Ballotpedia's Top 10 primaries, May 17, 2018

Our updated list of this year’s Top 10 Republican and Top 10 Democratic primaries includes three elections that took place on May 22nd, including both the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries in Georgia. There is also a Top 10 Democratic primary that occurred on that date in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District. Another eight top primary elections on this list took place in June.

We’ve identified these 20 primaries as the most compelling intra-party contests of this cycle, either because they reflect an ideological battle between two factions within a party or a close primary contest in a battleground election. Furthermore, our lists include some primary elections that have already taken place, as there are some contests where either the outcome or nature of the race was especially noteworthy for that particular party. All in all, the lists contain primaries for five governor’s races, five U.S. Senate seats, nine U.S. House seats, and the battle for state attorney general in Alabama. 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.

Top 10 Republican Primaries

Races listed in alphabetical order by state

• Alabama Attorney General (June 5)

See also: Alabama Attorney General election, 2018 (June 5 Republican primary)

Incumbent Steve Marshall (R) was appointed in February 2017 after then-Gov. Robert Bentley (R) appointed then-attorney general Luther Strange (R) to fill the U.S. Senate seat of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R). Three candidates challenged Marshall's bid for a full term: former Donald Trump Alabama campaign manager Chess Bedsole, former state attorney general Troy King (who lost to Strange in the 2010 attorney general primary election), and former Chief Deputy Attorney General Alice Martin (R). Some political insiders in Alabama think that this contest was more compelling than the open seat race for governor in the state.

• Arizona Senate (August 28)

See also: United States Senate election in Arizona (August 28, 2018 Republican primary)

Incumbent Sen. Jeff Flake (R) announced in October 2017 that he would not seek re-election, which initiated a high-profile campaign to succeed him as the Republican nominee. Three candidates have emerged as front-runners in the seven-person field: Rep. Martha McSally, Dr. Kelli Ward, and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. All three have expressed strong support for President Donald Trump. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D) is the likely candidate awaiting the winner of this primary, seeking to become the first Democrat to occupy a U.S. Senate seat in the state for more than 20 years. Ratings outlets characterized the general election as a Toss-up.

• Colorado's 5th Congressional District (June 26)

See also: Colorado's 5th Congressional District election (June 26, 2018 Republican primary)

Incumbent Rep. Doug Lamborn faced multiple challenges in seeking his seventh term in Congress. His re-election bid was initially blocked by the Colorado Supreme Court on April 23 after a lawsuit was filed by district voters regarding the residency of the people gathering signatures for his nominating petitions. That ruling was overturned on May 1 by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Brimmer, which put Lamborn back on the ballot.

Lamborn also had four primary challengers in this solidly-Republican district, including 2016 GOP U.S. Senate nominee Darryl Glenn, state Sen. Owen Hill (R), Bill Rhea, and former Green Mountain Falls mayor Tyler Stevens. Glenn, in particular, has significant statewide prominence after he came within six percentage points of unseating incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet (D) last cycle, despite being outraised and outspent by Bennet four-to-one

• Georgia governor (May 22)

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

A crowded Republican field has emerged in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Nathan Deal (R), who has been in office since 2011. Lieutenant Gov. Casey Cagle (R) leads in fundraising with nearly $7 million in contributions and has led every public poll through April 2018. However, Cagle has not yet polled higher than 50 percent, the vote percentage necessary to avoid a July 24 runoff.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp and state Sen. Hunter Hill have raised more than $2 million and have alternated between second and third place in polling. Kemp touts his support for Donald Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration. Hill, who was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), emphasizes his background as a U.S. Army Ranger and his support for abolishing the state income tax and loosening gun regulations. State Sen. Michael Williams is running on a pro-Trump platform and has put $1.5 million of his own money into the race. Businessman Clay Tippins has raised more than $2 million and calls himself the outsider candidate.

• Indiana Senate (May 8)

See also: United States Senate election in Indiana (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

An aggressive contest occurred in this Republican primary, in part because the race, as described by Politico, was "possibly the GOP’s best opportunity to seize a Senate seat from Democrats in next year’s midterms." Reps. Todd Rokita (R) and Luke Messer (R) were congressional colleagues, while former State Rep. Mike Braun (R) self-funded his campaign. The three candidates accused one another of disloyalty to President Donald Trump (R) and the Republican Party, ethics violations, and state residency issues. All aligned themselves with the Trump administration and agenda.

Braun won this primary with 41 percent of the vote, while Rokita and Messer received 30 percent and 29 percent, respectively. Braun faced incumbent freshman Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) in the general election in November.

• Montana Senate (June 5)

See also: United States Senate election in Montana (June 5, 2018 Republican primary)

Four Republican candidates are trying to convince primary voters they are best suited to challenge incumbent Jon Tester (D) for one of Montana's U.S. senate seats. Tester is thought to be one of the most vulnerable Senate Democratic incumbents after Donald Trump won Montana by 20 points in the 2016 presidential election. CNN listed this seat among 10 U.S. Senate seats it considered most likely to flip in 2018. The four challengers are State Auditor Matt Rosendale, who is backed by national Tea Party figures and organizations; Russ Fagg, a former state judge who bills himself as a center-right conservative Republican with deep ties to the state; Troy Downing, a largely self-funded businessman; and state Sen. Albert Olszewski.

