Part V continues right where part IV left off. I’ll note competitive general election races with a (!), races in which the party’s preferred or expected candidate won with an (X), and incumbents with an asterisk. I’ll skip over executive offices other than governor and may have to upload this piece in several installments. With so much to look at, I’ll keep the analysis to a minimum and leave out safe House races in large states. Only nominees will be noted as mentioning competitors takes up way too much space.
Part V: June 12th
Virginia (Sen, House): Virginia is a state that went Democratic in a presidential election for the first time in 44 years with Barack Obama’s election. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), is running for a second term. Corey Stewart, a white nationalist sympathizer, would like to unseat Kaine after narrowly losing the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial race last year. The real races are in the House, where blue-trending suburbs and weak incumbents give Democrats several pickup opportunities.
Results: Sen: Tim Kaine* (D/X) and Corey Stewart (R). House (!): VA-2: Scott Taylor* (R/X) and Elaine Luria (D). VA-5: Leslie Cockburn (D/X) and Denver Riggleman (R/X). VA-7: Dave Brat* (R/X) and Abigail Spanberger (D/X). VA-10: Barbara Comstock (R/X) and Jennifer Wexton (D/X).
South Carolina (Gov, House): South Carolina, unlike most states, has not elected a Democrat to any office higher than the House for over a decade. However, like Alabama and Iowa, elections there this year feature a successor governor attempting to win election on his own. Henry McMaster (R-SC), who rose to his position after the appointment of Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) as Ambassador to the UN.
Results: Gov: Henry McMaster* (R) and John Warren (R) headed to a runoff; James Smith (D). House: SC-1: Katie Arrington (R/X) successfully primaried Mark Sanford* (R); Joe Cunningham (D). Republican incumbents in Districts 2, 3, 5, and 7 were easily renominated, and Democratic primaries in Districts 2, 4, and 7 went to runoffs. The Republican primary in District 4 also went to a runoff. Mary Geren (D-SC-3), Archie Parnell (D-SC-5), and James Clyburn* (D-SC-6) were easily nominated.
Nevada (Gov, Sen, House): Nevada has gone Democratic at the presidential level for the past three elections, but that hasn’t stopped it from having a term-limited Republican governor and a Republican senator who was elected at the same time that the state went for Barack Obama in 2012. As one of only three Clinton-won states with a Republican senator and some swingy tendencies, there are competitive races at all levels.
Results: Gov (!): Steve Sisolak (D) and Adam Laxalt (R/X). Sen (!): Dean Heller* (R/X) and Jacky Rosen (D/X). House: NV-1: Dina Titus* (D/X) and Joyce Bentley (R). NV-2: Mark Amodei* (R/X) and Clint Koble (D). NV-3 (!): Susie Lee (D/X) and Danny Tarkanian (R/X).
NV-4 (!): Steven Horsford (D/X) and Cresent Hardy (R/X).
North Dakota (Sen, House): Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) is the last Democrat standing in a state where President Trump won by a 36-point margin. She was first elected when she was barely dragged across the finish lines by President Obama’s coattails, winning by a 1-point margin in 2012. She’s quite popular and has established her own brand in the state, but political gravity may be too much this time around. Rep. Kevin Cramer retired to run against her.
Results: Sen (!): Heidi Heitkamp* (D/X) and Kevin Cramer (R/X). House: Mac Schneider (D/X) and Kelly Armstrong (R).
Maine (Gov, Sen, House): Maine is idiosyncratic among the states in that it frequently has competitive races at multiple levels. It voted for Barack Obama by a double-digit margin, but voted for Hillary Clinton by 3 points. At the same time, its Second Congressional District voted for President Trump by 10 points, so he got its electoral vote. As in many previous elections, the gubernatorial race features both major parties and multiple independents. Finally, Sen. Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with the Democrats, is running for a second term.
Results: Gov (!): Janet Mills (D), Shawn Moody (R), Terry Hayes (I), and Alan Caron (I/dropped out). Sen: Angus King* (I-ME), Zak Ringelstein (D), and Eric Brakey (R). House: ME-1: Chellie Pingree* (D) and Mark Holbrook (R/X). ME-2: Bruce Poliquin* (R/X) and Jared Golden (D/X).