Author: Douglas Kronaizl
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Primary watch: number of contested state legislative primaries is up 41% compared to 2020
The number of contested state legislative primaries is up 41% this year compared to 2020. Democratic primaries are down 6%, Republican primaries are up 76%, and top-two/four primaries are up 18%. These figures include data from 16 states that account for 1,850 of the 6,166 state legislative seats up for election this year (30%). A…
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North Dakota has its most contested state legislative primaries since 2014
From 2014 to 2020, the number of state legislative primaries in North Dakota with more than one candidate ranged from four to six. This year, the number of contested primaries rose to 24, a 300% increase from 2020. This represents 18% of all possible primary contests. Of those candidates involved in primaries, 27 are incumbents,…
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Mike Flood wins Republican primary in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District
With 76% of the vote, state Sen. Mike Flood defeated four other candidates on May 10 to win the Republican nomination for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District. This was the first contested Republican primary in the district since 2014 and the first after former incumbent Jeff Fortenberry (R) was found guilty in a federal campaign finance…
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No incumbents defeated in Nebraska’s state Senate primary elections
All 11 incumbents seeking re-election to the Nebraska Senate will advance to the general election after winning their respective primary elections on May 10. Since 2010, only one incumbent state senator has lost in a contested primary in Nebraska: Sen. Nicole Fox (R) in 2016. Six of the incumbents running for re-election faced contested primaries…
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Rate of state legislative incumbents facing contested primaries in Pennsylvania at its highest since 2014
Forty-two of the 190 Pennsylvania state legislators running for re-election this year—20 Democrats and 22 Republicans—face contested primaries. That equals 22% of incumbents seeking re-election, the highest rate since 2014. The remaining 78% of incumbents are not facing primary challengers. A contested primary is one where more candidates are running than there are nominations available.…
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Two candidates running in Arkansas’ Republican primary for secretary of state
Incumbent John Thurston and Eddie Joe Williams are running in the Republican primary for Arkansas Secretary of State on May 24, 2022. In Arkansas, the secretary of state has jurisdiction over state election laws and ensuring uniform implementation throughout the state. The secretary of state is also responsible for assisting county officials with conducting elections.…