Primary elections in Kentucky, Georgia, Idaho, and Oregon, as well as a special election in California, turned out to be a successful night for several incumbents who faced tough challenges from within their own parties.
In Kentucky, Republican Representative Thomas Massie emerged victorious in the GOP primary, successfully fending off competition from two fellow Republicans. Similarly, Democratic Representative Lucy McBath secured her win in the Democratic primary, triumphing over two challengers. Idaho’s Republican Representative Mike Simpson also managed to overcome his GOP primary rivals.
Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, emerged victorious in the Democratic primary, securing her position for another term. Additionally, the judge presiding over the Georgia election interference case filed by Willis against former President Donald Trump was also re-elected for a full term on Tuesday night.
In Oregon, progressive candidates faced defeat at the hands of more mainstream Democrats in crucial races that will ultimately decide the control of the House. Although the outcome of left-leaning District Attorney Mike Schmidt’s primary challenge from Nathan Vasquez is still pending, initial results indicate a significant lead for Vasquez. At the same time, a potential successor for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s vacant seat has emerged.
The Washington Examiner has compiled seven key takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries.
Fani Willis emerges victorious in primary challenge
Fani Willis emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, defeating Christian Wise Smith once again. This marks Willis’s second consecutive win against Smith, having previously faced off four years ago.
Willis emerged as the clear victor in the race, securing an impressive 87% of the vote. In contrast, Smith could only garner approximately 13% of the total votes, according to the Associated Press.
Willis is currently prosecuting Trump for allegations of attempting to overturn the 2020 race. With Tuesday’s primary wins, it is expected that Willis will continue to pursue the case against Trump, despite the scandalous relationship that has impacted the proceedings.
In March, Judge Scott McAfee made a ruling that allowed Willis to remain involved in the case, despite allegations of a romantic relationship between her and Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor on the Trump case.
McAfee, however, mentioned that for Willis to proceed with the case, Wade would need to step down. To the surprise of some attendees, Wade unexpectedly made an appearance at Willis’s celebratory gathering.
Willis may still face a challenge from the Georgia Court of Appeals. Trump’s team has requested a review to determine if Willis can maintain her position as the leading prosecutor against Trump.
In the fall, she will go head-to-head with Republican candidate Courtney Kramer in the general election.
In Georgia, the incumbent judges have managed to secure their seats in the recent elections. This outcome reflects the trust and confidence that the voters have placed in these judges to continue serving the community. Despite the challenges and competition they faced, the incumbents were able to demonstrate their track record of fair and effective decision-making, which resonated with the voters.
The election results indicate that the voters value the experience and expertise of these judges. By re-electing them, the voters have shown their belief in the judges’ ability to uphold the law and provide justice for all. The incumbents have proven themselves capable of handling the responsibilities of their positions and have earned the support of the community.
It is worth noting that incumbency can be an advantage in judicial elections. As judges already hold the position, they have the opportunity to build a reputation and establish a track record that can sway voters in their favor. However, this does not diminish the significance of their achievements and the trust placed in them by the electorate.
Moving forward, these re-elected judges will continue to serve the people of Georgia diligently, ensuring that justice is served and the law is upheld. Their experience and commitment to fairness will be instrumental in maintaining the integrity of the judicial system and providing a reliable source of justice for all Georgians.
The success of the incumbent judges in securing their seats highlights the importance of their role in the legal system. Their re-election sends a message of confidence in their ability to make sound decisions and uphold the principles of justice. It also serves as a reminder of the significance of judicial elections in shaping the future of the legal system and ensuring its effectiveness in serving the community.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge McAfee emerged victorious in the election to secure his position, defeating Robert Patillo, a civil rights lawyer and radio show host.
McAfee secured an overwhelming victory, capturing over 83% of the vote, leaving Patillo with a meagre 17% in comparison, as reported by the Associated Press.
McAfee is currently overseeing the case that Willis brought against Trump in Fulton County. Even after winning the election, McAfee will continue to be involved in this case. His term will begin in January, and he is expected to serve for another four years.
Both Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), who appointed the current judge in 2022, and former Georgia Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes have publicly endorsed McAfee in his bid for election.
Incumbent Georgia Supreme Court Justice Andrew Pinson successfully secured his re-election against former Democratic Rep. John Barrow.
