Mike Kennedy advances past crowded GOP primary to secure nomination for open Utah House seat
Mike Kennedy on Tuesday won the Republican nomination for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District to replace outgoing Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, becoming the immediate favorite to win the seat in November. Kennedy beat fellow Republicans JR Bird, John Dougall, Case Lawrence and Stewart Peay in a packed primary pool for the district. Curtis is vacating his seat to run for U.S. Senate to replace outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney. Kennedy, a state senator, had won the party’s nomination for the seat in April but faced challenges from other candidates who gathered signatures to be on the ballot. Peay had won the endorsement of Romney, who is also Peay’s wife’s uncle. Kennedy had won the endorsement of Sen. Mike Lee, who said he was needed to “fight against the Uniparty and help get this country back on track.” ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER FACES OUSTER FROM CONGRESS AS NEW YORK, COLORADO AND UTAH HOLD PRIMARIES ON TUESDAY Bird, a mayor, emphasized his experience of running a small town as well as the importance of the energy sector and agriculture, according to the Deseret News. Dougall, the state auditor, had run as an anti-MAGA candidate and had slammed some GOP legislation, including what he saw as an overly aggressive bill that tasks him with enforcing a ban on transgender-identifying individuals using restrooms that are inconsistent with their sex. WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY He has also been deeply critical of former President Trump. On Tuesday on X, he also questioned the “cavalier manner” of any official who swears to uphold the Constitution “then endorses Trump following January 6th.” He has advertised himself as “mainstream, not MAGA.” At a debate this month, candidates split on the question of military funding to Ukraine as well as whether the federal government should explicitly ban abortion. Peay, Dougall and Case Lawrence – a trampoline park entrepreneur – had called on Congress to keep sending weapons to Ukraine to help it fend off the ongoing Russian invasion. Bird and Kennedy disagreed, arguing that it was not beneficial to the U.S. to keep funding the Ukrainians, with the two calling for stronger sanctions and the seizure of Russian assets. HEAD HERE FOR LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN TRAIL Kennedy will go on to face Democrat Glenn Wright in the November election, but the Republican is favored to win comfortably in a district that has voted Republican since 1997. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Elsewhere in the state, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, a major GOP Trump critic, held off a primary challenge from Phil Lyman, another 2020 election denier who easily won the state party convention. The Associated Press and Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
State Senator wins Dem primary in central New York, lining up showdown for pivotal swing seat
New York state Sen. John Mannion, a former public school teacher, won the Democratic primary in New York’s 22nd congressional district Tuesday night to face Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., in November. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report ranks the district as one of the most competitive in the country, and Democrats are eyeing it as a prime pickup opportunity to retake control of the House next year. His victory comes despite recent allegations that his New York State Senate office was a toxic work environment “including mistreatment, harassment, and retaliation,” according to an unverified open letter signed by “Concerned Mannion Staff.” Mannion told local outlet CNY that the accusations were a “false political attack.” WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY Williams’ district in central New York includes cities like Syracuse and Utica. It’s one of 17 House GOP-held districts that President Biden won in 2020, making it a prime target for Democrats. HEAD HERE FOR LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN TRAIL Williams won his seat in 2022 with roughly 1.5% of the vote, and off-year redistricting has since changed his district’s boundaries to include bluer areas. The first-term Republican lawmaker is a Navy veteran and currently sits on the committees for Transportation, Science, and Education and the Workforce. AOC SLAMMED FOR SAYING ‘FALSE ACCUSATIONS’ OF ANTISEMITISM ARE ‘WIELDED AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR’ Williams came out in support of former President Trump in late January of this year, though with a lukewarm endorsement that didn’t extol the former president directly. “President Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. Our country is under immense pressure—inflation, chaos at the border, sanctuary cities, fentanyl, cashless bail, crime, energy costs—we can’t endure 4 more years of Progressive fantasies, we need a Republican in the White House. And I have always said our nominee will have my full support to turn this country around,” Williams said on X after Trump won the New Hampshire GOP primary.
Spencer Cox wins Utah Republican primary for Governor
Spencer Cox emerged with the victory in the battle for the GOP nomination in Utah’s governor’s race, besting Phil Lyman in one of the more surprising primary challenges in the country. TRUMP ENDORSES GOP UTAH SENATE CANDIDATE LOOKING TO REPLACE ROMNEY: ‘HE WILL BE A GREAT SENATOR’ Lyman, a loyal supporter of former President Donald Trump’s, mounted the primary challenge against Cox despite the incumbent’s popularity in the state, with many conservative members of the state party becoming disillusioned with the governor’s vetoes of conservative legislation and noncommittal support for the former president. Lyman, who was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after a misdemeanor conviction related to protesting the federal closure of the Recapture Canyon to offload vehicles, has promised a slew of reforms including tax cuts, education reforms, and immigration reforms. Cox, meanwhile, continued to enjoy healthy popular support throughout the state, with recent polls showing a nearly 40 point lead for the incumbent ahead of Tuesday’s election. UTAH GOP CHOOSE TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE AS NOMINEE TO REPLACE SEN. ROMNEY, BUT PRIMARY STILL TO COME The current governor, who represents the party’s more moderate flank, further angered the states GOP delegates by gathering the 28,000 signatures necessary to be on the ballot instead of relying on the convention process, a tactic also used by former Gov. Gary Herbert to also work around the state’s more conservative grassroots. Herbert went on to easily win the nomination and general election that year. Cox will now face off with Democratic State Rep. Brian King in November’s general election, with King securing his party’s nomination for the top state post in April. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP King faces an uphill battle in reliably red Utah, with a Republican holding the governor’s office in the state every year since 1985.
