This week's question was, How many U.S. House incumbents have lost in primaries so far?
You answered: 13.
The correct answer was 3.
Ten states have held U.S. House primaries so far this cycle. Across those 10 states, three incumbent U.S. House incumbents have lost to primary challengers. Those incumbents are:
- Madison Cawthorn (R), who lost to state Sen. Chuck Edwards (R) in the May 17 primary for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.
- Bob Gibbs (R), who appeared on the May 3 ballot for Ohio's 7th Congressional District, though he unofficially withdrew before the primary. Max Miller (R) won that contest.
- David McKinley (R), who lost to U.S. Rep. Alexander Mooney (R) in an incumbent v. incumbent primary. McKinley and Mooney ran in the same district after West Virginia lost one congressional district during redistricting.
As of May 19, there was one uncalled race featuring an incumbent in Oregon's 5th Congressional District where challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner (D) held a lead over incumbent Kurt Schrader (D).
There have also been some mid-campaign departures that don't count as defeats, but rather resignations or retirements. In Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, former U.S. Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry (R) resigned from Congress before the primary but his name remained on the primary ballot where he lost to state Sen. Mike Flood (R). And in Texas' 3rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R) advanced to a primary runoff on May 24, but withdrew from the race on March 2, opting instead to retire at the end of his term.
Thanks for your response!
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