What to know about today's primaries in Nebraska and West Virginia
Key Points:
- Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District features a competitive Democratic primary to replace retiring Republican Rep. Don Bacon, with state Sen. John Cavanaugh and organizer Denise Powell leading the race amid debate over electoral vote allocation.
- GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska is running for his first full Senate term against four primary challengers; the Nebraska Democratic Party has endorsed independent Dan Osborn for the general election, who is fundraising heavily and aims to challenge Ricketts.
- Controversy surrounds the Nebraska Senate Democratic primary, with candidate Cindy Burbank accusing fellow Democrat William Forbes of being a Republican plant to split votes, a claim Forbes denies; the Nebraska Supreme Court reinstated Burbank on the ballot after a legal challenge.
- Nebraska Governor Tom Pillen faces five Republican primary challengers, while two Democrats compete for their party's nomination; in West Virginia, GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, endorsed by Trump, faces five primary challengers as Democrats vie for their nomination.
- The Nebraska races are notable for strategic concerns over electoral vote distribution and party endorsements, with significant fundraising efforts underway ahead of the November elections.