5 races to watch in the Connecticut, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Vermont primaries

Voters are heading to the polls for primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont and Connecticut ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which begins next week.

Several Senate races are crystallizing in Wisconsin and Minnesota as Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) vie for another term in the upper chamber. Meanwhile, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the last progressives facing a primary challenge this cycle, is preparing for a rematch against a challenger who nearly unseated her in 2022.

Here are five races to watch in Tuesday’s primary:

Omar faces rematch

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the members of the progressive “squad,” is facing a family rematch against Don Samuels, a former member of the Minneapolis City Council, among several other candidates. Although she was nearly ousted by Samuels last cycle when the two faced off, the Minnesota progressive appears better situated to defeat Samuels this cycle.

During the last fundraising quarter, between April and July, Omarraised US$1.6 millionwhile Samuelsraised approximately US$535,000.

Unlike last time, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) political group did not enter Omar’s primary this cycle. The Cook Political Reportobservedthat Omar also spent more than Samuels on advertising.

The seat was a top-heavy one for President Biden in 2020, meaning Omar is seen as the favorite to keep the seat if he wins in Tuesday’s primary.

Republican Party crowns Hovde in Wisconsin

Republicans, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), have rallied around businessman Eric Hovde as their candidate to face Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) this November.

Tuesday’s primaries will largely be a formality, with Hovde facing just two unlikely candidates. Former Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) were two prominent Republicans who ended up rejecting potential bids to take on Baldwin.

So far, polls show that Baldwin is in a strong position to defeat Hovde in November. A set of Wisconsin polls from Decision Desk HQ and The Hill shows Baldwin leading Hovde 51% to 44%.

The nonpartisan election pollster Cook Political Report rates Baldwin’s seat as “lean Democratic.”

Minnesota Republicans make their pick to face Klobuchar

Eight Republicans are vying for the chance to face Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in November, with former NBA player Royce White and Navy veteran and business executive Joe Fraser seen as the top two candidates.

Although White received support from the state Republican Party, Fraser garnered notable endorsements from establishment figures such as former governor Tim Pawlenty (R), as well as former Minnesota Republican senators Rudy Boschwitz and Norm Coleman,according to MPR News.

White’s allies include former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, according to the Associated Press. The former NBA player has come under scrutiny for his controversial comments, which include calling liberals “modern-day Nazis”; suggestingthere was a connectionbetween Luciferianism and the LGBTQ movement; and calling women “mouths”. 

He is also under scrutiny over thephrase usage“Jewish elites” when talking about people who work at the Federal Reserve.

A competitive Democratic primary in key House race

Wisconsin state Rep. Katrina Shankland (D) and business owner and nonprofit founder Rebecca Cooke are running for Democratic endorsement to face first-term Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) in November in the 3rd Wisconsin’s congressional district.

Cooke has the support of elected officials and more moderate groups such as Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), the Blue Dog PAC and the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund. Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton (D) and SEIU Wisconsin also supported her.

Meanwhile, Shankland has the support of some Wisconsin elected officials like Reps. Mark Pocan (D) and Gwen Moore (D), as well as progressive organizations and unions like MoveOn, Wisconsin AFL-CIO and End Citizens United/Let America Vote .

Eric Wilson, whose campaign says he has experience in real estate and health insurance, is also running for the seat.

The Cook Political Report rates the Wisconsin House seat as “lean Republican.”

Republicans seek to curb Evers’ spending in Wisconsin

Republican state lawmakers are trying to restrict Gov. Tony Evers’ ability to spend federal money in the state by asking voters to weigh in on several ballot measures on Tuesday.

Republican lawmakers want voters to consider two separate ballot measures, both aimed at restricting the governor’s powers to spend federal money.

The APnoted that the ballot measure comes amid an ongoing disputebetween the governor and Republicans over spending oversight, which gained prominence especially after the COVID-19 pandemic when the state received billions from the federal government.

Democrats are lobbying against the ballot measures, urging voters to say “no” to both. More than half of voters need to vote in favor of the measures for the constitutional changes to be signed into law.

Evers could not veto ballot measures since they are constitutional amendments.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story