What to Track in the 2020 Primaries: A Week-By-Week Guide
Daniel Nichanian: Congress, state governments, and powerful county officials like prosecutors and sheriff are all on the 2020 ballot — beyond the presidential that has everyone on edge — so here’s what I’m watching as the elections unfold, with particular attention to races where I can identify some ideological contrasts.
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Sept. 8 and 15, 2020: New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware close the 2020 primary
Governor
| NH (D) | Democrats choose their nominee against Gov. Sununu. Dan Feltes vs. (Sanders-endorsed) Andru Volinsky. Overview of differences. | Feltes |
U.S. Senate
| DE (D) | Sen. Chris Coons challenged from the left in the Democratic primary by Jessica Scarane. | Coons |
| NH (R) | GOP chooses its nominee against Sen. Shaheen. Preview. | Messner |
U.S. House
| NH-01 (R) | GOP chooses its nominee against Rep. Pappas. (Trump endorsed Matt Mowers.) | Mowers |
Delaware’s legislature
| DE (D) | Incumbents vs. prog. challengers: —SD13: Sen. McBride vs Marie Pinkney. Also: this. —HD7: Rep. Seigfried vs. Larry Lambert —HD26: Rep. Viola vs. Madinah Wilson-Anton —HD27: Rep. Jaques vs. Eric Morrison | Pinkney Lambert Wilson-Anton Morrison |
| DE (D) | SD1: Sarah McBride vying to be the nation’s first transgender state Senator. Context | McBride |
Rhode Island’s legislature
| RI: Dem lawmakers challenged from right | Dem leg. leadership is quite consevative & is helping challenges to progressives, Rep. Moira Walsh (who won dramatic 2018 primary) & Sen. Sam Bell. | Riah Bell |
| RI: Dem lawmakers challenged from left | Dem lawmakers facing left-backed challenges: —SD4: Senate President D. Ruggerio v. Lenny Cioe —SD6: Rep. H. Metts vs. T. Mack, with abortion rights a dominant issue —SD16: Rep. Crowley v. J. Acosta and L. Estrada —SD18: Sen. W. Conley vs. C. Mendes —SD22: NRA-backed Sen. S. Archambault vs. M. Dupont. —SD29: Sen. Majority Leader McCaffrey vs. J. Rourke —SD30: Sen. M. McKenney vs. J. Calkin (a former Sen. ousted by McKenney in 2018) —HD7: Rep. McKiernan v. Subervi v. DSA-backed Morales —HD16: Rep. C. Millea vs. B. Potter —HD38: NRA-backed Rep. B.P. Kennedy vs. M. Torres —HD43: Rep. D. Fellela vs. M. Lopez —HD61: Rep. R. Johnston vs. WFP-backed L. Felix —HD64: Rep. Serodio vs. B. Henries | Ruggiero Mack* Acosta* Mendes* Archambault McCaffrey Calkin* Morales* Potter* Kennedy Fellela Felix* Henries* (* challenger) |
| RI: Open Dem primaries | —HD71: WFP-backed M. McGaw vs. J. Edwards —SD31: Crowded field includes police union-endrsed Dunckley and progressive Anderson | McGaw Anderson |
September 1, 2020: Massachusetts takes center stage!
Statewide
| MA: Senate (D) | Ed Markey vs. Joe Kennedy. If you’re here in the first place, you know about this one. | Markey |
U.S. House
| MA01 (D) | Powerful House chair Richard Neal vs. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. Again, if you’re here, you know about this final 2020 Justice Dems bid to oust a House incumbent. | Neal |
| MA04 (D) | A now-7-way race to replace Kennedy. Most conservative, Auchincloss, can he make it in fractured field? | Auchincloss |
| MA08 (D) | The most conservative member of the state delegation, Stephen Lynch, faces progressive Robbie Goldstein. Preview. Preview on voting rights. | Lynch |
| MA06 (D) | Fresh off his presidential run, Seth Moulton faces a primary. | Moulton |
Sheriffs (immigration! policing!)
