Heart of the Primaries, Democrats-Special Edition 9 (August 8, 2018)
In this special post-primary edition: Whitmer defeats El-Sayed in Michigan gov. primary, Tlaib wins primary to replace Conyers, Sharice Davids beats Sanders-backed Welder in KS-03.
Here are the results of the Aug. 7 primaries so far.
Kansas
Kelly wins gubernatorial primary
State Sen. Laura Kelly (D) defeated four opponents, including former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer (D) and former state Secretary of Agriculture Joshua Svaty (D) to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Kelly received 51.5 percent of the vote to Brewer's 20.1 percent and Svaty's 17.5 percent.
Each of the candidates presented themselves as the most likely to win statewide. While Svaty and Kelly pointed to their legislative records representing Republican-leaning districts, Brewer touted a Fort Hays State University poll that showed him leading in name recognition.
While the candidates did not differ greatly on taxes or education funding, abortion was a point of contention. The Kelly and Brewer campaigns criticized Svaty for voting in favor of abortion restrictions while in the state Legislature. Svaty said he was representing the views of his district and would veto any further restrictions if elected governor.
Kelly received endorsements from Planned Parenthood Votes Great Plains, EMILY's List, the Carpenters' Regional Council, and United Steelworkers. Svaty's endorsements included former Gov. John Carlin (D) while Brewer has support from the Latino Coalition.
EMILY’s List-backed candidate defeats Sanders-backed candidate in KS-03
Attorney Sharice Davids (D) defeated labor lawyer Brent Welder (D) in the 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary 37 percent to 34 percent.
Welder had support from Our Revolution and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), the winner of a high profile Democratic primary in New York's 14th Congressional District, appeared at Welder campaign rally in July.
EMILY's List which spent $400,000 on an ad campaign for Davids, who highlighted her experience working on economic development programs on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and other Native American reservations. If she wins the general election against incumbent Rep. Kevin Yoder (R), Davids would be the first openly gay member of the Kansas delegation. She has been endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
Michigan
Whitmer wins Democratic gubernatorial nomination
Former state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D) defeated physician Abdul El-Sayed (D) and businessman Shri Thanedar (D) to secure the Democratic nomination for Michigan's open gubernatorial seat. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Whitmer had 52.1 percent of the vote to El-Sayed's 30.2 percent and Thanedar's 17.7 percent.
Whitmer emphasized her legislative career, pointing to her role in passing a Medicaid expansion and blocking a labor bill she said was anti-union. Whitmer advocated for increased spending on infrastructure, veteran care, and lower taxes for senior citizens. EMILY's List, the Michigan AFL-CIO, the United Auto Workers and the Michigan Education Association as well as all four of the state's Democratic representatives in the U.S. House endorsed her campaign.
El-Sayed and Thanedar both claimed the progressive mantle in the race. El-Sayed touted his Michigan upbringing and experience in public health, pointing to his decision to return to the state and work as Detroit's director of public health after receiving his medical degree. El-Sayed supported a $15 minimum wage, a single-payer health care system, and marijuana legalization. Our Revolution, Democracy for America, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), and congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) endorsed him.
Thanedar, who ran a chemical sales firm, highlighted his business success after immigrating from India. He supported a $15 minimum wage, legalization of marijuana, and changes to the state's campaign finance and lobbying laws.
Whitmer faces Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) in the Nov. 6 election.
Stevens wins Democratic primary in MI-11
Former Obama administration official Haley Stevens won the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s 11th District. She beat four other Democrats—Suneel Gupta, Tim Greimel, Fayrouz Saad, and Nancy Skinner. She will face Lena Epstein (R) in the general election to replace retiring U.S. Rep. David Trott (R), which election forecasters call a “toss-up.”
Stevens emphasized her work in securing federal subsidies for the auto industry after the 2008 recession. Hillary Clinton endorsed Stevens two days before the primary. Steven also had endorsements from the Michigan Teamsters and The Detroit Free Press.
Tlaib wins Democratic primary to replace John Conyers (D) in MI-13
Former state Rep. Rashida Tlaib defeated Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, Westland Mayor Bill Wild, state Sen. Ian Conyers, state Sen. Coleman Young II, and former state Rep. Shanelle Jackson in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 13th District. The seat was left open when former U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D) resigned after he was accused of sexual harassment in 2017.
The progressive groups Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and Democracy for America endorsed Tlaib, who has called for a $15 minimum wage and a single-payer health care system. She led the field in fundraising.
If Tlaib wins the general election for the safely Democratic seat, she will be the first Muslim woman elected to Congress. She will also be the first non-black candidate to represent the majority-minority district since Conyers was first elected in 1964.
Although Tlaib won the primary to fill the 2019-2020 term in Congress, the special primary to fill Conyers’ seat for the rest of the 2017-2018 term has not been called. Brenda Jones leads Tlaib in the special primary. Coleman Young II and Shanelle Jackson only ran in the regular primary and did not file for the special primary.
Missouri
Clay (D) holds off progressive challenger in MO-1
U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay won the Democratic primary for Missouri’s 1st District, fending off a challenge from his left by nurse and activist Cori Bush.
