Primary Day Again: Mississippi, South Carolina, Utah and North Carolina

Jillian Bandes | June 22, 2010 9:35 AM

Four states are linin' up for votes today in runoff primary races. Here's what to watch.

SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR (R)
The top race is the runoff between State Rep. Nikki Haley and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett in the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary. Haley is expected to win, having earned a 27-point lead over Barret in the initial primary race. But there have been spirited debates since then, and an Indian woman's ability to take the GOP nod in a this traditional, Southern state is still captivating.

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE (R)
Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) is going to be yet another incumbent to lose his seat this cycle. He's been fending off attacks from Spartanburg County Solicitor Trey Gowdy, an underdog candidate who has shaken Inglis' Washington credentials to the core. Most analysts are attributing Inglis' expected loss to an anti-incumbancy mood.

UTAH SENATE (R)
After Sen. Bob Bennet lost his party's nod for re-election, Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee have been duking it out to be his replacement in November. The race is neck-and neck, and the winner is all but certain to win the general election. Lee has been bashing Bridgewater's business acumen, saying he made his money off earmarks and stimulus money. Bridgewater has been attacking Lee's job as a lawyer, while touting his endorsement from the outgoing Bennett.

UTAH HOUSE (D)
Rep. Jim Matheson is facing a strong challenge from Claudia Wright, who won 45% of the vote in the state nominating convention. It's possible she'll capitalize on Utah's anti-incumbancy mood again, and send Matheson the same way as Bennett.

NORTH CAROLINA SENATE (D)
Two Democrats are competing to take on first-term Republican Sen. Richard Burr: Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall. They split the vote with Ken Lewis in the first round of primaries, who ultimately endorsed Marshall. Lewis' endorsement will go a long way, but this race is still too close to call.