| Norfolk Co. (D) | A 3-way Dem primary to take on GOP sheriff; Bill Phelan emerged with most progressive platform (incl. call to end qualified immunity). Preview. | McDermott |
Governor’s council
| District 6 | I’m not finding a great story laying out stakes. Basically: a Dem incumbent (T. Kennedy) is getting help from a Baker-aligned PAC while facing a primary challenge (from H. Fontes). | Kennedy |
Legislature
| Incumbents challenged from the left #1 | These Dem incumbents have support from a PAC aligned with GOP Gov. Baker vs progressive challengers: —Rep. Dan Ryan vs. Damali Vidot. Preview. —Rep. Paul Donato vs “self-identified socialist” Nichole Mossalam. Preview. —Rep. Frank Moran vs. Marianela Rivera, who has opposed charter school expansions. —Rep. Lawn vs. A. Leary. —Rep. Honan vs J. Meehan | Ryan Donato Moran Lawn Honan |
| Incumbents challenged from the left #2 | Also: —Sen. Welch vs. A. Gomez —Conservative Sen. Timilty vs. J. Rose. Preview. —Conservative Rep. Nangle vs L. Arnold & V. Howard. —Progressive-friendly state Rep. Barber faces DSA-aligned A. Callahan. | Gomez Timilty Howard Barber |
| Incumbent challenged from the right | A rare category: Rep. DuBois faces J. Lally, who is helped by the Baker-aligned PAC and thinks the police has already “gone beyond” BLM demands. | DuBois |
| Open primaries | —9th Hampden: O. Ramos, a city councilor who fought for a ban on facial surveillance, is running in an open primary. —5th Hampden: Conservative D. Bartley faces more progressive Pat Beaudry and Pat Duffy. —29th Middlesex: S. Owens is running as the more progressive candidate. —14th Suffolk: G. Van Ness emerging as more progressive, Consalvo helped by Baker-aligned PAC —27th Middlesex: Advocate E. Uyterhoeven, a member of Boston DSA, vs C. Sharp. Housing matters. —16th Suffolk: The Baker-aligned PAC has helped J. Giannino over the more progressive J. Gravellese. —8th Norfolk: More moderate Ted Philips vs more progressive Andrew Flowers. | Ramos Duffy Owens Consalvo Uyterhoeven Giannino Philips |
August 18, 2020: Look out for Florida’s primaries, as well as Alaska’s and Wyoming’s
U.S. House
| FL15 (R) | Rep. Ross Spano, under investigation for campaign finance violations, faces a primary challenge. | Franklin |
| FL3 (R) | In crowded race to replace Ted Yoho, Judson Sapp has drawn a lot of support from Trump world & people like Matt Gaetz. | Cammack |
| FL19 (R) | A large GOP field in this open red district, with much factional accusations. Preview. | Donalds |
| FL23 (D) | Jen Perelman is challenging Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (DWS) | DWS |
Legislative
| Alaska (R) | GOP lawmakers who’ve allied with Dems (sinking GOP trifecta) or considered it face challengers. Daily Kos Elections flags Reps. LeDoux, Johnston, Eastman. Read preview. | Nelson Kaufman Eastman |
| Wyoming (R) | Far-right groups fueling challenges to GOP incumbents, and won many races. | Read this big review. |
| FL-88 (D) | Omari Hardy went viral in March as a commissioner confronting a mayor over COVID. Now challenging a Dem state Rep who mounted homopobic attacks. | Hardy |
| FL-14 (D) | Incumbent (Daniels) with a history of attacks on Jews, praise of Trump, and suggestions that Obama may be open witchcraft challenged in Dem primary. | Nixon |
| FL (D) | WLRN flags 2 other House Dems who face a challenge from their left: Reps. DuBose and Omphroy. | DuBose Omphroy |
| FL SD-27 (R) | State Rep. Ray Rodrigues, arguably more conservative candidate, vs State Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen. Preview. | Rodrigues |
Other county offices
| FL election supervisors | The ballot disaster in Broward in 2018, helping cost Bill Nelson his Senate seat, highlighted the importance of election supervisors. Primaries in both Broward & Palm Beach, previewed here. | |
| Orange Co. (D) | Property appraisers! Incumbent Singh embattled in scandals, but also being targeted by Disney for assessing theme parks too aggressively. Preview. | Mercado |
Criminal justice and policing (“SA” = state attorney)
| Orlando (D) | In Orange & Osceola counties, battle to replace FL’s black prosecutor, who is retiring after retaliation from GOP office-holders and has endorsed M. Worrell. Preview | Worrell |
| Miami (D) | Miami-Dade County’s 27-year incumbent Katherine Fernandez Rundle has drawn fire for not holding law enforcement accountable, faces a reform challenger. | Rundle |
| Broward (D) | Incumbent retiring after 44 years. Some Dems say they’d have more reform policies. Kimok laid out an esp. progressive platform. LIkely winner (Pryor) outlined some reform views. Context. | Pryor |
Sheriffs
| Orlando (D) | Sheriff John Mina faces a crowded field of challengers, two of which have staked reform positions. | Mina |
| Clay Co. (R) | Sheriff Daniels wanted to “make deputies” out of gunowners to “handle” BLM protesters; was arrested in August over a separate scandal. | Cook |
| Tampa (R) | Hillsborough County Sheriff Chronister faces conservative anger at his enforcement of COVID rules. | Chronister |
| Pinellas (D) | Dems are choosing their nominee against one of the country’s more controversial sheriffs. | Santana |
| Alachua (D) | Alachua Co. (Gainesville) Sheriff Darnell endorsed Rick Scott in 2018, & has been head of sheriffs association. Lawmaker Watson Jr. challenging her. | Watson |
| Broward (D) | Appinted sheriff Gregory Tony versus vs former Sheriff Scott Israel. | Tony |
Mayor
| Miami-Dade | Top two candidates in a six way race will move on to a runoff; different partisan possibilities. | Bovo vs.Cava |
August 11, 2020: Six states head to the polls, including Minnesota, Georgia, Vermont, and Wisconsin
You can catch up with my “live stream” video recap of the night.