Rosendale has the support of U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as well as organizations like the Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund. He has argued that his national support makes him the most likely Republican to defeat Tester in the general election and he has led in all publicly released polls in the race. Fagg picked up endorsements from three former Montana governors—Judy Martz, Marc Racicot, and Stan Stephens. He said that his pragmatic approach to politics and his ties to the state make him the most electable general election candidate against Tester. Downing and Olszewski trail Fagg and Rosendale in endorsements but both have shown a willingness to spend their own funds in the race.

• New York's 11th Congressional District (June 26)

See also New York's 11th Congressional District election (June 26, 2018 Republican primary)

Michael Grimm (R) is aiming to win his old seat back from U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R) in a district that could be competitive in the general election. Grimm represented the Staten Island-based seat from 2011 to 2015 before he resigned after pleading guilty to felony tax evasion. Donovan won a special election to replace him and was re-elected in 2016.

Grimm and Donovan are each trying to define themselves as the true Trump candidate, according to Politico. Grimm is running to Donovan's right and has criticized him for voting against the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and legislation to strip sanctuary cities (such as New York City) of federal funding. Donovan criticized Grimm for his votes in favor of bilateral trade agreements while he served in Congress, saying he went against Trump's position on trade. In addition to Trump, personal attacks have defined the race, with Donovan calling Grimm "the convict congressman" and Grimm calling Donovan "Desperate Dan."

• Ohio's 12th Congressional District (May 8)

See also: Ohio's 12th Congressional District special election (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

Nine Republican candidates battled to replace former Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R), who resigned from office in January 2018 to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable. State Sen. Troy Balderson (R) and businesswoman Melanie Leneghan (R) received the most political and financial support, but State Sen. Kevin Bacon (R), former Air Force intelligence officer Tim Kane (R), and prosecutor Carol O'Brien (R) were also competitive in fundraising.

Balderson received Tiberi's endorsement, as well as a $240,000 cable and digital ad buy from Defending Main Street in April 2018. Leneghan was backed by the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and House Freedom Action, the campaign arm of the House Freedom Caucus, which supported her with a $187,000 ad campaign. Club for Growth spent $150,000 on an ad alleging that Balderson voted to support the Affordable Care Act in Ohio, which the Balderson campaign called a "blatant falsehood" since the state Senate did not directly vote on the expansion of Medicaid.

Balderson finished ahead of Leneghan by about 650 votes to win this primary, 29 percent to 28 percent. He faced Franklin County Recorder Danny O'Connor (D), who won the Democratic primary, in the special election for this seat on August 7, 2018.

• Virginia Senate (June 12)

See also United States Senate election in Virginia (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)

In deciding who will take on U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) in November, Virginia Republicans have a choice between Corey Stewart, a Prince William County supervisor tied to President Donald Trump, state Del. Nick Freitas, and minister E.W. Jackson, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2013. While Kaine will be favored in the general election, the Senate race will be at the top of the ticket for Virginia voters and could affect turnout for down-ballot Republicans in swing seats like those held by Barbara Comstock.

Running on a promise to protect the state’s Confederate monuments, Stewart lost the 2017 Republican gubernatorial primary to Ed Gillespie by one point. After Gillespie lost the general election to Ralph Northam (D), Stewart said a pro-Trump candidate like himself would have fared better. Although Freitas also supports Trump and his agenda, he has made libertarian policies the focus of his campaign. He supports decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level and limiting U.S. involvement in foreign wars. Libertarian Republicans Rand Paul and Mike Lee endorsed him. Jackson angered members of his own party in his unsuccessful lieutenant gubernatorial bid due to his rhetoric on social issues.

• West Virginia Senate (May 8)

See also: United States Senate election in West Virginia (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

Six Republicans ran for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D). Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 42 points in the 2016 presidential election in West Virginia—his largest margin of victory in any state. CNN also listed this seat as one of the 10 U.S. Senate seats it considered most likely to change party hands in 2018.

The three leading candidates were businessman Don Blankenship, Rep. Evan Jenkins, and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Blankenship was the former chief executive of Massey Energy, a mining company that had large operations in West Virginia. He was convicted of conspiring to violate mine safety and health standards in 2015, following the fatal Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, and served one year in prison for the misdemeanor. Jenkins was first elected to represent West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District in 2014, after switching his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican. He previously served in the West Virginia State Senate from 2002 to 2014. Morrisey unseated five-term incumbent state attorney general Darrell McGraw (D) in 2012. All three touted their support of Trump and alignment with the President's agenda.

Morrisey topped the six-candidate field, winning the primary with 35 percent of the vote. Jenkins finished second with 29 percent and Blankenship was third with 20 percent.

