Voters in five states are heading to the ballot box to cast their ballots in congressional and judicial races.
Voters in Kentucky and Oregon will also be voting for their presidential nominees in the Democratic and Republican primaries. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both secured the required number of delegates to become their party’s presumptive nominees shortly after Super Tuesday.
Still, protest votes against both candidate’s nominations have continued to plague them. The “uncommitted” option in multiple states has carved into Biden’s vote margins, raising red flags in key swing states ahead of his November rematch against Trump.
Trump, meanwhile, has seen his margins hurt by former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race more than two months ago.
Down ballot, key races in Georgia could shape the 2020 election interference case against Trump, as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee both face challengers.
Kentucky
All six House districts are up for grabs in Kentucky, though most of the incumbents are not facing tough challenges for their seats. The state is also holding its presidential primaries.
Polls begin to close at 6 p.m., but most close at 7 p.m.
President
Biden and Trump are on their party’s respective ballots in Kentucky. Biden will appear on the Democratic ballot alongside author Marianne Williamson, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), and “uncommitted.”
The “uncommitted” option on ballots has continued to cut into Biden’s vote totals, as efforts in multiple states have urged voters to vote “uncommitted” in a show of protest against Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza.
Trump will be facing an obstacle of his own in the form of Haley, who, despite having dropped out of the race in March, has continued to earn notable chunks of voters in key states Trump will need to win over in November. Five other Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and an “uncommitted” option will also appear on the GOP ballot.
House
4th Congressional District
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is facing a primary challenge from attorney Eric Deters.
The challenge from Deters, who is a vocal Trump supporter, comes as Massie recently pushed to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) from his position. Massie also backed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over Trump to be the GOP presidential nominee.
Still, Massie is largely expected to win the primary.
Georgia
The Peach State has 14 congressional districts with primaries on Tuesday, but only one is an open race, with Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) retiring from the lower chamber. Also on Georgia’s ballot are key primaries for a state Supreme Court seat, Fulton County district attorney, and Fulton County Superior Court judge.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
House
3rd Congressional District
Georgia’s 3rd District is the state’s only open seat, with Ferguson retiring after four terms. Five Republicans are running in the GOP primary to replace the Georgia Republican, including former Trump aide Brian Jack, who has received the former president’s endorsement.
In the Democratic primary, Val Almonord and Maura Keller are running for their party’s nomination.
6th Congressional District
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), who currently represents Georgia’s 7th District, is running in the Democratic primary for the 6th District after redistricting effectively erased her seat.
McBath faces two other Democrats: Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson and state Rep. Mandisha A. Thomas.
On the Republican side, Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) is running unopposed.
13th Congressional District
Rep. David Scott’s (D-GA) seat also fell victim to redistricting in the state and is now facing six challengers in the Democratic primary, including Marcus Flowers, Brian Johnson, Uloma Ekpete, Rashid Malid, and Karen Rene.
On the GOP side, Republicans Jonathan Chavez and Johsie Cruz Fletcher are going head to head for the Republican nomination.
State Supreme Court
While there are multiple state Supreme Court seats on the ballot, only Justice Andrew Pinson is facing a challenge for his position.
Pinson, who was appointed to the position in 2022 by Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), is being challenged by former Rep. John Barrow. Barrow has made the issue of abortion central to his campaign, though the state court does not have candidates run under party labels.
Fulton County district attorney
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has gained national attention for leading the 2020 election interference case against Trump, is facing a challenger for her position from author Christian Wise Smith, who ran in 2020 but failed to make the runoff.
Fulton County Superior Court judge
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the Trump election interference case, is also facing a challenger. While the race is nonpartisan, McAfee was appointed to his position last year.
Civil rights lawyer and radio host Robert Patillo II is vying for McAfee’s gavel.
Oregon
All six of Oregon’s House seats are up for grabs in November. While most of them are deemed uncompetitive, two districts with high-profile primaries could indicate how Republicans will fare in the general election. Oregon is also holding its presidential primary races.
All polls close at 11 p.m. Eastern, with the exception of Malheur County.
President
Biden and Trump are largely expected to win their primary races will little to no trouble. However, Biden will have to compete with having an “uncommitted” option on the ballot once again. The Uncommitted vote has hounded the president as voters unhappy with his handling of the war in Gaza have used the option to protest.
There is no “uncommitted” option on Oregon’s ballot, but the group UnCommittedOregon is urging people to use the ballot’s write-in option instead. Author Marianne Williamson will also be on the ballot.
Trump is running unopposed in the GOP primary.
House
3rd Congressional District
In Oregon’s 3rd District, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is retiring, sparking a competitive Democratic primary to replace him that includes Susheela Jayapal, the sister of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Jayapal is vying against state Rep. Maxine Dexter, Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales and four other Democrats for the Democratic nomination.
There are three Republicans also competing in the GOP primary: Gary Dye, Teresa Orwig, and Joanna Harbour.
5th Congressional District
In a race that could decide control of the House in November, two Democrats are competing for the opportunity to face incumbent Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) in November.
State Rep. Janelle Bynum and progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner are competing in the Democratic primary. McLeod-Skinner previously lost to Chavez-DeRemer in the 2022 midterm elections.
District attorney
District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who serves the Portland area, is facing a challenge from Nathan Vasquez, a prosecutor in the office for over two decades that has pledged to be tough on crime.
Schmidt, who is considered more left-leaning though the position does not adhere to partisan labels, first took office in 2020 around the time of the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota sparked nationwide protests.
Idaho
2nd Congressional District
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) is seeking a 14th term in Idaho’s 2nd District. Two Republicans are vying to oust Simpson: financial adviser Scott Cleveland and former teacher and information technology professional Sean Higgins.
Most polls close at 10 p.m. Some polls close at 11 p.m.
California
20th District Special Election
California voters will once again be voting on who will replace former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Republicans Vince Fong and Mike Boudreaux are going head to head in the district’s special runoff election. The winner in the election will finish McCarthy’s term and then will battle again in November for a full two-year term.
