Primary Election PreviewsVoters in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas are heading to the polls today, and here’s what to expect: P.S. If you know anyone who lives in these states, ask them to vote today! And if this info is helpful, forward it to a friend. 1. Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton faces primary challengers for the first time since he was elected to the US Senate in 2014, and his challengers have emphasized “putting an end to corruption,” and “not settling for ‘politicians who only care about building a future’ off tax payers dollars.” Among the Democrats, Lewisville Mayor and army veteran Ethan Dunbar and sixth generation farmer Hallie Shoffner have focused their campaigns on meeting the basic needs of the people — food, health care, and education — and combatting Trump’s harmful policies. Also on the ballot: Congressional District 2: Republican Congressman Chris Hill faces a challenger, but the race to watch is on the Democratic side as Chris Jones, who previously won the 2022 Democratic primary for governor and ran, unsuccessfully, against Sarah Huckabee Sanders. He faces Zack Huffman, and both candidates have prioritized affordability in their campaigns.
2. North Carolina: Senator Thom Tillis’ retirement has prompted an open primary for the US Senate seat, and six Democrats and six Republicans are competing to make it to the general election. Polls show that Trump’s handpicked GOP primary candidate, Michael Whatley, holds a 30pt lead among the field of Republican candidates, but as of one week before the primary, 50% of Republican voters had yet to decide who they would support. On the Democratic side, former two-term North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has fundraised the other Democrats into oblivion, and his campaign has focused on standing up to Trump and his harmful policies. Also on the ballot: Congressional District 1: Democratic incumbent Representative Don Davis is not facing a primary challenger, but with Republican redistricting, the district has been modified to lean more conservative to favor Republicans.
3. Texas While the Democratic Senate Primary between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico has been front and center in the press, seven term Republican Senate incumbent John Cornyn is fighting tooth and nail to hold his spot against six primary challengers, including disgraced Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was impeached in the Texas House in 2023 and faced a federal investigation in 2024. Polling is tight in both of the Senate races, but on the Democratic side, one CNN exit poll interview featured Sonya Bernhardt, a Texas primary voter, who explained how much she loves and supports Jasmine Crockett but couldn’t vote for her because she doesn't think Crockett can win in the general election. It reeks of the same hedging that white feminists demonstrated during Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 presidential run. (Read A More Perfect Party to get that historic tea and drama.) Also on the ballot: Gubernatorial Race: Another crowded field for both Democrats and Republicans as Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a fourth term. Abbott faces 10 challengers in the primary, which I’m sure he loves. Among the Democrats running, keep an eye on State Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Attorney General: This seat is wide open for the first time in 10 years since disgraced AG Ken Paxton is running for the Texas Senate seat. Congressional Districts 10 and 21: Both US House seats are wide open.
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