US primary voters choose midterm candidates as Democrats look to flip key seats

Key Points:

• Tuesday’s primary elections across the US set the stage for high-stakes November contests, with Democrats aiming to flip critical House and Senate districts amid a midterm year expected to favor them.
• Key races include New Jersey’s suburban swing district where Democrat Rebecca Bennett will challenge absent Republican Tom Kean Jr, and Iowa’s competitive rematches with moderate Democrats like Josh Turek gaining momentum.
• California’s redrawn districts and gubernatorial primaries highlight Democratic advantages, with Xavier Becerra leading the governor’s race and Scott Wiener succeeding Nancy Pelosi’s House seat, while some contests remain tightly contested.
• Republicans maintain strongholds in states like Montana and South Dakota, with Trump-endorsed candidates advancing, but Democrats see opportunities due to Trump’s low approval and shifting voter sentiments.
• The primaries also revealed internal Democratic debates on ideology and foreign policy, exemplified by Adam Hamawy’s nomination in New Jersey, who is likely to become the state’s first Muslim congressman and is noted for his progressive and critical stance on Israel.