Republican races removed from the list this week

• Florida's 27th Congressional District (August 28)

See also: Florida's 27th Congressional District election (August 28, 2018 Republican primary)

Longtime incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) announced in 2017 that she planned to retire at the end of her term, leaving the seat open to a newcomer. The New York Times called Florida's 27th "the best Democratic pick-up opportunity in the country" because of Ros-Lehtinen's retirement. In 2016, the district supported Hillary Clinton (D) by 20 points, the highest margin for any Republican-held district. Republicans will need to hold onto seats like this one if they want to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. Eight GOP candidates have expressed an interest in running for this seat, and the filing deadline was May 4, 2018.

• Nevada's 3rd Congressional District (June 12)

See also: Nevada's 3rd Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)

Ten candidates, including state Sen. Scott Hammond and small business owner Danny Tarkanian, filed to run for the GOP nomination in this open seat swing district after incumbent Jacky Rosen (D) announced in June 2017 that she would run for the U.S. Senate in 2018 rather than seek re-election to her 3rd District seat in the House. Rosen's victory in 2016 marked the third time since the district's inception in 2003 that this seat had changed party hands. The district was rated as lean Democratic in May 2018 by several prominent election publications.

Tarkanian entered the race on March 16, 2018, after President Donald Trump (R) asked him to withdraw from the U.S. Senate election in Nevada and file for the U.S. House instead. Trump tweeted, "It would be great for the Republican Party of Nevada, and it’s [sic] unity if good guy Danny Tarkanian would run for Congress and Dean Heller, who is doing a really good job, could run for Senate unopposed!"

• North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District (May 8)

See also: North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District election (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

Incumbent Rep. Walter Jones (R) faced two challengers who were critical of his deviation from President Trump's agenda. Jones voted against the President's proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare in 2017. He was also one of 12 Republican House members to vote against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. The 3rd District voted for Trump by 20 points in 2016. Since no Democrats filed for this seat, the Republican primary was likely to decide the winner of the general election.

Challenger Scott Dacey said he would be more supportive of Trump's policies, pointing to Jones' vote against the Obamacare repeal when announcing his campaign. Phil Law, who ran against Jones in 2016, described the 2018 Republican primary as "a choice between a 34-year politician, a casino lobbyist, or a patriot." According to Reflector, Law's top priority was the construction of a southern border wall, also advocated for by President Trump.

Jones successfully fended off both challengers in the primary, receiving 43 percent of the vote. Law was second at 29 percent and Dacey finished third with 28 percent.

• Ohio's 16th Congressional District (May 8)

See also: Ohio's 16th Congressional District election (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

The race to replace retiring Rep. Jim Renacci (R) in the U.S. House featured a showdown between Republicans with differing views of the party’s future. Former Ohio State University football player Anthony Gonzalez was backed by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, (R-Fla.) and believes that the nation's upcoming demographic and social changes will necessitate changes in how the GOP approaches elections. State Rep. Christina Hagan is a Trump supporter who cast herself as a social and fiscal conservative connected to former administration figures Anthony Scaramucci and Sebastian Gorka. She was also endorsed by U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), leaders of the House Freedom Caucus. The district voted for Trump by 6.7 points in 2016, but has similar demographics to the Pennsylvania 18th Congressional District seat won by Conor Lamb (D) in March 2017.

Gonzalez finished first to win the Republican nomination, getting 53 percent of the vote. Hagan received just under 41 percent, while third-place finisher Michael Grusenmeyer took 6 percent.

• Ohio governor (May 8)

See also: Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 8 Republican primary)

Attorney General Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor were the sole contenders for the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. John Kasich (R). The primary battle played out over Ohio airwaves as a battle over ideological purity. Both candidates said that they alone carried the conservative banner in the state. Taylor released a campaign ad calling DeWine too liberal for Ohio, while DeWine's campaign ads referred to Taylor as a career politician while saying that DeWine is "a rock-solid conservative for governor."

Taylor was elected as Kasich's running-mate in the 2010 and 2014 elections and she had previously served as the state Auditor and in the state House. On the campaign trail, Taylor avoided Gov. Kasich's legacy, even denying that he had endorsed her. DeWine, the campaign finance and polling leader, served in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the state Senate, and as lieutenant governor. He touted his endorsements from the Republican Party of Ohio and members of the state Legislature.

DeWine won this primary with 60 percent of the vote to Taylor's 40 percent. He faced Democratic nominee Richard Cordray in November.

• South Carolina's 4th Congressional District (June 12)

See also South Carolina's 4th Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)

Thirteen Republican candidates filed to seek the party's nomination to succeed sitting Rep. Trey Gowdy (R), and five of those candidates reported raising at least $100,000 for this race through the end of March 2018. Gowdy, who was first elected to represent the district in 2010, announced his retirement on January 31, 2018. No Democratic candidate has won election to represent the district since 1990. Donald Trump carried the district by a 25 percent margin in the 2016 presidential election. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the June 12 primary, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election on June 26, 2018.