynamic is at play here. McCarthy has been working behind the scenes to topple his opponents by throwing support to viable challengers.
Templeton is endorsed by former Speaker Newt Gingrich, as well as longtime GOP South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson.
Mace has the backing of Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been working to ensure incumbents keep their seats.
Something to keep in mind: If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the primary heads to a runoff. There’s a third candidate in this race — Bill Young — and that could raise the chances of a runoff.
Will the Freedom Caucus claim a primary scalp?
We’re also watching Rep. William Timmons’ (R-S.C.) race against state Rep. Adam Morgan, who chairs the South Carolina Freedom Caucus.
Timmons, who has Trump and Johnson’s support, spent yesterday campaigning with Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Timmons also released a radio ad over the weekend that featured Trump and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) encouraging voters to turn out for him.
Morgan, meanwhile, has support from nine House conservatives and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah.).
Will Armstrong win promotion to the governor’s mansion?
Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) is running to succeed retiring Gov. Doug Burgum. Armstrong has secured the Trump endorsement and has led in the polls over his primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller.
In the GOP primary to fill Armstrong’s House seat, Julie Fedorchak is the favorite. She’s backed by both Trump and Burgum.
— Mica Soellner and Max Cohen
