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Ferguson wins primary, advances to general election in Washington gubernatorial race

Ferguson wins primary, advances to general election in Washington gubernatorial race

Democratic state attorney general Bob Ferguson took the most number of votes in Washington state’s nonpartisan gubernatorial primary Tuesday. He will face Republican Dave Reichert, who placed second, in the Nov. 5 election to replace termed-out Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee. In Washington’s “top two” primary system, all candidates for congressional and state offices are listed on the same ballot. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes move on to the general election, irrespective of their party affiliations.  The state’s top lawyer since 2013, Ferguson is running on a platform of continuity and reform, and has positioned himself as a defender of progressive values in a state known for its Democratic leanings. He won with 74% of the vote on Tuesday night, and will square off against Reichert, a former sheriff and former congressman, in the Nov. 5 general election. WHAT MIKE ROGERS TOLD FOX NEWS DIGITAL ABOUT HIS SENATE SHOWDOWN IN MICHIGAN Ferguson’s campaign has been marked by his sharp criticism of his opponent, former U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, on hot button issues such as abortion, as Ferguson has attacked Reichert for his previous support for a nationwide abortion ban as out of touch with Washington’s values.  Ferguson’s endorsements include prominent state leaders like U.S. Senate Pro Tempore Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee. Washington hasn’t elected a Republican governor in 40 years, making it an uphill battle for Reichert in November.

Reichert wins primary to advance to the general election for Governor in Washington State

Reichert wins primary to advance to the general election for Governor in Washington State

Dave Reichert, a Republican, took the top slot in the gubernatorial primary in Washington state on Tuesday night, beating out numerous other contenders. He now faces Bob Ferguson, the state’s Democratic attorney general, who placed second in Tuesday’s primary. The two will now face off in the Nov. 5 general election contest for governor. In Washington’s “top two” primary system, all candidates for congressional and state offices are listed on the same ballot. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes move on to the general election, irrespective of their party affiliations. Reichert, who served as King County Sheriff for 33 years, is best known for his role in capturing the Green River Killer, a notorious serial killer. His tenure as sheriff and his subsequent service in Congress have been central to his campaign messaging, positioning him as a tough on crime public safety candidate.  For his part, Ferguson’s campaign has been marked by his sharp criticism of Reichert on hot button issues such as abortion, as Ferguson has attacked the former Republican congressman for his previous support for a nationwide abortion ban as out of touch with Washington’s values.  Ferguson’s endorsements include prominent state leaders like U.S. Senate Pro Tempore Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee. TRUMP CAMP SAYS HARRIS-WALZ ‘DANGEROUSLY LIBERAL’ TICKET IS ‘EVERY AMERICAN’S NIGHTMARE’ Bird was also endorsed by the state’s Republican Party. Bird faced legal issues related to a 1993 conviction for bank larceny. He was found guilty of using his father’s name and Social Security number to apply for credit, which led to a guilty plea for the offense. Bird has acknowledged this past conviction and has stated that he regrets his actions, emphasizing that he has not been convicted of any crimes since then. These issues have been a point of contention and scrutiny in his political campaign. Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Mike Kehoe wins Missouri GOP gubernatorial primary, set for November showdown with Crystal Quade

Mike Kehoe wins Missouri GOP gubernatorial primary, set for November showdown with Crystal Quade

In a key race to watch this year,Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and State House Minority Leader Crystal Quade advanced as the Republican and Democratic candidates, respectively, and will face each other in the November election to replace Gov. Mike Parson, who is not seeking re-election in Missouri. State Sen. Bill Eigel, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe were the other candidates in the Republican field. All were endorsed by former President Donald Trump. For the Democrats, Quade faced off against Mike Hamra, a multimillionaire fast food franchise owner making his political debut.  SCATHING REPORT REVEALS BIDEN-HARRIS ADMIN RELEASED DOZENS OF MIGRANTS ON TERROR WATCHLIST INTO US  Ashcroft is a lawyer and the son of John Ashcroft, a former U.S. Attorney General during the George W. Bush administration. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law. Ashcroft was elected as Missouri Secretary of State in 2016. Kehoe’s political career began with his election to the Missouri General Assembly in 2004. He served there until 2010. He was then elected to the Missouri Senate, where he stayed until 2018. During his time in the Senate, he was known for his work on economic development, transportation and conservative fiscal policies. Eigel is a former U.S. Air Force officer and a successful businessman. Before entering politics, he had a career in the financial sector, including roles in investment banking and private equity. Eigel was first elected to the Missouri State Senate in 2016. Missouri’s Republican dominance is reflected in its control of both legislative chambers. The state has consistently supported Republican candidates in presidential elections since 2000, and Republican candidates have won the governor’s office and most statewide offices in recent cycles.