Statewide
| MN: Senate (GOP) | Republicans will pick their nominee, likely against Dem Sen. Tina Smith. | Jason Lewis |
| VT: Governor (Dem) | Dems are choosing their nominee, likely against GOP Gov. Scott. Some contrasts. | Zuckerman |
U.S. House
| MN05 (D) | Ilhan Omar vs. Antone Melton-Meaux: the 3rd Squad member to face a primary this year. | Omar |
| MN07 (R) | National GOPers hope for former Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fischbach this year against longtime Dem target, Rep. Peterson. Preview | Fischbach |
| GA14 (R) | QAnon proponent Marjorie Taylor Greene versus Cowan in a GOP runoff for red district. Preview | Greene |
Criminal justice and policing
| Atlanta: DA | Dem runoff: DA Howard, embroiled in ethics issues, & challenger Willis, endorsed by local police union. | Willis |
| VT high bailiffs | VT has high bailiffs! This article lays out how candidates are proposing to use it for oversight in Addison & Windsor. Read more on results. | Silberman Sand |
| WI: DAs | I’d love to be able to point toward some exciting DA elections in Wisconsin, but once again nearly no nonincumbent is running — to a staggering extent. | n/a… |
Legislature
| MN: DFL | Sens. Simonson & Hayden, and Reps. Lesch & Dehn faced progressive challenges from Jen McEwen, Omar Fateh, Athena Hollins, Esther Agbaje. Preview | McEwen Fateh Hollins Agbaje |
| WI: SD26 | 7-way primary, incl. Nada Elmikashi, who has coalesced some left support, and former state Rep. Kelda Roys. | Roys |
August 4-8, 2020: What if this was the real Super Tuesday? 7 states vote this week
You can catch up with my “live stream” video recaps the night: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Referendum
| Missouri | Will the state expand the Medicaid program, 5 weeks after Oklahoma? Preview. | YES |
Statewide primaries
| Kansas: Senate (R) | Kris Kobach is in the running to get this GOP nomination. Enough said. | Marshall |
| Tenn.: Senate (R) | Trump-endorsed Bill Hagerty versus Manny Sethi, trying to run to his right. Preview. | Hagerty |
| Tenn.: Senate (D) | DSCC-backed James Mackler vs environmental justice advocate Marquita Bradshaw vs 3 others. | Bradshaw |
| Wash.: Gov (all-party) | Who will be Gov. Inslee’s GOP opponent in Nov? | Culp |
| Wash.: LG (all-party) | The next LG could become governor if Inslee heads to D.C.. A rundown of the options. | All-Dem Top 2 |
U.S. House
| MI13 (D) | Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces a rematch against Detroit Council President Brenda Jones. Preview. | Tlaib |
| KS2 (R) | GOP Rep. Scott Watkins faces a tough challenge. Arguably easier for Democrats to compete in Nov. if he wins. | LaTurner |
| TN05 (D) | Keeda Haynes, a public defender who was sentenced to years in prison over a marijuana-related offense, challenges Rep. Cooper. Prevew. | Cooper |
| MI03 (R) | The GOP is vying to keep (take back?) Justin Amash’s seat and is selecting its nominee. | Meijier |
| WA10 (D) | In this open Dem-held seat, it’s a 19-way free for all, and the top 2 candidates (of either party) will move on to November. See full breakdown of candidates here. | Strickland vs. Doglio |
| MO01 (D) | Rep. Lacy Clay faces a rematch primary against community activist Cori Bush. Preview. | Bush |
Sheriff
| Maricopa Co. (GOP) | Joe Arpaio is attempting a comeback. First, he needs to win the GOP primary. | Sheridan |
Local
| Oakland Co. (Dem) | Democrats recently captured county executive position via appointment, but now a primary awaits. Preview. | Coulter |
Prosecutors
| Wayne Co. (Detroit) | Longtime incumbent Kym Worthy faces a progressive challenger who has pledged to upend local policies. Preview. | Worthy |
| St. Louis, MO | Kim Garner, a first-term incumbent who has sustained fire from the police union for 4 years, faces a rematch. Preview. | Gardner |
| Maricopa Co., AZ | In s punitive county, Dem primary to take on the GOP incumbent. Candidates talk of reform to very varying extent. Preview. | Gunnigle |
| Pima Co., AZ | A punitive incumbent is retiring. Democrats running to replace her talk of reform but have varying views. Dem primary will decide election. Preview | Conover |
