The end of May marks the beginning of summer—and summer heat—but for politics watchers, something else is heating up: Primary season. We’ve already seen some huge victories for women, most notably Angela Alsobrooks’ commanding victory in Maryland’s US Senate primary. And things will only get busier in June, when we’ll be tuning in every single Tuesday for important results in Congressional and legislative elections in more than 10 states.
US Senate: Blowout in Maryland
Despite polls that showed a close race heading into election day, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks cruised to victory over US Rep. David Trone on May 14, finishing with 53.4 percent of the vote despite being outspent 10-to-1 as Trone self-funded with $62 million. Angela is still favored to win the general, though former Gov. Larry Hogan will be a formidable opponent. But we are on track once again to put a woman from Maryland in the US Senate,and two Black women, assuming a victory for Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester in Delaware.
These primaries matter, as we’ll need to win both just to maintain women’s representation in the Senate.
Note: EWA raised 7 percent of Angela’s total spending in the primary: Thank you to all the groups that hosted her!
And next month, we’ll finally know which Republican will challenge Sen. Jacky Rosen, one of the most vulnerable members and the most vulnerable woman Senator this cycle. Retired US Army veteran Sam Brown, who is tracking toward the center on abortion and hasn’t (yet) received Trump’s toxic endorsement, is the leading contender.
🔖 Bookmark: EWA Supports Angela Alsobrooks [WomenCount]
Headlines
Alsobrooks Wins Primary, Remains the Favorite for November [Cook Political Report]
Md. Senate primary proves that Black women are electable – if we elect them [MD Matters]
What Angela Alsobrooks’ Primary Win Means for Black Women in Politics [Ms. Magazine]
In new TV ad, Larry Hogan charts potential Senate path forward as centrist [FOX News]
Elissa Slotkin winning over donors. Her challenge: Win over Black voters [Bridge Michigan]
Could veterans swing Nevada’s 2024 Senate race? [Nevada Independent]
Democrats campaigning for Senate want to suspend the filibuster to pass abortion bills [AP]
In South Florida, a Democrat’s pitch links abortion, immigration and freedom [The 19th]
US House: May Debrief + June Preview
This progress to gender parity in May primaries extended down-ballot in Maryland. Victories by state Sen. Sarah Elfreth (MD-3) and April McClain Delaney (MD-6) in two open, safe Democratic seats—including the one being vacated by Rep. David Trone—mean the state is on track to go from having no women in its Congressional delegation to having three.
And on May 21, Oregon voters nominated state Rep. Maxine Dexter to the safe Democratic seat being vacated by Democratic US Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and Rep. Janelle Bynum to the toss up seat held by Republican US Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer. If she wins in November, Janelle will be the first Black person to represent Oregon in Congress.
June will be another busy primary month for women. Keep a close eye on Virginia—where women are running in crowded primaries for the Lean D seats being vacated by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (running for governor) and Jennifer Wexton (retiring)—plus New Jersey and New York, where women have a chance at the nomination in three toss-up, flippable seats.
Full June primary information is updated here:
🔖 Bookmark: Tracking the 2024 House Primaries [WomenCount]
Headlines
Six Months Out, Fight for Control Remains a Game of Inches [Cook Political Report]
National Democrats Get Their Favored Candidate in Battleground OR-05 [Cook Political Report]
New Jersey House Primary Preview [Cook Political Report]
Top GOP super PAC not spending in Vegas-area House races [NV Independent]
Your cheat sheet to Virginia’s June congressional primaries [Axios]
2024 New York congressional primaries to watch [City & State NY]
Which states could get new Congressional maps in 2024 [FiveThirtyEight]
State & Local: Women in State Legislative Primaries
As Congressional primaries heat up, so do state legislative primaries. Through WomenCount’s Women’s Political Parity project, we’re currently tracking eight states where women have a chance to make gains this year, including:
May 21 Primary
- Georgia: Thirty-seven new women are needed to reach parity. Local partner Represent GA recruited women to run in 79% of targeted, competitive state legislative races, including four of six competitive Senate races and 22 out of 28 House races.
- Oregon: Seven more women are needed for parity, and women are running in 50% of the open state legislative races. This includes one of six open Senate races and six out of eight open House races.
June 4 and 11 Primaries
- New Mexico: Six more women are needed to reach legislative parity. Local partner Better Future for New Mexico has recruited women to run in 82 percent of the targeted, competitive state legislative races.
- Nevada: Nevada was the first state in the nation to achieve gender parity in the state legislature, and we need to keep it that way. Women are running in 86% of targeted, competitive state legislative races.
You can learn more about the specific candidates we’re promoting on WomenCount:
🔖Bookmark: Women’s Political Parity: Georgia | Women’s Political Parity: Oregon
🔖Bookmark: Women’s Political Parity: New Mexico | Women’s Political Parity: Nevada
Headlines
Democratic OR incumbents win primaries, one race too close to call [OR Capital Chronicle]
Voters deliver upsets in GA House races; other contests headed to a June runoff [GA Recorder]
Race that could decide control of Nevada Senate features testy Dem primary [NV Current]
‘Mom’ legislators see numbers, influence grow but barriers to office remain [Source NM]
Here’s What Female Political Representation Looks Like in Your State [Cosmopolitan]
The friendships forged in a governors group chat [The 19th]
National & Women: Abortion at the Court
Supreme Court opinion season is rolling along, and we’re still waiting on two abortion cases that could transform the Presidential race:
- FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which could potentially restrict the availability of mifepristone—one of two ingredients in the “abortion pill,” and often used on its own to induce an abortion.
- Idaho v. United States, wherein states are arguing that an abortion does not count as emergency medical care, contrary to federal law.
Headlines
Biden’s path to winning the Electoral College runs through the Midwest [FiveThirtyEight]
Black women seek to bring change to GOP [The Hill]
More people will vote in 2024 than ever before … but where are the female candidates? [The Guardian]
Kamala Watch
Kamala Harris Is Gaining Swing-State Voters’ Trust to Step In for Biden [Bloomberg]
For 2028 prospects, abortion is a test-run for a national message [Politico]
Vice President Kamala Harris plugs economy in latest Wisconsin visit [WPR]
VP Harris continues campaign focus on courting union voters in Philadelphia [PA Capital Star]