On Tuesday, voters in Maryland, West Virginia, and Nebraska will participate in primary elections to decide candidates for key races including the U.S. Senate. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are among the candidates on the ballot in their party’s primaries, though they have already secured enough support to win their nominations. The Senate primaries in Maryland and West Virginia are particularly significant as they could determine control of the chamber.
In West Virginia, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is not seeking re-election, leading to a competitive race for his seat. The Republican primary features Governor Jim Justice and Representative Alex Mooney, with Justice endorsed by Trump and Mooney supported by GOP Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul. On the Democratic side, Glenn Elliott and Marine Corps veteran Zach Shrewsbury are competing for the nomination. Former Republican Don Blankenship, convicted in connection to a coal mine explosion, is also in the race.
In Maryland, Former Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican and a vocal Trump critic, is seeking the party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate against Robin Ficker, who has positioned himself as a supporter of the former president. Democratic Representative David Trone will face Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in their party’s primary, with Trone having spent over $60 million of his own money on the race. Alsobrooks, if successful, would be Maryland’s first Black senator and the first Black woman to serve in the Senate.
Although she has dropped out of the Republican presidential race, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley remains on the ballot in Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia. Primary voters who do not want to vote for Trump will have the option to vote for Haley, as seen in Indiana’s GOP primary last week where over 21% of voters chose her despite her withdrawal. In the Democratic primary in Maryland, voters will have the option to vote “uncommitted to any presidential candidate,” a choice not available in Nebraska and West Virginia, reflecting some Democrats’ criticism of Biden’s stance on Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
Overall, these primary elections hold significant stakes for the U.S. Senate races in Maryland and West Virginia, as well as showcasing the ongoing dynamics within the Democratic and Republican parties. The races in these states will provide insights into voter attitudes towards key issues, party loyalty, and the ongoing influence of prominent figures such as Trump and Manchin. The outcomes will play a role in shaping the political landscape as the country moves towards the general election and beyond.