| Honolulu, HI | Determine who goes to runoff. Public defender Esser has staked most progressive platform. Preview. (On Aug. 8) | Alm vs. Kau |
| Ann Arbor, MI | Three Democrats running in this open seat reform proposals of somewhat varying scope. Winner, Savit, outlined most progressive platform. | Savit |
| Oakland Co, MI | Incumbent Jessica Cooper faces a challenger with reform proposals in the Democratic primary. | McDonald |
| Emmet Co, MI | A GOP incumbent sent a mailer touting himself as “truly a Christian” while facing a Jewish opponent. | Incumbent |
| Douglas Co., KS | A Dem incumbent faces several challengers, including at least one running on a progressive platform. Preview. | Valdez |
Legislature
| Michigan: HD13 | Incumbent Karen Whitsett drew attention for praising Trump & hydroxychloroquine, vs. housing ativist Roslyn Ogburn. Preview. | Whitsett |
| Washington: HD23 | Features Tarra Simmons, a formerly incarcerated advocate who went to WA’s S.C. to be admitted to the bar. | Simmons advances |
| Kansas GOP | The Kansas GOP wars rage on, with Medicaid expansion and abortion in background. —Sen. Skubal vs Warren (conservative challenger) —Sen. Goddard vs V. Peck (same) —Sen. Givens vs M. Fagg (same) —Sen. Hardy vs Kobach-ally J.R. Claeys (same) —Sen. Taylor vs A. Straus (same) —Sen. Berger vs M. Steffen (same) —Sen. Doll vs. Lon Pishny (same) —Rep. Kessinger vs. J. Dirks —Sen. Thompson vs T. Cox (moderate challenger) —Sen. Rucker (Kobach-ally) vs. B. Dietrich (same) —Rep. Croft vs. C. Norkey (same) | Warren uncalled Fagg Claeys Steffen Pishny Dirks Thompson Rucker Croft |
July 14, 2020: It’s the Maine primaries, and the Alabama and Texas runoffs!
U.S. Senate
| Alabama: GOP runoff | Jeff Sessions or Tuberville will take on Doug Jones | Tuberville |
| Maine (Dem) | Dems will select Susan Collins’s opponent, with some ideological contrasts. | Gideon |
| Texas: Dem runoff | Royce West or MJ Hegar will take on Cornyn | Hegar |
U.S. House
| AL01, AL02 (R) | It’s the Club for Growth (Hightower & Moore) vs Chamber of Commerce (Carl & Coleman) in two GOP districts. Preview | Moore & Carl |
| TX10 (D) | The more progressive Mike Siegel vs. Pritesh Gandhi in race to take on Rep. McCaul. Preview. | Siegel |
| TX13 (R) | Former Trump physician and VA Sec. nominee Ronny Jackson (running with Trump, Club for Growth) faces Josh Winegarner in open GOP seat. Preview | Jackson |
| TX17 (R) | Pete Sessions is trying to get back to Congress via a redder district. | Sessions |
| TX24 (D) | Candace Valenzuela (endorsed by the CPC/Warren) vs. Kim Olson. (GOP Rep. Marchant retiring.) | Valenzuela |
Criminal justice
| Travis Co (D) DA | Austin’s DA Moore faces challenge from her left from José Garza, an organizer who wants to shrink footprint of criminal justice. | Garza |
| Travis Co (D) County Attorney | Office is in charge of misdemeanors in Austin, and Dalia Garza is running the more progressive candidate & vowing to not prosecute some offenses. | Garza |
| El Paso (D) DA | No candidate has focused on reform in this race, missed opportunity for change in big county. Preview | Rosales |
| Fort Worth | A referendum on whether to renew a sales tax that funds law enforcement. Preview. | YES |
Legislature
| HD2 (R) | GOP lawmaker Dan Flynn faces a challenge from the right. Preview. | Slaton |
| HD59 (R) | GOP lawmaker J.D. Sheffield faces a challenge from the right, with abortion in the mix. Preview. | Slawson |
| HD60 (R) | Glenn Rogers vs. “Empower Texans”-royalty Jon Francis. Preview. | Rogers |
| SD27 (D) | Eddie Lucio, a conservative Dem (incl. on 2017 ‘bathroom’ bill, faces progressive Sara Stapleton-Barrera. Preview. | Lucio |
June 30, 2020: Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah
Statewide
| CO Senate (D) | Hicklenlooper & Romanoff face off to take on Gardner. | Hickenlooper |
| UT Gov (R) | Former Gov. Jon Huntsman & Lieut. Gov. Spencer Cox, among others, want to be the GOP nominee for governor in Utah. | Cox |
