Heart of the Primaries, Republicans-Special Edition 7 (June 13, 2018)
In this special post-primary edition: Arrington beats Sanford, who becomes the second 2018 congressional incumbent to lose a primary, Moody wins Maine gubernatorial primary outright in first statewide use of ranked-choice voting, and Stewart wins a close race for U.S. Senate in Virginia.
Here are the results of the June 12 primaries so far, plus a look at the still developing California results.
Maine
Context for Maine results: statewide ranked-choice voting, voters approve Question 1 to preserve the system
Maine's primaries were the first statewide use of ranked-choice voting in U.S. history. Under ranked-choice voting, voters rank their choices in order of preference from among the available candidates. Votes are tabulated in rounds. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote after the first round, the lowest ranked candidate is eliminated. Voters whose candidate is eliminated have their ballots re-allocated, with their next ranked choice getting their votes in the following round. The process continues until one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote (see: Sean Moody's gubernatorial primary win below).
Voters approved Question 1, a veto referendum that effectively preserves ranked-choice voting for Congressional races and state primaries.
Moody wins Republican gubernatorial primary outright
Businessman Shawn Moody (R) won the Republican gubernatorial nomination. With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Moody won 56 percent of the vote to state Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason’s (R) 22.9 percent.
Because Moody was the first choice of a majority of voters, he won the primary outright, eliminating the need for a second round of counting.
Moody tied himself to term-limited Gov. Paul LePage's accomplishments, arguing his business background and lack of political experience matched that of both LePage and President Trump. Although LePage did not issue an endorsement in the primary, first lady Ann LePage endorsed Moody.
Nevada
Tarkanian wins NV-03 primary
Small-business owner Danny Tarkanian won the Republican primary for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District with 42.8 percent of the vote, defeating eight other candidates.
Tarkanian entered the race in March after the president asked him to withdraw from the Nevada's U.S. Senate race and run in the 3rd District instead. Tarkanian faces philanthropist Susie Lee (D) in the general election.
The National Republican Congressional Committee backed Tarkanian in the primary, adding him to its Young Guns “contenders” program. He also collected endorsements from Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt-Bono, and the National Right to Life Committee.
The 3rd has a history as a swing district, changing partisan hands three times since its creation in 2003. Incumbent Jacky Rosen (D) is running for the U.S. Senate.
Laxalt wins gubernatorial primary
Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R) won the Republican gubernatorial primary with 71.5 percent of the vote. State Treasurer Dan Schwartz (R) finished second with 9.1 percent.
President Trump endorsed Laxalt hours before the polls closed Tuesday.
Nevada state legislative primaries feature establishment versus outsider matchups
Nevada Republicans saw establishment candidates face off with outsiders in a handful of state legislative primaries.
In the state Senate, where Republicans are trying to stop Democrats from gaining a two-thirds majority, establishment candidates won key races.
In District 8, former state Rep. Valerie Weber defeated former state Sen. Elizabeth Helgelien, an anti-establishment candidate. The seat’s is current incumbent, independent Patricia Farley, is a former Republican who caucuses with Democrats.
In the open seat District 20 race, establishment candidate state Rep. Keith Pickard defeated businessman Byron Brooks. Donald Trump won the District by less than 2 percentage points in 2016.
Outsiders prevailed in at least one state Assembly primary. Brothel owner Dennis Hof defeated incumbent James Oscarson in District 36. Hof criticized Oscarson for voting in favor of the 2015 Commerce Tax. Hof was endorsed by former Trump adviser Roger Stone.
South Carolina
Arrington defeats Sanford in SC-01
State Rep. Katie Arrington defeated incumbent Rep. Mark Sanford in the Republican primary for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Arrington won 50.6 percent of the vote, while Sanford had 46.5 percent. Arrington needed a majority of the vote to avoid a runoff.
President Trump endorsed Arrington a few hours before the poll closed. Support for the president was one of the race’s defining issues. Sanford was critical of Trump's rhetoric and policies and Arrington used those comments in her campaign.
Sanford is the second congressional incumbent to lose a party primary this year. The first was Robert Pittenger (R) from North Carolina's 9th District.
McMaster and Warren to meet in June 26 runoff for gubernatorial nomination
Incumbent Henry McMaster (R) and businessman John Warren (R) were the top two finishers in South Carolina’s GOP gubernatorial primary. McMaster received 42.4 percent of the vote to Warren's 27.7 percent. Former state Labor Commissioner Catherine Templeton's (R) finished third with 21.4 percent.
Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, McMaster and Warren advance to a June 26 runoff.
McMaster is running for his first full term in office after succeeding Nikki Haley (R) in January 2017. He was the first statewide official in South Carolina to endorse Donald Trump's presidential bid and was in turn the first 2018 gubernatorial candidate to earn a Trump endorsement. McMaster’s campaign highlighted the state's economic record since he took office.
Warren, a businessman and Marine Corps veteran, contributed $3 million to his own money to his campaign and emphasizes his background in his run.
The winner of the June 26 runoff faces state Rep. James Smith (D) in the general election.
Bright to advance in SC-04, runoff opponent not yet determined
As of Wednesday morning, the outcome of the 4th District Republican primary is yet to be determined. None of the 13 candidates received a majority of the vote, meaning that the top two vote getters will advance to a June 26 runoff.
The top finisher was former state Sen. Lee Bright (R) with 25 percent of the vote. But the second-place candidate is still unknown. With 97.8 percent of precincts reporting, state Sen. William Timmons (R) led state Rep. Dan Hamilton (R) by 350 votes.
Although the Associated Press had not yet called the race, The Post and Courier called second place for Timmons Wednesday morning, but noted a recount is possible.
Virginia
Stewart wins Virginia Senate primary to face incumbent Kaine (D)
Prince William County Supervisor Corey Stewart defeated state Del. Nick Freitas by less than 2 percentage points to win the Virginia Senate Republican primary. Minister E.W. Jackson finished third.
Stewart tied himself closely to the president, saying he would run a “vicious, ruthless campaign” against Kaine. Stewart lost the 2017 Republican gubernatorial primary to Ed Gillespie by about 1 percentage point after campaigning on a promise to protect the state’s Confederate monuments.
In the campaign’s final days, Freitas attacked Stewart for his alleged ties to white supremacists and the August 2017 demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia. Stewart said he did not maintain those associations and condemned the violence in Charlottesville.
The Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman said Stewart’s win might negatively affect Republican turnout for down-ballot congressional races in November, particularly the seats held by U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock (R), Dave Brat (R), and Scott Taylor (R). Stewart has said that pro-Trump candidates such as himself are more likely to energize Republican voters.
California
Rohrabacher’s Democratic opponent remains undetermined
When we last checked in with California’s 48th Congressional District in our June 6 post-primary newsletter, it was clear that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R) had advanced to the second round of voting and that former Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh (R) would not advance, eliminating the possibility of a Democratic shutout.
Seventy-three votes separated the leading Democratic candidates -- Democratic Party of California-backed Hans Keirstead (D) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee-supported Harley Rouda (D).
As of Wednesday morning, the outcome of the race had yet to be determined. Keirstead leads Rouda by 87 votes.
June 26 preview
Up next: June 19 primary runoffs is Arkansas, and June 26 statewide primaries in Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah. Top stories to watch include…
- Mitt Romney hopes to wrap up his nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Utah, but faces a competitor in State Rep. Mike Kennedy.
- A four-way race for Colorado's gubernatorial nomination.
- Former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R) is hoping to reclaim the Staten Island, New York, congressional seat he held for two terms from the man who replaced him, U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R). Grimm resigned in 2015 after pleading guilty to felony tax evasion.
