Heart of the Primaries, Democrats-Special Edition 3 (May 9, 2018)
In this special post-primary edition: Cordray beats Kucinich, no Cano-Pittenger rematch in NC-09, at least three North Carolina state legislative incumbents lose to challengers.
Here are the results of the May 8 primaries so far...
Cordray wins big in Ohio gubernatorial primary
Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D) defeated former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) by 40 percentage points in Ohio's Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Both Cordray and Kucinich received progressive support, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) backing Cordray while the Bernie Sanders-affiliated group Our Revolution endorsed Kucinich.
On the campaign trail, Kucinich criticized Cordray for the endorsements Cordray had received from the Buckeye Firearms Association while serving as the state attorney general. Cordray backers criticized Kucinich for statements he had made in support of President Trump and for accepting a speaking fee from a group associated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The November general election will be a re-match between Cordray and Attorney General Mike DeWine (R). In their last meeting in 2010, DeWine defeated Cordray for the attorney general post.
McCready wins big in North Carolina’s 9th
Marine Corps veteran Dan McCready (D) easily defeated hospitality industry consultant Christian Cano (D) in the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, taking 83 percent of the vote.
McCready showed strong fundraising ability in the primary, raising roughly $1.9 million in the first quarter, outpacing even the incumbent Rep. Robert Pittenger (R), who was defeated in the Republican primary.
Cano had been hoping for a rematch against Pittenger, who defeated him in the 2016 general election.
Ohio progressives go two for three in Cuyahoga County primaries
Progressives beat Cuyahoga County Democratic Party-endorsed candidates in two of three Ohio state legislative primaries.
Progressive-backed state Rep. Nickie Antonio defeated party-endorsed Rep. Martin Sweeney by ten percentage points in the Senate District 23 Democratic primary.
Similarly, progressive Michael Skindell beat county party-backed Tom Bullock in the state House District 13 race.
Terrence Upchurch beat progressive Kyle Early in the state House District 10 race, giving the county party its only win of the night.
Three North Carolina state legislative incumbents lose primaries
At least three North Carolina Democrats— state Sen. Joel Ford and state Reps. Duane Hall and Rodney Moore—all lost to primary challengers Tuesday night.
Allison Dahle defeated Hall by over forty percentage points. Hall was recently accused of sexual misconduct and faced calls from state party leaders to resign from the legislature.
Up next
Up next: May 15 statewide primaries in Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Stories to watch include...
- Progressive challengers taking on incumbents in the Oregon state legislature.
- Races in Pennsylvania's new, more-Democratic Congressional districts, including the 5th and 7th districts.
- The DCCC and Progressive Change Campaign Committee face off in Nebraska's 2nd.
