Primary elections in six states on Tuesday further proved President Donald Trump’s hold over the Republican Party, with Trump-endorsed candidates besting their opponents and Trump adversaries falling to decisive defeats.
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Voters in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania, took to the polls to select candidates for November’s midterm elections. But despite the favorable results for the president, dismal approval ratings mean the GOP still stands to lose control of the House and Senate.
Here are some key election results from each state.
Alabama
As expected, the Senate race in Alabama will go to a runoff after no Republican candidate won a clear majority of votes. The Trump-endorsed Rep. Barry Moore secured 39.2% of votes and will likely face former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson – who came in second with 25.6% of votes – in a June 16 runoff.
The Democratic primary for Senate will also go to a runoff between the top two candidates, Dakarai Larriett and Everett Wess.
Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville won the overwhelming majority of votes in Alabama’s gubernatorial primary, while former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones secured the backing of his party. The two will face off in November in a rematch of the Senate contest that Tuberville won in 2020.
Georgia
The Republican primary to determine who will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November will go to a runoff as expected. Republican Rep. Mike Collins led with 40.5% of votes compared to former football coach Derek Dooley’s 30.2%, but one needs to secure a clear majority for the party’s nomination.
In Georgia’s gubernatorial race, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms – endorsed by former President Joe Biden – won the Democratic primary.
The Republican primary will go to a runoff after Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones barely edged out billionaire Rick Jackson. And in another test of Trump’s influence, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger – who crossed Trump by refusing to help him overturn the 2020 election results – did not get nearly enough votes to advance to the runoff.
Republicans triumphed in Georgia’s state Supreme Court race, where incumbents Charles Bethel and Sarah Warren edged out the Democratic candidates endorsed by former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Idaho
The Trump-endorsed Republican Sen. Jim Risch secured 67.3% of primary votes, setting himself up for a potential fourth term. As Idaho is a solidly red state, the winner of the Republican Senate primary is said to have a strong advantage in November elections.
Kentucky
Trump achieved a major victory in Kentucky’s 4th District, where his chosen candidate Ed Gallrein swept 54.9% of votes over Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who frequently broke with fellow Republicans and defied Trump. After the president regularly vilified and berated Massie, the contest became one of the most expensive and closely watched primaries – and proved Trump’s strong hold on the Republican Party.
Rep. Andy Barr, Trump’s pick to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, also emerged successful in the primary.
Former state Rep. Charles Booker won the Democratic nomination, though the November race is expected to strongly favor the GOP.
Oregon
In Oregon’s gubernatorial race, incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek will have a shot at a second term after she overwhelmingly defeated her nine challengers in the primary. On the Republican side, state Sen. Christine Drazan emerged successful.
While Kotek is favored for a second term, she only won Oregon’s 2022 governor race – also against Drazan – by less than 4 percentage points.
A majority of Oregonians also voted against a measure that would have hiked the state’s gas tax.
Pennsylvania
Democrats in Pennsylvania’s 3rd District, which includes most of the city of Philadelphia and is known as the “bluest seat in America,” chose the progressive state Rep. Chris Rabb to succeed retiring Rep. Dwight Evans.
Firefighters union chief Bob Brooks emerged as Democrats’ pick to take back the 7th District seat from incumbent Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who won by a single percentage point in 2024.
