The midterm primary rush continues on Tuesday in Colorado, where a number of well-established Democrats are fighting to fend off challengers from within their own party in some of the state’s most important races.
One of Colorado’s current senators, Michael Bennet, is running for governor. A moderate with a strong electoral record in his two Senate campaigns, Bennet looked to be the overwhelming frontrunner in the early stages of the race. But his top opponent, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, has steadily chipped away at Bennet’s lead in recent months, and even overtaken him in some recent polls. With relatively similar policy platforms, both candidates have centered their campaigns around their pledges to combat President Trump’s agenda.
With 19% of voters undecided in the most recent poll, the race could be headed to a close finish. In a blue state like Colorado, the winner of the Democratic primary will be the strong favorite to become the state’s next governor.
There’s a similar dynamic in Colorado’s Senate primary. Incumbent Democrat John Hickenlooper is locked in a surprisingly close contest with progressive state lawmaker Julie Gonzales as he seeks reelection. Gonzales running to Hickenlooper’s left by supporting policies like Medicare for All and ending U.S. financial support for Israel. The most recent public polling in the race, released last month, showed 74-year-old Hickenlooper with an 8-point lead over his 43-year-old opponent, but with a full quarter of voters still undecided. More recent internal polling suggests the contest could be a genuine toss-up, according to Politico.
The moderate vs. progressive clashes extend to Colorado’s House primaries, as well. In the state’s 1st District, incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette is being challenged by democratic socialist Melat Kiros. DeGette, 68, has held this seat since January 1997, a few months before 29-year-old Kiros was born. Polling in the race is limited, but a recent survey from a left-leaning polling firm found Kiros with a 5-point lead.
Colorado’s primaries come a week after progressive candidates in New York City pulled off a stunning sweep in their state’s House primaries, knocking out two incumbent Democrats and defeating the party establishment’s preferred candidate in a third race to fill an open seat.
There are many more important dates on the primary calendar as the road to the midterms continues to heat up. Here’s a rundown of the races to watch across the country.
July 21 — Arizona
Gubernatorial race
Two Republican congressmen, Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, have entered the GOP gubernatorial primary for the chance to challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the general election. Polls show Biggs as the clear favorite to win the nomination, but Schweikert’s decision to give up his seat representing Arizona’s First District in the House has set off a closely contested primary. Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is competing against ex-state lawmaker Joseph Chaplik for the Republican nomination, while four Democrats vie for the chance to try to flip Schweikert’s seat, which is among the GOP’s most competitive House districts anywhere in the country.
On the Democratic side of the gubernatorial race, incumbent Rep. Greg Stanton is being challenged by progressive organizer Kai Newkirk.
Aug. 4 — Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia
Senate, House and gubernatorial races
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is the rare Democrat who has enjoyed consistent electoral success in an otherwise strongly red state. After leading Kansas for eight years, Kelly is not eligible to run for reelection. Two state lawmakers, Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher, are running to succeed her at the top of the Democratic ticket. Meanwhile, seven Republicans are vying for the chance to turn the Kansas Statehouse red, including the state’s Senate president, its secretary of state and its insurance commissioner.
Michigan Democrats will be playing defense in two of the most pivotal elections in this year’s midterms. The race to replace popular Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is term-limited, seems to be all but settled. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson appears to have a clear path through the Democratic primary, and Rep. John James looks primed to secure the GOP nomination. Things are much tighter in the Democratic Senate primary, where state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Rep. Haley Stevens and physician Abdul El-Sayed are locked in a close three-way contest. The winner of the Democratic primary is likely to face Republican Mike Rogers, who was 19,000 votes away from being elected to the Senate in 2024.
Missouri’s First Congressional District will feature a rematch of one of the most-watched primaries from the 2024 election. Former Rep. Cori Bush, a progressive member of the so-called Squad, is challenging Rep. Wesley Bell, a moderate who defeated her in the Democratic primary last cycle. Their matchup two years ago was the second-most expensive House primary race in history, due to the $8 million that a pro-Israel group spent to target Bush.