| UT: AG (R) | Leavitt atypically focused on criminal justice reform in his challenge to AG Reyes | Reyes |
Congressional
| CO-3 (D) | James Iacino and Diane Bush are running in what’s now a possible Dem target. | Bush |
| CO-3 (R) | Lauren Boebert ran from the far-right against incumbent Scott Tipton | Boebert |
| OK-5 (R) | The GOP choosing its nominee in one of its top targets of the year. | Heads to runoff |
Referendum
Oklahoma | Would expand the Medicaid program under the ACA, extending ensuring to 200K. Context. | YES |
Colorado district attorneys
| District 12 (D) | Sanders-endorsed progressive, Alonzo Payne, taking on an incumbent DA in San Luis Valley. | Payne |
| District 18 (D) | Amy Padden, a Sanders-endorsed candidate, has touted criminal justice reform and racial justice. GOP-held. | Padden |
Oklahoma legislature
| HD88 (D) | Dem incumbent vs by Mauree Turner, an organizer with the ACLU who (if she also wins in Nov.) would be OK’s first Muslim lawmaker. Context | Turner |
June 23, 2020: Kentucky, New York, Virginia
Statewide
| Kentucky Senate (D) | If you’re here, you know about this | Amy McGrath |
Congressional
| NY-27 (special) | GOP Rep. Collins’s resignation has triggered a special election in a red-leaning CD. Preview | GOP HOLD |
| NY-15 (Dem) | Diaz Sr. would be one of most conservative Democrats in a arch-blue district. Preview | Torres |
| NY-16 (D) | Engel-Bowman. If you’re here, you know about this. | Bowman |
| NY-17 (Dem) | Open race, crowded. Incl. ex-IDCer (Carclucci), former prosecutor (Schleifer). Progressives coalesced around Mondaire Jones. Preview | Jones |
| NY-9 (Dem) | Crowded primary in Rep. Clarke’s re-election bid, incl. a challenger from the left. Preview | Clarke |
| NY-10 (Dem) | Rep. Jerrold Nadler challenged by Lindsey Boylan & Jonathan Herzog Preview | Nadler |
| NY-12 (Dem) | Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney faces a rematch against Suraj Patel. Preview | Maloney |
| NY-14 (Dem) | Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s first re-election race | Ocasio-Cortez |
| VA-2 (GOP) | Former Rep. Scott Taylor going for his old seat. | Taylor |
| VA-5 (Dem) | The GOP just ousted its incumbent. Dems will decide who will be Bob Good’s general election opponent. | Cameron Webb |
| VA-11 (Dem) | Rep. Gerry Connolly challenged from the left. Preview. | Connolly |
District Attorneys
| Albany (Dem) | The former head of the DA association faces a WFP-endorsed challenger. Preview | Incumbent |
| Tompkins (Dem) | Candidates are sparring over incumbent’s handling of a case involving police. Preview | Incumbent |
| Westchester (Dem) | Mimi Rocah is challenging Tony Scarpino in the wake of a scandal involving police. Preview | Challenger |
Local
| Queens: borough president (Dem) | A five-way race in this “make of it what you will” position. Preview | Richards |
Legislative
| KY: SD-26 (special) | A GOP-held seat won by Trump then Beshear. Dems hoping for a gain. (Karen Berg, the Dem nominee, lost by 5% in 2018.) | Dem GAIN | |
| KY: HD-59 (R) | GOP Speaker (David Osborne) faces public ed. advocate Tiffany Dunn. Osborne would be 3rd legislative leader ousted in a past month, if he loses. Preview | Osborne | |
| NY: AD-31 (D) | Open race, with a 24-year old WFP-backed activist (Khaleel Anderson) in the mix. | Anderson | |
| NY: AD-34 (D) | Assemblymember DenDekker faces challengers, incl. WFP-backed Jessica González-Rojas. | González-Rojas | |
| NY: AD-35 (D) | Hiram Monserrate, the former Dem lawmaker who allied with the GOP and then was expelled for assault, trying to oust incumbent Jeffrion Aubry. Context | Aubry | |
| NY: AD-36 (D) | Incumbent Aravella Simotas facing a challenge from DSA-backed Zohran Mamdani. Preview | Mamdani | |
| NY: AD-40 (D) | Incumbent Ron Kim faces a challenger who’s criticizing him for his support for the 2019 criminal justice reforms. Preview | Kim | |
| NY: AD-43 (D) | Jesse Hamilton, a former IDCer (the group of Dems who allied with the GOP), trying to unseat incumbent Diana Richardson, who campaigned against the IDC in 2018. Context | Richardson | |