In the recent election, Pinson emerged victorious with 55% of the vote, while Barrow lagged behind with only 45%. Despite Barrow’s strong focus on abortion, a key issue that has traditionally favored Democrats, Pinson’s campaign proved to be more impactful.
Protesters continue to express their discontent with President Biden.
Both Biden and Trump easily won the presidential primary in Kentucky. The Associated Press declared both candidates as winners as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m. ET.
In Kentucky’s primary, 18% of Democrats chose to vote “uncommitted,” which was a significant snub to Biden, despite him winning 71.3% of the vote with 98% of votes counted.
Meanwhile, over 6% of Republicans chose to vote for Nikki Haley in the primary, even though she withdrew from the race over two months ago.
In Kentucky’s GOP primary, Trump secured an impressive 85% of the vote.
In Oregon, Biden once again emerged victorious in the Democratic primary, securing an impressive 89% of the vote. This substantial lead was achieved with 32% of votes counted, while 5% of voters opted to write in a candidate of their choice.
Oregon progressives experienced a disappointing evening.
Progressive candidates in Oregon’s 3rd and 5th Congressional Districts faced defeat in their primary races against moderate Democrats on Tuesday night.
In the 5th Congressional District primary, Oregon state Rep. Janelle Bynum emerged victorious over Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a progressive attorney.
Bynum emerged victorious in the race after the Associated Press declared him the winner approximately 40 minutes following the closure of the polls at 11 p.m. ET. At that point, Bynum was leading McLeod-Skinner with a significant margin of 70% to 30% based on the 48% of the ballots that had been counted.
Democrats are eager to regain the seat that was lost to Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who emerged victorious over McLeod-Skinner in the 2022 midterms.
Susheela Jayapal, the older sister of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), was defeated in the Democratic primary for Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District by Maxine Dexter.
Dexter emerged as the winner in the race with 53.2% of the vote, while Jayapal secured 25.1% of the ballots, as reported by the Associated Press. This outcome was determined within an hour after the polls closed, with 37% of the votes counted.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee expressed concerns about Jayapal’s candidacy, fearing that she would share the same views as her sister. Her sister has been advocating for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Incumbent House members emerge victorious over their challengers
Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democratic representative from Georgia, emerged as the clear winner in the Democratic primary race for Georgia’s newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. She faced tough competition from Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson and state Rep. Mandisha Thomas but ultimately secured a decisive victory.
The race for McBath was called by the Associated Press just over 30 minutes after polls closed at 7 p.m. ET. McBath emerged victorious, securing nearly 85% of the vote.
In Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, Rep. David Scott (D), a 78-year-old incumbent, emerged victorious in the Democratic primary after defeating six challengers.
According to the Associated Press, Scott secured a commanding victory in the election with nearly 58% of the vote. The race was called at 9:46 p.m. ET, over two hours after the polls closed, with 93% of the ballots counted.
Scott’s victory could be seen as a positive sign for President Biden, who has also been criticized for his age and ability to serve another term.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) emerged victorious in the GOP primary for Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District, successfully defending his position against fellow Republicans Scott Cleveland and Sean Higgins.
With 60% of the votes counted, Simpson has garnered an impressive lead, securing nearly 57% of the vote. Cleveland trails behind with approximately 34% of the vote, while Higgins lags further behind with only 9.3%.
Rep. Thomas Massie emerges victorious in the GOP primary, defeating his opponents.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) emerged as the clear winner in Kentucky’s GOP primary for the 4th Congressional District, defeating his Republican opponents Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis.
Massie emerged as the clear winner with an overwhelming 76% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. The announcement came just 11 minutes after the polls closed at 7 p.m. ET.
Deters came in second place with almost 13% of the vote, while McGinnis received 11.5% of the vote.
Despite his efforts to challenge GOP leadership and push for the removal of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Massie was unsuccessful in his bid to oust the incumbent and secure victory over the Republican challengers in Kentucky’s primary.
Victor steps forward in the midst of the battle to take over the position previously held by Kevin McCarthy.
California state Assemblyman Vince Fong emerged victorious in the runoff primary in California, securing the position to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s seat. Fong defeated Tulare Sheriff Mike Boudreaux by a margin of 60.5% to 39.5%.
Fong, who was handpicked by McCarthy himself, is a former staffer who is expected to uphold the former House Speaker’s legacy during the remainder of McCarthy’s term until January.