Virginia Democrats are still looking to flip a few red seats to blue in their state after a court ruling prevented a new Democratic-backed congressional map from taking effect. Democrats have fielded crowded primaries in both the First and Second Districts, where incumbent Republicans Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans are viewed as the top targets
Aug. 11 — Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin
Senate, House and gubernatorial races
Democratic Rep. John Larson of Connecticut is seeking a 14th term in the House, but he’s facing his first serious primary challenge since first winning his seat in 1998. Three other Democrats have entered the primary, with each arguing that it’s time for Larson, 77, to step aside and let a new generation lead the district.
Minnesota is on track for significant turnover in its most important elected offices. With Gov. Tim Walz not seeking reelection, Sen. Amy Klobuchar has chosen to leave the Senate to pursue the chance to replace him. At least eight Republicans, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, have joined a wide-open GOP gubernatorial primary. Klobuchar could potentially name her own temporary replacement if she becomes governor. Minnesota’s other Senate seat is open this year because Democrat Tina Smith is retiring. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig are the main candidates in the Democratic Senate primary. Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
Vermont’s gubernatorial race had been mired in uncertainty for months as Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who was recently declared the most popular governor in America, left open the question of whether he’d seek another term. Scott finally announced his reelection bid in late May, and he has a clear path to the Republican nomination. Even with a possible blue wave looming, Democrats face a steep challenge as they try to unseat Scott, who won by more than 50 points the last time he was on the ballot.
In Wisconsin, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has chosen not to seek another term. Seven high-profile Democrats, including former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and state Rep. Francesca Hong, have entered the race to replace him. That’s a stark contrast to the Republican primary, where Rep. Tom Tiffany appears poised to coast to his party’s nomination.
Aug. 18 — Alaska, Florida
Senate and gubernatorial races
Alaska’s unique nonpartisan “jungle” primary system means that the four highest-ranking candidates in its Senate and gubernatorial races will move on to the general election, which will be decided by a ranked-choice vote. The Senate contest has become complicated thanks to the presence of two Republican candidates named Dan Sullivan. One of them is an incumbent senator seeking reelection, the other is a little-known former Forest Service employee. Dan Sullivan, the senator, filed a lawsuit seeking to get the other Dan Sullivan’s name removed from the ballot on the argument that his presence will confuse voters, but he has been unsuccessful so far.
Florida will elect a new governor this year. Rep. Byron Donalds, a strong Trump ally, is the overwhelming favorite to win the GOP nomination. Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race in Florida since 1994, but one March poll showed Donalds leading the two main Democratic candidates — Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and former GOP Rep. David Jolly — by single digits. It’s a similar story in the Florida Senate race: Incumbent Republican Ashley Moody was outpacing potential opponents in the crowded Democratic field by roughly 8 points.
Sept. 1 — Massachusetts
Senate race
Progressive Democrat Ed Markey, 79, is running for another term in the Senate. He’s being challenged by Rep. Seth Moulton. Despite age being a major issue throughout the Democratic electorate, polls show Markey holding a solid though not insurmountable lead over his 47-year-old primary opponent.
Sept. 8 — New Hampshire
Senate race
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is not running for reelection. Rep. Chris Pappas has a huge lead in polls of the Democratic Senate primary. Republicans have recruited two former senators in their effort to flip Shaheen’s seat. Polls show John Sununu, who Shaheen knocked out of the Senate in 2008, with a healthy edge over former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown.
Sept. 9 — Rhode Island
Gubernatorial race
Rhode Island’s Democratic governor, Dan McKee, seems to be at serious risk of being knocked out of office by a member of his own party. With a disapproval rating among likely voters of 76%, he trails former corporate executive Helena Foulkes by a significant margin in recent polls.
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