Primary Roundup: Kansas, Michigan, And More Head To The Polls For State Primaries
Residents in five states will be headed to the polls or getting their mail-in ballots postmarked Tuesday with several races garnering national attention and generating controversy and dramatics. A look at the primaries:
In Kansas, Republican leadership remains concerned that controversial former Secretary of State of Kansas Kris Kobach will win the GOP nomination in the race for retiring Pat Roberts’ U.S. Senate seat. Kobach, a vocal supporter of President Trump’s policies, has in the past supported stricter voting ID laws and a national Muslim registry, and he also had a hand in drafting Arizona SB 1070, the illegal immigration bill used by Sheriff Joe Arpaio to round up migrants.
U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall and businessman Bob Hamilton are running against Kobach. Trump has yet to issue an endorsement in Kansas, but has been urged by Sen. Mitch McConnell to support Marshall. This potential endorsement was held off after Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pointed out that Marshall supported Jon Kasich, a vocal anti-Trump voice in the GOP, in the 2016 election.
In Michigan, first-term U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is seeking the Democratic nomination against Brenda Jones, whom she defeated in 2018. Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women elected to House, has done well for her district by many accounts and has been a vocal critic of President Trump. Jones, president of the Detroit City Council, has argued that this criticism has made it harder for Tlaib to make necessary political compromises.
In Arzona, after a severe defeat in 2016 to Democrat Paul Penzone, Arpaio, 88, is seeking reelection as Sheriff of Maricopa County, the biggest in in the state. Arpaio, with his advanced age and political baggage, is considered a long shot for the Republican nomination, which is also being pursued by his former chief deputy, Jerry Sheridan.
In Missouri, progressive Cori Bush is once again seeking the Democratic nomination in Missouri’s 1st District, which includes St. Louis. Bush fell short against 10-term incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. in 2018, but came close enough to encourage a second run. An ordained minister, registered nurse, and top Ferguson activist, Bush enters this race with the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders and significant funds raised, though she is not favored to win.
In Washington state, Republican contenders Raul Garcia, Tim Eyman, Joshua Freed, Loren Culp, Phil Fortunato, and Anton Sakharov are bidding for the nomination for governor to oppose incumbent Democrat Jay Inslee, who is seeking a third term in office. The state has also seen a scramble to fill the seat of Lt. Governor, after Cyrus Habib announced his decision to not seek reelection and join the Jesuit religious order, Society of Jesus.
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