Ballotpedia's Top 10 Democratic primaries, May 17, 2018

Our updated list of this year’s Top 10 Democratic primaries includes two races that took place on May 22nd: the Georgia gubernatorial primary and the U.S. House primary in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District. Three more primaries on this list occurred in June. In Georgia, former state Reps. Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans are appealing to different segments of the Democratic Party electorate. Both are vying to be the first woman elected governor of Georgia, a state where voters have not had a Democratic governor since 1998.

On May 15th, two of our Top 10 primaries were decided. In Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, nonprofit executive Kara Eastman defeated former Congressman Brad Ashford, 51 percent to 49 percent, for the nomination to challenge incumbent Rep. Don Bacon (R) in the general election. Eastman ran on a platform that includes priorities such as tuition-free college and Medicare for All, and was backed by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. In Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, former Allentown Solicitor Susan Wild finished first with 33 percent of the vote in a six-candidate field in this Allentown-based swing district. Her policy priorities included increasing spending on education and infrastructure, and fixing parts of the Affordable Care Act. She was supported by EMILY's List.

We’ve identified these 10 primaries as the most compelling intra-party contests of this cycle, either because they reflect an ideological battle between two factions within the party or a close primary contest in a battleground election. Furthermore, our lists include some primary elections that have already taken place, as there have been some contests where either the outcome or nature of the race was especially noteworthy for the Democratic Party. All in all, the list contains primaries for four governor’s races and six U.S. House seats. We'll be updating this throughout the primary election season as the year progresses.

Click here to subscribe to The Heart of the Primaries, our free weekly newsletter, for updates on these races and others like them up and down the ballot and across the country. Learn about policy differences between candidates, which donor groups are behind which candidates (and why!), moves by political operatives, polling, endorsements, and more.

Know of a race that belongs on our list? Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Last updated: May 17, 2018

June 14 list →

Top 10 Democratic Primaries

Races listed in alphabetical order by state

• California's 25th Congressional District (June 5)

See also: California's 25th Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 top-two primary)

Four Democrats are vying for the opportunity to unseat incumbent Steve Knight (R), who is one of seven California Republicans who represent districts won by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016. Bryan Caforio (D) came within 6 points of defeating Knight in 2016 and had the backing of progressive groups Democracy for America and Justice Democrats. Nonprofit executive Katie Hill has high-profile backers of her own like EMILY's List and NARAL and outraised the incumbent in the fourth quarter of 2017. Volcanologist Jess Phoenix attracted media attention for her unique background and support from celebrities like Patton Oswalt and Piper Perabo.

As the only Republican in the race, Knight is expected to finish first or second in the primary, making it likely that the Democratic candidates are battling for the other general election spot. None of the Democrats won the 60 percent of the delegate vote required to secure the party's endorsement at the state convention. A February 2018 poll from Public Policy Polling found a generic Democratic candidate leading Knight 44 percent to 42 percent.

• Colorado governor (June 26)

See also: Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 26 Democratic primary)

Eight candidates are vying to succeed term-limited Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) for this purple state's highest office. Rep. Jared Polis and former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy were the top two candidates according to an independent poll conducted in late March 2018. At the state party convention on April 14, 2018, Kennedy was backed by 62 percent of delegates, while Polis received the support of 33 percent. Since Kennedy received the most delegate votes, her name appeared first on the primary election ballot. The winner of the June 26 primary faces a competitive general election characterized by ratings outlets as either Leans Democratic or Toss-up. Colorado has voted for the Democratic nominee in each of the last three presidential elections.

• Florida governor (August 28)

See also: Florida gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 28 Democratic primary)

A four-way primary battle has emerged as Florida Democrats look to take back the governor's office for the first time in 20 years. With Gov. Rick Scott (R) term-limited and most election ratings outlets calling the general election a "Toss-up," the winner of the primary may very well go on to occupy the governor's mansion in 2019. Although the filing deadline isn't until June 22nd, several prominent candidates have begun fundraising and campaigning.

Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, the daughter of former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, represents the moderate wing of the Democratic Party and often crossed party lines while in the U.S. House. Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine brought in over $10 million through March 2018, partially through self-funding, and describes himself as a "radical centrist." Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum enjoys significant support among minority voters. Gillum has touted his support from grassroots activists and received a boost from billionaire Democratic donor George Soros. Businessman Christopher King has not previously held elected office, but describes himself as a "progressive entrepreneur" who enjoys support from younger voters.

Further complicating this race is the possible entry of former U.S. Reps. Patrick Murphy (D) and David Jolly (R). Although Jolly was a Republican, he was a critic of President Trump and had joined Murphy on a speaking tour to discuss the problems they saw with partisanship and gridlock in American politics. Both men are considering running on a bipartisan gubernatorial ticket with Murphy as governor and Jolly as lieutenant governor. Murphy would compete in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

• Georgia governor (May 22)

See also: Georgia gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 22 Democratic primary)

Former state Reps. Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans are in a fight that "mirror[s] a wider debate within the Democratic Party that has grown louder after strong turnout by minority voters helped to power recent Democratic victories in Alabama and Virginia," according to Reuters. The conflict: Abrams is "mobilizing solidly Democratic black voters, who vote sporadically in elections, to form a winning coalition with white liberals" while Evans is "appealing to white moderates, many of them outside urban areas, who voted for President Donald Trump last November." Both are vying to be the first woman elected governor of Georgia, a state where voters have not elected a Democratic governor since 1998.

• Illinois' 3rd Congressional District (March 20)

See also: Illinois' 3rd Congressional District election (March 20, 2018 Democratic primary)

Longtime incumbent Rep. and Blue Dog Coalition member Daniel Lipinski (D) faced political newcomer Marie Newman for the Democratic nomination in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District for a seat held by the party since 1975. This race, called "a battle for the soul of the Democratic party” by Kate Sweeny of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, was seen as a good example of the struggle between moderate and progressive Democrats.

Lipinski defeated Newman by just over 2,100 votes, 51 percent to 49 percent.

• Kentucky's 6th Congressional District (May 22)

See also: Kentucky's 6th Congressional District election (May 22, 2018 Democratic primary)

Style, not policy, separated Lexington Mayor Jim Gray and Marine Corps Lt. Col. Amy McGrath as they competed for the Democratic nod in Kentucky’s 6th District. Both were ideologically moderate, said they might oppose Nancy Pelosi as House Democratic leader, and each said they would work with President Donald Trump on specific issues. Gray was encouraged to run by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and suggested he would self-fund his campaign, if necessary. He said he is the only Democrat who can win the traditionally Republican seat, having carried the district in 2016 when he unsuccessfully challenged Rand Paul (R) for U.S. Senate. McGrath achieved national fame with campaign videos highlighting her military experience and used that fame to build a national fundraising network. McGrath portrayed Gray as the party’s choice for the seat and herself as the outsider.Gray and McGrath

Complicating the race was state Sen. Reggie Thomas, who ran to their left on healthcare and gun policy. Although Thomas could have won with a plurality if Gray and McGrath split the vote, both campaigns’ internal polls have shown him well behind. Ben Kamisar of The Hill listed the race as one of seven primaries to watch in 2018, pointing to McGrath's fundraising and Gray's popularity in the district's largest city as reasons each could be competitive. In a January profile of McGrath, Vox's Ella Nilsen described the race as "an intraparty debate about how Democrats can best compete in rural, red-leaning districts." Although Republican incumbent Andy Barr (R) won re-election as in 2016 by more than 20 points, forecasters rate the general election as "Leans Republican."

• Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District (May 15)

See also: Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District election (May 15, 2018 Democratic primary)

This primary featured former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford and nonprofit executive and Metropolitan Community College board member Kara Eastman for the right to challenge Republican incumbent Rep. Don Bacon in the general election. Bacon won his first term by fewer than 3,500 votes in 2016, and national outlets consider this seat an important race in 2018. Inside Elections editor Nathan Gonzales said that "the 2nd District is one of the most competitive races in the country, and I think it’s a must-win for Democrats to get back to the majority."