‘Squad’ Rep Cori Bush loses highly contentious primary against pro-Israel Democrat

‘Squad’ Rep Cori Bush loses highly contentious primary against pro-Israel Democrat

Voters in Minnesota’s bright blue 1st Congressional District served a sharp rebuke of the left’s progressive wing on Tuesday, denying Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., a third term. The “Squad” Democrat lost her primary to St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell, a more moderate candidate who had the backing of pro-Israel groups that spent millions to unseat Bush over her criticism of the Jewish nation. She’s the second member of her ultra-progressive group to lose their primary after Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., similarly lost to a moderate pro-Israel Democrat. THIS HOUSE DEMOCRAT BECOMES THE FIRST SQUAD MEMBER DEFEATED IN A PRIMARY Both are part of a growing faction of Democrats who have been critical of the U.S.’s traditionally close ties to Israel, a divide that has been on stark display since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack last year. Days after the attack, Bush said of Israel’s initial response, “Israel’s collective punishment against Palestinians for Hamas’ actions is a war crime.”  But Bush appears to have taken few lessons from Bowman’s loss, instead leaning into her progressive base with an Election Day eve virtual rally with Bowman and top Israel critic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., among others.  AOC EASILY WINS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY Earlier this year, Bush also revealed that she was the subject of investigations by the Justice Department, Federal Election Commission and House Ethics Committee over her husband’s paid role as a member of her bodyguard detail. Bush had accused so-called “right-wing organizations” of “peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services” in a Jan. 30 statement. The Minnesota Democrat and her allies sought to paint Bell, her opponent, as a figure closer to the right than the left – pointing out his previous volunteer work for an anti-abortion Republican candidate. DEMOCRAT CHALLENGER SLAMS BOWMAN’S ‘THEATER OF CONFLICT,’ SAYS PROFANITY-LACED RALLY JEOPARDIZES PARTY ‘UNITY’ CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Bell has also run his campaign under the banner of progressivism, but the issue of Israel has divided them sharply. He called Bush’s comments about Israel “wrong and offensive,” according to the Associated Press. Bell is now the favorite to win the House seat in November.

Reddy wins primary for Rep Davids’ seat that GOP is gunning to flip red

Reddy wins primary for Rep Davids’ seat that GOP is gunning to flip red

An Indian-born U.S. military veteran won the GOP primary in the 3rd Congressional District of Kansas on Tuesday, a seat Republicans are hoping to win back in November. Dr. Prasanth Reddy, a former physician-turned-high level Labcorp executive, was heavily favored to win the primary against challenger Karen Crnkovich. Reddy was endorsed by top House Republicans including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and was named to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) “Young Guns” list just last week. He’s now moving on to face Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., a moderate Democrat seeking a fourth term in the House. “Extreme House Democrat Sharice Davids has fueled the border, crime and cost of living crises that are wreaking havoc on Kansans’ safety and security. Prasanth Reddy is in a prime position to flip Kansas’ 3rd District red and help grow our House majority in November,” Delanie Bomar, a spokeswoman for the House GOP campaign arm, said last week. WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS HAVE BANNED TRUMP AND WHY? AN OVERVIEW  Reddy had far outraised Crnkovich during the primary cycle, bringing in more than $1.3 million compared to her total of just over $150,000. Both totals are significantly lower, however, than the $3 million and change that Davids has managed to raise.  FLASHBACK: THESE ARE THE 10 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO IMPEACH TRUMP  Davids won her seat during the blue wave of 2018 and was among the first Native American women to be sworn into Congress. Davids is also the only Democrat in Kansas’ congressional delegation. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has her seat ranked as an R+1 district, making it a top target for Republicans hoping to keep and expand their razor-thin House majority. GEN Z STOPPED REPUBLICANS’ EXPECTED RED WAVE – HERE’S HOW GOP CAN WIN OVER YOUNG VOTERS Davids won the district after defeating incumbent former Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kan., by just under 10 points, and has modestly expanded her margin of victory since. The district is majority-White and includes much of the Kansas City metro area. It’s also the least red of Kansas’ congressional districts.

Scholten wins Dem primary in key Michigan congressional district

Scholten wins Dem primary in key Michigan congressional district

Hillary Scholten won the House Democratic primary in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District – one of the most critical races on the map when it comes to deciding control of Congress. Scholten defeated Salim Al-Shatel with 87% of the vote according to a call by the Associated Press. Scholten, who is finishing her freshman term in Congress, entered the race as the incumbent and sought to highlight a record that supporters say showed her fighting for change during her first two years on the Hill. KEY PRIMARIES IN 4 STATES ON TUESDAY TO SET TABLE FOR NOVEMBER SENATE, HOUSE SHOWDOWNS “Other people can make a lot of promises,” Scholten said in an interview with ABC News 13. “It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and cast stones or say what you would do, but I’m the only one running who’s been able to get up every day and deliver on the things that I promised to do in 2022. And we’ve done them.” Meanwhile, Al-Shatel said he entered the race after growing disillusioned with some of Scholten’s policies. “I didn’t want to complain about it on social media or to my friends or something,” Al-Shatel told ABC News 13. “I wanted to give the people another option, because Hillary’s ran unopposed twice now [in the primary], and I didn’t want her to go unchecked with that stuff.” WHAT MIKE ROGERS TOLD FOX NEWS DIGITAL ABOUT HIS SENATE SHOWDOWN IN MICHIGAN Al-Shatel said he wanted to provide an alternative to Scholten on issues such as foreign policy, where he argued the U.S. was supporting a “genocide” in the Middle East instead of funding priorities at home. “I’m looking at that as a genocide of what’s going on with the innocent people that are dying there,” Al-Shatel said. “And I don’t see the need for us to continue sending money abroad here to these wars when people here don’t have universal health care, the rising price of groceries, the rising price of homes.” In the general election, [Winner] will take on the winner of Tuesday’s GOP primary, which pits attorney Paul Hudson against businessman Michael Markey Jr. Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District has become more competitive since the state redrew congressional maps in 2022, eventually leading to Scholten ousting former Republican Rep. Peter Meijer later that year. The district is classified by the Cook Political Report as “likely” to be won by a Democrat in this year’s election.