| NY: AD-50 (D) | 47-year incumbent Joe Lentol faces challenge from Brooklyn activist Emily Gallagher. Context | Gallagher | |
| NY: AD-51 (D) | Incumbent Félix Ortiz faces challengers, incl. DSA & AOC-backed Marcela Mitaynes. Context | Mitaynes | |
| NY: AD-57 (D) | Incumbent Walter Mosley faces DSA-backed Phara Forrest, a Brooklyn nurse. Preview | Forrest | |
| NY: AD-65 (D) | Yuh-Line Niou, who drew attention for speech against austerity in March, faces primary challenger. | Niou | |
| NY: AD-73 (D) | 22-year old heir of a real estate fortune is running against Assemblymember Dan Quart (who is running for DA next year). Context | Quart | |
| NY: AD-93 (D) | Kristen Browde would be New York’s first openly trans lawmaker, if she wins open race. Context | Burdick | |
| NY: AD-108 (D) | Incumbent John McDonald faces a primary challenge from WFP-backed Sam Fein. Preview | McDonald | |
| NY: AD-149 (D) | In open race, WFP-backed Jonathan Rivera vs. DSA-backed Adam Bojak vs. local politician & former police officer Robert Quintana. Preview | Rivera | |
| NY: SD-18 (D) | Sen. Salazar won with DSA support in 2018; now faces first reelection race. Context | Salazar | |
| NY: SD-25 (D) | Assemblymember Tremaine Wright vs Jason Salmon vs. DSA-backed candidate Jabari Brisport. Preview | Brisport |
June 9, 2020: Georgia, Nevada, West Virginia
Statewide
| GA Senate (Dem) | For the state’s regularly-scheduled election, no less than 7 Democratic candidates are running to face GOP Sen. Perdue. Preview | Ossoff |
| WV Senate (Dem) | Former state Sen. Ojeda got a ton of attention in 2018, now running to face Sen. Capito against two other Democrats, Swearengin & Robb. Preview | Swearengin |
| WV Gov (Dem) | Who will take on the GOP governor? Stephen Smith is running further to the left against Ben Salango, a county commissioner. Preview | Salango |
Congressional
| GA-06 (GOP) | Karen Handel,who won that high-stakes 2019 special, is looking for a rematch against Dem Rep. Lucy McBath but faces a GOP primary first. | Karen Handel |
| GA-07 (D/R) | A Dem pick-up opportunity, but both parties must pick-up nominees first in open race | McCormick (R); Dem runoff |
| GA-9 & 14 (GOP) | Republican primaries will likely decide the next congresspeople in these red districts. | |
| NV-04 (Dem) | Rep. Steven Horsford faces 5 primary challengers, incl. claims he has not been progressive enough. | Horsford |
Courts
West Virginia: Court of Appeals | 3 seats are up for grabs. The GOP has jumped in to help a slate of 3 candidates (Armstead, Dyer, and Raynes) & opposing Neely, a former Dem Justice. | Armstead, Wooten, Hutchison |
District attorneys
| Atlanta (Dem) | Atlanta’s DA faces two challengers. Reform advocates have faulted the incumbent; the police union has endorsed a challenger too. | Runoff |
| Chattahoochee (Dem) | Just remarkable events | Mark Jones |
| Athens | The election was cancelled due to the timing of the DA’s resignation and the governor’s appointment. | n/a |
Legislature
| WV: state Senate | Senate President Carmichael, who’s warred with the teacher’s movement, faced a challenge from a teacher, Amy Grady, who had endorsement of teacher’s union. | Grady |
June 2, 2020: Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania
Statewide
| Iowa Senate (Dem) | Who will face Sen. Ernst? | Teresa Greenfield |
| Montana Gov (Dem/GOP) | Will Greg Gianforte get the GOP nomination, 3 years after his body slam? And who will he face if so? | Gianforte (R) vs. Cooney (D) |
Congressional
| IA: CD4 (GOP) | Far-right congressmember Steve King faces a competitive GOP primary. Will he lose? | Feenstra (beats King) |
| NM: CD2 (GOP) | GOP is choosing its nominee in a seat it’s targeting; Dems interfered to help Yvette Herrell, who they perceive as weaker. | Yvette Herrell |
| NM: CD3 (D) | Dems will effectively be choosing the next member of Congress in this open primary. | Leger Fernandez |
| IN: CD1 (D) | Dems will effectively be choosing the next member of Congress in this open primary. | Frank Mryan |
| MD CD5 & CD7 (Dem) | Reps. Mfume & Hoyer facing challenges. (Hoyer from the left.) | Hoyer & Mfume |