The Intercept considered this race as part of a broader national trend of clashes between Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)-backed candidates and progressive challengers. Eastman ran on a platform that includes priorities such as tuition-free college and Medicare for All. She was also backed by local unions and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Ashford was ranked as the second most conservative member of the U.S. House's Democratic caucus by the Congress-tracking site GovTrack, and had the backing of the national party's House campaign arm, the DCCC. He was also named to the group's Red to Blue list of candidates selected to receive organizational and fundraising support.

Eastman defeated Ashford by just over 1,100 votes, 51 percent to 49 percent.

• New York governor (September 13)

See also: New York gubernatorial election, 2018 (September 13 Democratic primary)

Incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced a primary challenge from former 'Sex and the City' actress Cynthia Nixon. Cuomo, who is seeking his third term, has mocked Nixon’s background as a celebrity and been dismissive of her campaign, while Nixon is running to the incumbent’s left and has accused him of being a fake progressive. New York was won by the Democratic candidate in each of the previous five presidential elections.

• Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District (May 15)

See also: Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District election (May 15, 2018 Democratic primary)

The top three Democratic candidates who ran for Pennsylvania’s new 7th Congressional District represented competing wings of the party and had diverging views on which policies to emphasize in order to win the Allentown-based swing district in November. This district was redrawn in February 2018 after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the Pennsylvania congressional map was an illegal gerrymander. The new 7th District replaced the Allentown-based 15th District previously represented by Charlie Dent (R), who did not run for re-election.

Pastor Greg Edwards was aligned with the progressive wing of the party that supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election. He was endorsed by Sanders and supported single-payer healthcare and other policies Sanders promoted during his presidential run. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli was a self-described moderate Democrat, to the right of his party on issues like immigration, abortion, and capital punishment. He was supported by the Lehigh Valley Building and Construction Trades Council. Former Allentown Solicitor Susan Wild was supported by traditional Democratic organizations like EMILY's List. Her policy priorities include increasing spending on education and infrastructure and fixing parts of the Affordable Care Act. She also touted her cooperation with a corruption investigation into former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

Wild defeated Morganelli, Edwards, and three other candidates to win this nomination. Wild received 33 percent of the vote, Morganelli got just over 30 percent, and Edwards received 26 percent.

• Virginia's 10th Congressional District (June 12)

See also: Virginia's 10th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Democratic primary)

Although incumbent Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) won her re-election bid in 2016 by 6 points, her swing district backed Hillary Clinton (D) over Donald Trump (R) in the 2016 presidential election by 10 points. Daily Kos identified Comstock as the eighth-most vulnerable Republican incumbent in the 2018 midterm elections. The Democratic field has nine candidates, including state Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D), former federal prosecutor Paul Pelletier, former State Department official Alison Kiehl Friedman, and former Obama administration official Lindsey Davis Stover.

Democratic races removed from the list this week

• Maine governor (June 12)

See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Democratic primary)

Seven candidates are running to succeed term-limited Gov. Paul LePage (R). Of the past ten gubernatorial elections in Maine, five have resulted in the seat changing hands, and the last time a Maine gubernatorial election was won by a candidate who shared a party with the outgoing incumbent was in 1952. Maine has been carried by the Democratic candidate in each of the past five presidential elections, with Hillary Clinton winning the state by 3 percentage points in 2016. Also, the state used ranked-choice voting for its elections for the first time after voters approved the change in 2016.

• New Mexico's 1st Congressional District (June 5)

See also: New Mexico's 1st Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 Democratic primary)

Six candidates are vying for the party's nomination to represent this safe Democratic district, which backed the Democratic presidential nominee by a double-digit margin in the past three presidential elections. The seat, which has been held by a Democrat since 2009, became open when incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced she was running for governor of New Mexico in 2018.

In January 2018, the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed former New Mexico Democratic Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland in the race. Haaland, a Native American woman, is one of the few non-black candidates to have received an endorsement from the caucus. Progressive organizations such as People for Bernie Sanders, Justice Democrats, Blue America, and PODER PAC have endorsed Antoinette Sedillo Lopez. Sedillo Lopez had the largest fundraising haul in the fourth quarter of 2017 with $176,000 in contributions. Former U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez and Haaland raised $160,000 and $124,000, respectively.