Bush was endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and like Ocasio-Cortez, Bush took aim at a long-term incumbent and had the backing of the progressive groups Our Revolution and Justice Democrats.
Before Clay was first elected in 2000, his father, William L. Clay, had represented the district since 1969.
State Rep. Karla May defeates state Sen. Jacob Hummel
State Sen. Jacob Hummel (D) of St. Louis lost his primary bid to state Rep. Karla May (D), who was prevented by term-limits from seeking another House term.
Hummel is the secretary-treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO, which led May to cast herself as the underdog who was running against organized labor.
The St. Louis American, the city’s oldest black newspaper, endorsed May, saying she was a “progressive challenger [taking] on an incumbent who holds his seat because of two generations of old-school insider trading in the Democratic Party.”
Washington
Rossi (R) advances to WA-08 general election; Democratic opponent still pending
While former state Sen. Dino Rossi (R) advanced in the top-two primary in Washington’s 8th Congressional District and will appear on the general election ballot, his opponent is yet to be decided.
As of 9:30 p.m. PDT, Kim Schrier (D), Jason Rittereiser (D), and Shannon Hader (D) were still battling for the second position on the general election ballot. Schrier was ahead with 18.9 percent, while Rittereiser had 17.5 percent and Hader had 12.6 percent.
Schrier was endorsed by Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List, and led the Democratic field in fundraising. Rittereiser was backed by a number of labor unions and law enforcement organizations. Hader had the support of local Democratic organizations.
The current incumbent, Rep. David Reichert (R), is retiring. Election forecasters rate the general election a “toss-up.”
Incumbent Smith advances to general election, Democrat and Republican still in running for second spot
Incumbent Rep. Adam Smith (D) advanced to the general election in the top-two primary for Washington’s 9th Congressional District, but the second slot is still to be determined. With 62 percent of precincts reporting, Doug Basler (R) was ahead at 26 percent, while and Sarah Smith (D) had 23 percent.
Smith, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, ran as an anti-war candidate. She criticized Rep. Smith’s vote for the Iraq War and campaign contributions he received from the defense industry.
Basler has faced Smith before, losing to him in the 2014 and 2016 general election by margins greater than 40 percent.
Bowling and Sheldon advance to re-match in Washington State Senate District 35
Incumbent state Sen. Tim Sheldon (D) and educator Irene Bowling (D) advanced to the general election following the top-two primary for Washington State Senate District 35, setting up a rematch between the two candidates.
As of 9:30 p.m. PDT, Bowling led Sheldon 39 percent to 35 percent.
Sheldon defeated Bowling in the 2014 general election 54 percent to 46 percent.
Sheldon caucuses with Republicans. Several Democratic organizations, including the 35th Legislative District Democrats, contributed to Bowling's campaign.
Washington’s Top-two primary results suggest Democratic strength for state Senate, House
Although Washington’s by-mail election system means that ballots are still being received, initial results from two Republican-held open seats in the state Senate suggest Democrats could expand their current 26-23 majority.
In both SD 6 and SD 26, initial results showed the Democratic candidate with 51 percent of the vote in each race. Democrats seemed likely to capture both general election spots in SD 34, the only open seat currently held by Democrats.
Republican candidates trailed Democratic challengers for 11 state House seats, where Democrats have a 50-48 advantage.
Special guest analysis: In Minnesota's CD5, the DFL primary is the real election
Barry Casselman has covered national politics and public policy issues since 1972. Click here for more from his blog, The Prairie Editor.
The race in Minnesota CD5 was not supposed to be of any interest before Democratic (DFL) incumbent Rep. Keith Ellison shocked the local political community by announcing his retirement from Congress just before the filing date deadline—and instead filed to run for state attorney general. With only hours to file, a number of DFL candidates did get into the race, and one of them, first-term state Rep. Ilhan Omar, was able to organize a party endorsement that was not recognized by her rivals. Somali-American Omar and former state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher have emerged as the principal candidates in this race, along with state Senator Patricia Torres Ray. One black state legislator, Bobby Joe Champion, withdrew from active campaigning, but his name remains on the primary ballot, as does another Somali-American, Jamal Abdulahi, and Frank Nelson Drake. Ilhan Omar, who has not yet finished her first term in elected office, has been named a possible "next Ocasio-Cortez" by ABC News, while Margaret Kelliher, a seasoned and well-known public figure, represents liberal views more in the DFL mainstream. The DFL primary in CD5 will thus be another test of the powerful division which has erupted in the national Democratic Party this cycle, and since this urban district is overwhelmingly DFL, a primary win is tantamount to election in November.
Up next: Hawaii primaries Saturday, Aug. 11, followed by Connecticut, Vermont, and Wisconsin Tuesday, Aug. 14. Top stories to watch include...
- Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D), who upset an incumbent Democratic governor in the 2014 primary, faces his own challenge from U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D) and four others.
- Wisconsin Democrats will choose a nominee to challenge incumbent Gov. Scott Walker (R). State Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers (D) leads an eight-candidate field.
- A five-candidate field in the race for the Minnesota gubernatorial nomination, led by state Rep. Erin Murphy, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, and state Attorney General Lori Swanson.
