Voters in Tuesday primary elections across the United States selected candidates who will compete in the November midterms, setting up general-election contests expected to draw massive outside spending as Democrats seek to capitalize on President Donald Trump’s falling approval ratings and widespread voter dissatisfaction with the economy — which produced real gross domestic income of $31,539.38 billion as of the first quarter. The results, stretching from California to New Jersey, underlined several forces shaping the 2026 midterms: Democratic desire for change after the party’s losses to Trump in 2024, the president’s enduring grip on Republican voters, and voters’ negative view of the economy. The night’s victories were not a uniform win for either progressive or moderate candidates, but a mix of both, designed to appeal to voters across diverse districts, from deep-blue urban seats to red states where Democrats hope to build on unexpected special-election victories since Trump retook the White House.
In New Jersey, Democrats nominated Rebecca Bennett, a former healthcare executive and U.S. Navy veteran, after a crowded primary to challenge Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in a suburban swing district that Trump carried narrowly in 2024. Kean ran unopposed in his primary. The race has taken on added significance in recent months as Kean’s constituents and congressional colleagues have questioned his whereabouts during a three-month absence from Congress.
In Iowa, Democrats secured several House and Senate rematches. State Rep. Josh Turek beat out state Sen. Zach Wahls for the Senate nomination and will face former broadcaster Ashley Hinson in the fall. Turek, who was born with spina bifida from his father’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, uses a wheelchair, and is a Paralympic gold medalist, won his primary on a moderate “prairie populism” message. After his victory, the Cook Political Report moved the race from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican,” noting that Turek’s life story and moderate appeal could attract voters in a challenging environment for Republicans. “I will be a real fighter for Iowans, the middle class and our working families,” Turek said in a statement after his win. “So from now until November, I welcome all Iowans — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike — to join our team.”
In the state’s House contests, Republicans re-nominated U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of the first district and Zach Nunn of the third district, both considered vulnerable to a Democratic challenge. Former state Rep. Christina Bohannan, who came within 800 votes of defeating Miller-Meeks in 2024, secured the Democratic nomination in the first district. Nunn and his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, were both unopposed in their primaries.
The California governor’s race remained too early to call Tuesday night. Early results showed Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former Biden administration official, and Republican Steve Hilton, the British-born former Fox News personality endorsed by Trump, leading the field, while billionaire progressive Tom Steyer trailed in third place. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass claimed one of the top two spots to advance to November, while former reality TV star Spencer Pratt and city council member Nithya Raman were locked in a tight battle for the second slot. Under California’s nonpartisan primary system, the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party.
In New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland secured the Democratic nomination for governor. Haaland is expected to win the general election in the blue-leaning state and would become the country’s first female Native American governor. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland also won the Democratic nomination for governor; she is likely to win in the blue-leaning state and would become the country’s first female Native American governor.
Democrats also see state Auditor Rob Sand as a potential ticket to winning the Iowa governorship after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ retirement. And in New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination for governor.
California’s redrawn congressional maps, described by officials as a retaliatory redistricting move in response to Republican efforts in Texas, could help Democrats gain up to five seats in the House. The new maps were approved by voters after the Supreme Court issued a ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Scott Wiener, a Democratic state senator known for championing housing and LGBTQ+ legislation, won the primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi in California’s 11th congressional district. It was unclear Tuesday night whether he would face Connie Chan, a San Francisco supervisor endorsed by Pelosi, or Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech executive who served as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s first chief of staff.
In New Jersey’s 12th congressional district, Adam Hamawy, a plastic surgeon and Army veteran who traveled on a medical mission to Gaza in 2024, rose from political obscurity to win the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Hamawy, a progressive who has been vocal in his criticism of Israel, is likely to win the general election in the safely blue seat and would become the first Muslim lawmaker to represent the state in Congress.
In Montana, Republicans rallied around Aaron Flint, Trump’s choice to succeed Rep. Ryan Zinke in the state’s lone House district. Flint, a talk radio host and former Zinke staffer, was endorsed by Zinke, Trump, Sen. Tim Sheehy, and Gov. Greg Gianforte. The Democratic field included former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse and union organizer Sam Forstag. In Montana’s open Senate race, Kurt Alme rose to the top of the Republican field and will face independent Seth Bodnar in November.
In South Dakota, the Republican primary for governor was headed to a runoff. Businessman Toby Doeden advanced, while incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, who replaced Kristi Noem when she joined the Trump administration, was battling for the second spot. With Rep. Dusty Johnson running for governor, state Attorney General Marty Jackley won the Republican primary in the race to succeed Johnson in the U.S. House.
In New Mexico, Republican Greg Cunningham faced no primary opposition and will take on Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez. The seat is one of only 13 congressional districts that voted for Trump in 2024 while sending a Democrat to the House.