On Tuesday, August 5th, primary elections in five states—Michigan, Washington, Virginia, Kansas, and Missouri—served as a critical indicator ahead of the November midterm elections, with voters selecting candidates for races that could determine which party controls Congress.

In Michigan, a closely contested Democratic Senate primary saw progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeat moderate congresswoman Haley Stevens, winning 48.5% of the vote to Stevens’s 47.5%, according to the Associated Press. This result contrasted with pre-election polls that had shown El-Sayed with a firm lead. Stevens had the backing of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer. Michigan is notable as a state Donald Trump won two years ago. The Republicans nominated former congressman Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost a Senate race two years prior.

In Missouri, Republican leaders supported a ballot initiative that would have made it harder to pass state constitutional amendments. However, voters rejected this measure despite previously approving abortion protections, paid sick leave, and cannabis legalization at the ballot box.

Similarly, in Kansas, four years after voters approved abortion protections in the state constitution, they turned down a GOP-backed attempt to change the selection of state supreme court judges from gubernatorial appointment to popular election.

These primaries underscore that while progressive candidates maintain strong momentum, their victories can be narrow, and GOP-backed initiatives face significant resistance from voters.

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