District Attorneys
| New Mexico: 1st District | Two candidates want to wind down war on drugs, but differ elsewhere. Preview. | Carmack-Altwies |
| New Mexico: 4th District | A public defender (Brett Phelps) is hoping to win in this rural area. | Clayton |
Legislative & mayors
Massachusetts House: Third Bristol (special) | Dems could pick-up yet another seat, after picking up two Senate seats last month. | Dem GAIN |
| Pennsylvania: SD1 (Dem) | Nikil Saval running from the left vs. State Sen. Larry Farnese. | Nikil Saval |
| Pennsylvania: HD20 (Dem) | Emily Kinkead has a challenge from the left against State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl | Emily Kinkead |
| Pennsylvania: HD34 (Dem) | Summer Lee won a left challenge in 2018, and is now facing a primary. | Summer Lee |
| Pennsylvania: HD36 (Dem) | Jessica Benham running as a progressive to shift seat left. | Jessica Benham |
| Pennsylvania: HD188 (Dem) | Another seat with inc. facing challenger (Krajewski) from left | Rick Krajewski |
| New Mexico’s state Senate (Dem) | Sen. Mary Kay Papen facing a challenge from the left | Hamblen (challenger) |
| New Mexico’s state Senate (Dem) | Sen. Jon Artur Smith facing a challenge from the left | Martinez-Parra (challenger) |
| New Mexico’s state Senate (Dem) | Sen. Martinez faced a challenge from the left | Jaramillo (challenger) |
| New Mexico’s state Senate (Dem) | Sen. Clemente Sanchez facing a challenge from the left | Cordova (challenger) |
| New Mexico’s state Senate (Dem) | Sen. Gabriel Ramos facing a challenge from the left | Hemphill (challenger) |
| New Mexico’s state Senate (Dem) | Sen. George Muñoz facing a challenge from the left | George Muñoz (i) |
| Baltimore’s mayor | Election intersected with police protests in recent days. | Brandon Scott |
| Ferguson’s mayor | Ferguson elected its first African American mayor. | Ella Jones |
Oregon: May 19, 2020
| Multnomah County DA | Progressive candidate won DA’s office in Portland, in a surprisingly large margin. | Mike Schmidt |
Ohio: April 28, 2020
| Ohio’s CD1 (Dem) | Dems selecting who will face GOP Rep. Chabot in November. Preview. | Kate Schroeder |
| Ohio’s CD3 (Dem) | Rep. Joyce Beatty faces a challenge from the left (Morgan Harper). Preview. | Joyce Beatty |
| Hamilton County Sheriff (Dem) | Dem incumbent has faced lawsuits over jail overcrowding and detains people for iCE, which challenger says she would stop. Preview. | Charmaine McGuffey |
| Hamilton County Prosecutor (Dem) | Two Dem challengers have outlined reform commitments to oust GOP incumbent in November. Preview. | Fanon Rucker |
| Ashtabula County Prosecutor (GOP) | An interesting GOP primary with a candidate talking of shift away from incarceration. Preview. | Colleen O’Toole |
| Bonus: Maryland’s CD7 (special) | Kweisi Mfume is seeking to hold the district for Dems, and return to Congress. | Kweisi Mfume |
Wisconsin: April 7, 2020
| Supreme Court election | Jill Karofsky (de facto Dem candidate) is seeking to oust Justice Kelly (the de facto GOP candidate). Preview. | Jill Karofsky |
Illinois: March 17, 2020
| Illinois’s 3rd District (Dem) | Rep. Lipinski, one of the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. House, faces Marie Newman, a progressive challenger. Two other challengers running too. | Newman |
| Illinois’s 3rd District (GOP) | 2018 GOP nominee Art Jones, the former leader of the Nazi Party, is running for the nomination again, against Mike Fricilone and Catherine O’Shea. | Fricilone |
| Illinois’s 6th & 14th District (GOP) | Who will become the GOP nominees against Rep. Casten (IL6) and Rep. Underwood (IL14)? | Ives & Oberweis |
| Cook County: State’s Attorney (Dem) | Kim Foxx, who has implemented reforms as prosecutor, faces three challengers; one has received > $10 million from his father. Preview. | Kim Foxx |
| Cook County: Illinois Supreme Court (Dem) | 7 candidates are running in an election that has a candidate talking, for once, about how the court sets policy. Preview. | Neville |
March 3, 2020: It’s Super Tuesday!
