All right, we got primaries in Rhode Island, Maryland, Arizona, New York, Minnesota, Delaware, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington D.C.
RI:
The biggie is, of course, the RINO knock-off attempt of the year-- Chafee vs. Laffey in the Republican primary for Senate in Rhode Island.Notoriously independent-minded Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee confronts stiff opposition Tuesday in his bid for a second term, the latest race with a moderate targeted by his own party's hard-line critics.
"Notoriously independent-minded," indeed. This guy's so bad at being a Republican, he's got Hugh rooting for an incumbent defeat.
Club for Growth, which has become the incumbent slayer of late, has info on where to watch the returns.
MD:
Michael Steele has the Republican nomination wrapped up in the Maryland Senate race, but there's a throw-down for the Dem spot starring Kweisi Mfume. Kewisi Mfume in a competitive primary for the chance to face a black Republican? You know what that means. Tasty race-baiting all year long!
Two major figures in the Democratic Party - Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin and former Rep. Kweisi Mfume - are battling each other and a host of other challengers to take on Republican Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele in what could be a nationally watched race to replace five-term U.S. Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes.
NY:
A gubernatorial primary on the Dem side:
In November, voters will choose a new governor. Today, Democrats will pick their candidate, either Eliot Spitzer or Tom Suozzi.
The winner faces Republican John Faso on November 7th in the general election.
Spitzer is leading. Hillary is trouncing little-known anti-war opponent John Tasini in polls for her Senate primary.
Karol covers NY politics, so check in with her.
AZ:
The immigration debate, all microcosm-ed up for your convenience in the Republican primary for Arizona's 8th Congressional District.
In Arizona’s open 8th congressional district, conservative GOP candidate Randy Graf and moderate Steve Huffman are squaring off to replace outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe.
Graf press secretary R.T. Gregg said House Republicans’ immigration hearings over the August recess have helped focus attention on an important issue for the district.
“It was good that members of Congress came to this district that is most affected by illegal immigration to see first hand the effects of illegal immigration,” he said, “particularly given the lack of attention our current Congressman from this district has given this most pressing problem.”
Gregg also criticized the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) for pouring money into the district to benefit Huffman. Last week alone, the NRCC spent $122,000 on an ad campaign designed to benefit Huffman.
“[Immigration] is on the minds of voters...,” he said. However, Gregg argued that “intervention by power brokers in Washington has tended to cloud the issue...[the question becomes] whether the seat is for sale.”
This is a race that made a lot of news when the national GOP made the unorthodox move of jumping into a primary on Huffman's side.
WI:
I'm pretty sure nothing big is going on in Wisconsin, but Ann Althouse would know better.
NH:
Two Congressional primaries in New Hampshire, in the first and second districts:
In the First District, 4 Democrats and 1 Republican want to replace Republican Congressman Jeb Bradley, who is running for a
third term.
Establishment-backed Jim Craig of Manchester is seen as the man to beat in the Democratic primary. Activist Carol Shea-Porter of
Rochester, Rye businessman Gary Dodds and engineer Dave Jarvis of Londonderry hoped to do just that. The winner will face either Bradley or his GOP primary opponent, stonemason Michael Callis of Eaton.
In the Second District, Berlin Mayor Bob Danderson and political newcomer Mary Maxwell of Concord are challenging Congressman Charles Bass, who is running for a seventh term. The winner faces Democrat Paul Hodes, who has no primary opponent.
U.S. SENATE: The three-way race for the Republican nomination features law professor Jan Ting, airline pilot Michael Protack and public relations consultant Christine O'Donnell. Incumbent Thomas Carper is unchallenged for the Democratic nomination.
U.S. HOUSE: The campaign for the Democratic nomination pits Wilmington attorney Dennis Spivack against Dover activist and child advocate Karen Hartley-Nagle. Incumbent Michael Castle is unchallenged for the Republican nomination.
VT:
Rainville for Congress in Vermont:
In the U.S. House race, retired Vermont National Guard Gen. Martha Rainville has been endorsed by the state party but still faces a primary against state Sen. Mark Shepard.
MN:
The three major party's endorsed candidates -- Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, DFL Attorney General Mike Hatch and the Independence Party's Peter Hutchinson -- are being challenged by three women. But the women -- Republican Sue Jeffers, DFLer Becky Lourey and IP candidate Pam Ellison -- are short on the money and political organizations needed to wage high-profile campaigns.
Fifth Congressional District:
This is the most closely watched primary in the state because the DFL primary winner will be the overwhelming favorite to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo in the general election.
The four leading candidates in the race are state Rep. Keith Ellison of Minneapolis, the DFL-endorsed candidate; former state Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge of New Hope; former state DFL Chairman Mike Erlandson; and Minneapolis City Council member Paul Ostrow.
Joel Mowbray calls Ellison "CAIR's candidate."
D.C.:
Apparently, they're "watershed." Or, that's what Wonkette told me.
For more from people who know more than I, check Wizbang! Politics and Real Politics.