Harris was ‘reluctant’ to choose Shapiro because of his ‘Jewish heritage,’ Speaker Johnson says: report

Harris was ‘reluctant’ to choose Shapiro because of his ‘Jewish heritage,’ Speaker Johnson says: report

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said Tuesday that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would have been a “stronger choice” for Vice President Harris’ vice presidential pick, said he thinks she was “reluctant” to pick the 51-year-old as her running mate because of his “Jewish heritage.” “I think that clearly was a major factor, is that she was reluctant to put a vice presidential nominee on the ticket with Jewish heritage because they’re having a split in the Democratic Party,” Johnson told The Hill on Tuesday. “They have a pro-Palestinian, in some cases pro-Hamas, wing of the Democratic Party. “Sadly for Josh Shapiro, because of his heritage, I think that is the reason he was overlooked.”  Shapiro had frequently been mentioned as one of about a half-dozen candidates Harris was considering to join her ticket, but on Tuesday she announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.  FORMER TOP VP CONTENDER EXPRESSES ‘ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT’ FOR HARRIS-WALZ TICKET AFTER NOT BEING SELECTED The two held their first rally together in Philadelphia Tuesday and were introduced by Shapiro.  Johnson said he didn’t want to call the decision antisemitic “because I don’t — I just know that that was a major factor. I think it was transparently a major factor. And I think they made a political decision that is sad, and I think they’ll regret it.” Shapiro had faced attacks by progressives over his stance on the war in Gaza and noticeably had higher unfavorable ratings among Gen Z voters in a new NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll out this week. His ratings were 25% unfavorable compared to Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Walz, who had 10% and 13% unfavorable ratings, respectively.  But while Shapiro has been pro-Israel during its war with Hamas, he has also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at one point calling him “one of the worst leaders of all time.” KAMALA HARRIS PICKS TIM WALZ: DID SHE DECIDE JOSH SHAPIRO WAS TOO JEWISH TO BE VP? Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., pointed out the “hypocrisy” of anti-Israel protesters on Tuesday who demonstrated against the Biden administration’s policy on Israel, but who would vote for Harris as long as she didn’t pick Shapiro.  CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The Anti-Israel activists who have been falsely accusing the Biden-Harris sdministration of funding “genocide” are suddenly fine with Vice President Harris, as long as she declines to choose Governor Shapiro as a running mate,” Torres posted on X.  “Never mind that the pro-Israel views of Governor Shapiro are indistinguishable from those of VP Harris. These hypocrites are full of s— and their antisemitic dog whistling should be given no veto power over the selection of a presidential running mate.” Johnson’s office, Shapiro’s office and the Harris campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Trump-endorsed Mike Rogers wins Republican Senate primary in Michigan

Trump-endorsed Mike Rogers wins Republican Senate primary in Michigan

Former Rep. Mike Rogers won the Republican primary for Senate in Michigan on Tuesday and will battle it out in the November election for the state’s open Senate seat.  Rogers served in the House from 2001-2015. During his tenure in Congress, he was chairman of the Intelligence Committee.  He faced off against another former Rep. Justin Amash, who aligned himself with more libertarian-leaning politicians. Amash served from 2011-2021. Amash left the Republican Party in 2019, criticizing the two-party system in particular. He has also been an outspoken voice against former President Trump— which is unusual among elected Republicans.  PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS ‘INVISIBLE’ IN CRITICAL SWING STATE OF MICHIGAN: REPORT He is also a Palestinian-American, like many others in the state of Michigan, and has been critical of U.S. funding to Israel. The Michigan Republican primary field was initially much larger, with former Rep. Peter Meijer making a run as well, before ending his bid earlier this year.  KEY PRIMARIES IN 4 STATES ON TUESDAY TO SET TABLE FOR NOVEMBER SENATE, HOUSE SHOWDOWNS Businessman Sandy Pensler recently suspended his campaign for the nod and endorsed front-runner Rogers at a Trump rally in Michigan. Trump endorsed Rogers in the primary in March.  Rogers will now take on the winner of Tuesdays Democrat primary in the November general election, in what will be pivotal race to determine whether Republicans will hold the Senate majority and by how many seats. Non-Partisan political handicapper the Cook Political Report rated the race as a “Toss Up” alongside races in Montana, Ohio, and Nevada.