Four states go to the polls Tuesday night in showdowns that include a race against a swing state governor, a member of the progressive “Squad” with several primary challengers and the chance to elect a woman for the first time in Vermont. large congressional district.
Tuesday’s primary comes a day after the FBI searched former President Donald Trump’s main Florida residence at Mar-a-Lago as part of an investigation into documents that may not have been kept as as required by the Presidential Records Act.
Since the search, Trump has launched efforts to raise funds from “Biden’s FBI RAIDS.” Republicans criticized the search, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy vowed retaliation if the GOP takes back the House in November.
Wisconsin, the site of the 2024 Republican National Convention, is one of four states holding Tuesday primaries. The state was one of the battleground states that Trump won in 2016 but went to President Joe Biden in 2020. Trump has repeatedly called on state lawmakers to “decertify” the 2020 Wisconsin election results , which is not legally possible.
Morris Gash / AP
Trump has endorsed Tim Michels in the gubernatorial primary and rallied for him Friday in Waukesha. At that rally, Michels promised to disband the state’s election commission, a move that also supports his main challenger, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Former Vice President Mike Pence and former Republican Gov. Scott Walker have endorsed Kleefisch.
The winner will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who did not face a primary challenge.
In the race to face Republican senator and Trump ally Sen. Ron Johnson, the top Democratic candidates withdrew as the primary approached, effectively clearing the field for Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the Progressive Squad, is defending her seat against four primary challengers in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
Vermont may be poised to elect its first female member of Congress. Four women – two Democrats and two Republicans – are on the ballot Tuesday, facing one man in each race.