Voters in two states cast their ballots Tuesday on the last primary election night of the season, marking the end of a contentious primary cycle and finalizing the field of candidates in several key races that will determine the balance of power in Congress over the next two years.
New Hampshire and Rhode Island held their primary elections on Tuesday, with some races still too close to call as the election dragged into the morning. The stakes are high, and both states are considered battlegrounds as the parties seek to gain control of Congress in November.
FULL COVERAGE OF THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
Here’s what you missed on the final primary night of the 2022 midterm cycle:
Bolduc secures GOP Senate primary win in New Hampshire as Hassan wins renomination
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) cruised to victory in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, earning renomination in a Senate race that could determine which party seizes control of the upper chamber in November.
Hassan is set to face retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc, who edged out a victory in the GOP primary over state Senate President Chuck Morse. Bolduc faces an uphill battle because the seat is expected to lean Democratic, and many Republicans worry Bolduc’s nomination may complicate the party’s efforts to defeat Hassan with his far-right platform in a purple state.
The Senate race in New Hampshire captured the attention of Republicans and Democrats, with both parties pouring millions of dollars into the state to bolster their favored candidates. New Hampshire also became the center of Democrats’ strategy to meddle in GOP primaries that elevates far-right candidates who have questioned or denied the results of the 2020 election, boosting rivals they see as easier to defeat in the general election.
Gov. Sununu sails to renomination after declining Senate bid
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu won the GOP nomination in his bid to be reelected as governor, eclipsing a crowded primary field by a large margin.
His victory comes after the popular centrist Republican declined a bid to run against Hassan in the Senate race despite wishes from GOP members who hoped his platform and popularity as governor would help them unseat the Democratic incumbent. Sununu is set to face Democratic state Sen. Tom Sherman in November.
Should he win reelection, which is likely with the race being ranked a “solid Republican” win by analysts, Sununu will be placed in a position of influence over the nation’s first primary in the 2024 presidential election cycle.
Karoline Leavitt clinches nomination in GOP primary that split party
Former White House aide Karoline Leavitt edged out a victory over ex-State Department official Matt Mowers for the GOP nomination in New Hampshire’s House race, bringing an end to one of the most bitterly contested races of the season.
The race highlighted an intraparty divide as high-profile Republicans split on who to back for the nomination. Leavitt was backed by big names such as House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), while Mowers received the endorsements of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (D-LA), and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Leavitt will face Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas in November, with election forecasts rating the race as a toss-up.
Rhode Island governor emerges from crowded primary
Gov. Dan McKee (D-RI) fought off a crowded field of primary challengers on Tuesday, securing his renomination bid as he seeks to be elected to a full term in November.
Although he is the incumbent in the race, McKee faces an uphill battle to reelection because he wasn’t elected to the position. Rather, he was elevated to the position from his lieutenant governor post after his predecessor, Gina Raimondo, stepped down in 2021 to join the Biden administration.
McKee will face Republican nominee Ashley Kalus in the November election.
Rhode Island finalizes field for contentious 2nd District race
Rhode Island Treasurer Seth Magaziner won the Democratic nomination for the state’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, setting the stage for him to face Republican Allan Fung in one of the most highly anticipated House races this year.
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Fung has been viewed as one of the toughest Republican challengers to the Democratic district in decades, with the party seeking to flip the seat for the first time in nearly three decades. Republicans set their eyes on the seat after Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) announced he would not be running for reelection, marking the first open seat in Rhode Island since 2010.
Some polling has shown Fung overcoming Magaziner in the general election, but those projections were released at a time when Republicans were riding on a red wave of momentum that has since been diminished by recent Democratic gains.
