Key primary races to watch in Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and more

Key Points:

• Michigan's Democratic Senate primary between progressive Abdul El-Sayed and moderate Haley Stevens is a key test of the party's ideological direction and electability in a crucial battleground state ahead of the 2024 general election.
• Stevens is favored by the Democratic establishment and has received overwhelming outside spending support, particularly from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, while El-Sayed appeals to younger, white progressive voters and opposes corporate political influence.
• Other notable primaries include Michigan's 13th and 7th Congressional Districts, where progressive challengers aim to unseat incumbents or win swing seats, and Missouri's 1st District, where Cori Bush seeks to reclaim her seat from moderate Wesley Bell in a race also influenced by outside spending.
• In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, leads a crowded Senate primary aiming to challenge Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, reflecting Democrats' broader strategy to flip GOP-held seats in traditionally red states.
• Competitive gubernatorial primaries in Kansas and Michigan, along with key races in Virginia, will also shape Democrats' chances to maintain or expand their influence in the 2024 elections.