U.S. Senate
| Alabama (R) | Who will take on Sen. Doug Jones? Jeff Sessions is on the ballot, as is Roy Moore. Preview | Runoff, Moore out |
| North Carolina (D) | The more moderate Cal Cunningham vs the more progressive Erica Smith. Preview | Cunningham |
| Texas (D) | Crowded field to decide who takes on Sen. Cornyn. Likely to head to a Top 2 runoff (in May). Preview | Runoff |
District attorneys
| Los Angeles | Could overhaul scope of prosecution in county of 10+ million. DA Jackie Lacey faces two reform-oriented candidates; runoff if no one tops 50%. Preview | Runoff |
| Harris Co. (Houston) | Incumbent DA (Kim Ogg) faces challengers from her left; primary runoff possible. Preview | Ogg |
| Travis Co. (Austin) | Incumbent (Moore) faces challengers from her left; runoff possible. Preview | Runoff |
Referendums
| CA: Prop 13 | $15 billion bond measure to fund schools. Preview | NO |
| Maine | Whether to block a law that’d tighten when parents can waive vaccination requirements for their children. Preview | NO (=law stands) |
| Los Angeles | Would give subpoena power to a civilian commission to investigate the sheriff’s department, and direct it to prepare a plan to reduce jail population. Preview | YES |
| Alabama | Etowah & Marshall counties hold votes to enable sheriff to use “leftover” funds meant to feed people in jail for other purposes like law enforcement in schools. Learn more | YES |
District attorneys
| TX28 (D) | The big one in terms of ideological contrast, Rep. Henry Cuellar vs. Jessica Cisneros, challenging him from his left. | Cuellar |
| CA16 | In a district held by a Dem (Jim Costa), this will decide whether he faces a progressive Dem challenger or a Republican in November. | Costa moves on |
| CA25 | Crowded field to replace former Rep. Katie Hill, including Cenk Uygur (D), Christy Smith (D), Steve Knight (R), and George Papadopoulos (R). | Smith/Garcia |
| CA50 | Darrell Issa (R) & Carl DeMaio (R) have been fighting a very ugly race; who will move to the top 2? | DeMaio loses |
| NC2 (D) | NC-2 Former Senate candidate Deborah Ross is one of a 4 candidates trying to get the Dem nomination in this likely-blue seat. | Ross |
| TX12 (R) | Club for Growth is targeting Rep. Kay Granger from the right by helping Chris Putnam. | Granger |
| TX22 (R) | Can Pierce Bush, of the Bush “dynasty,” get the GOP nomination, or even make it to the runoff? | No |
Legislature & local
| Orange County Districts 1 & 3 | Democrats are looking to take control of the county commission by unseating two Republicans, Andrew Do (district 1) & Don Wagner (district 3). Context | One GOP win; one runoff |
| CA: AD-9 | Assemblymember Jim Cooper, who has fought criminal justice reform, faces left challenge. Context | Cooper moves on |
| CA: AD-42 | Chad Mayes, formerly a GOP lawmaker now I, is running against one R & one D. Context | Mayes v. R |
| CA: AD-72 | Assemblymember Tyler Diep, only R who voted for gig-work-regulating AB5, faces former Sen. Janet Nguyen; Lyft spending against Diep. 2 Dems in too. Context | Diep loses |