John Curtis wins highly-contested primary Utah challenge to replace Sen. Mitt Romney
John Curtis won Tuesday night’s primary challenge in Utah, taking one step closer to potentially replacing retiring moderate Republican Sen. Mitt Romney. Curtis was leading with 52% of the vote when the Associated Press called the race. He will now proceed to the November general election and face Democratic nominee Caroline Gleich. Utah hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1970. UTAH GOP CHOOSE TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE AS NOMINEE TO REPLACE SEN. ROMNEY, BUT PRIMARY STILL TO COME Runner-up candidate Trent Staggs was at 28.2%. Staggs built his base by calling delegates personally and courting the endorsements of Trump and many of his allies nationwide. The former president wrote on his Truth Social platform in April that Staggs is a “100% MAGA” candidate who knows how to stop inflation, grow the economy and secure the U.S.-Mexico border. UTAH GOP CHOOSES TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE AS NOMINEE TO REPLACE SEN. ROMNEY, BUT PRIMARY STILL TO COME Staggs was the first candidate to enter the Senate race, even before Romney announced he was not seeking reelection. Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, is currently the longest serving congressman in Utah’s House delegation and positioned himself as an alternative to the Trump-endorsed Staggs. A former mayor of the city of Provo, Curtis, 63, has served in Congress since 2017, winning a special election that year and reelection by wide margins ever since. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Like Romney, Curtis hasn’t endorsed Trump for president, likely squaring him with Romney’s base, and leans more left on issues like climate change compared to the rest of the Republican flank. Another conservative candidate, former state House Speaker Brad Wilson, despite loaning $3 million to his campaign, lost at the April state Republican convention to Staggs and was once considered a leading contender. Meanwhile, candidate Jason Walton positioned himself as a businessman similar to Trump. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Blake Moore advances in Utah’s 1st Congressional District
Blake Moore emerged as Tuesday night’s winner in Utah’s 2024 Republican primary election for the 1st Congressional District, according to the Associated Press. Moore will now proceed to the November General Election where he will challenge Democratic candidate Bill Campbell. WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY Republican candidate Paul Miller, an electrician with no prior political experience seeking to appeal to the middle class, won more than 50% of the state delegation vote at the Republican convention in April. Incumbent Rep. Blake Moore, a member of the House Budget Committee, is seeking a third term. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Abortion is one of Utah’s top election issues in the strongly socially conservative Mormon state. While Miller said he would support a national abortion ban, Moore said he would oppose extreme Democratic policies that permit abortion up until birth, according to an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune this month.
Trump-backed GOP congresswoman survives challenge from right in deep-red New York House district
A Republican incumbent backed by former President Trump has survived a challenge from the right in her deep-red upstate New York House district. Rep. Claudia Tenney defeated attorney and businessman Mario Fratto in the Republican primary for New York’s 24th Congressional District. Fratto referred to Tenney as a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) throughout the campaign and accused her of not being conservative enough on various issues, while Tenney tried to paint Fratto as antisemitic and extreme. HOW TO WATCH THE CNN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SIMULCAST ON THE FOX NEWS CHANNEL This is the second time Tenney and Fratto have faced off in a Republican primary for the district. The two clashed in 2022, with Tenney securing just under 54% of the vote to Fratto’s 40%. Tenney’s win means she has likely secured a fourth term in the House of Representatives, given the conservative leanings of her district. She was first elected in 2016 to represent New York’s 22nd Congressional District, but she narrowly lost her 2018 re-election bid in a tough year for Republicans. She was re-elected in 2020 to again represent the 22nd District, but after redistricting across the state, she successfully ran for the 24th District in 2022. Elections analysts rate the race as either “solid” or “safe” Republican. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Ex-CNN anchor wins NY Dem primary to challenge Biden-district Republican Nick LaLota
A former CNN anchor has won his Democratic primary in New York’s 1st congressional district, setting up what’s expected to be a high-profile fight against Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., in November. John Avlon, who was also once a speechwriter for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, was up against former Stony Brook University professor Nancy Goroff. Goroff ran and lost in the district in 2020. WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY Avlon was endorsed by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with his fellow New York Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Tom Suozzi. “We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend democracy and win back the House from his extreme MAGA minions,” Avlon’s website states. —————————- GOROFF WIN: Former Stony Brook University professor Nancy Goroff has defeated ex-CNN host John Avlon in New York’s 1st congressional district, setting up what’s expected to be a high-profile fight against Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., in November. Goroff served as chair of the Long Island college’s chemistry department before going on leave to run for Congress unsuccessfully in 2020. WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY Goroff is not endorsed by any current members of New York’s congressional delegation, but she was backed by current Reps. Lois Frankel, D-Fla.; Eric Sorensen, D-Ill.; Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.; and Bill Foster, D-Ill. “To protect families like yours and mine, we need a representative who will work with Republicans and Democrats to cut costs for Long Islanders, ensure local public safety and social services have the resources they need to keep us safe, stand up to the extremists who want to take away a woman’s right to choose, and put an end to senseless gun violence,” Goroff’s website states. ————————————————————————————————————————————- While the seat is modestly safer than other Republican seats within the New York City metro area, it’s likely to still be critical in deciding which party holds the House of Representatives next year. LaLota is one of 17 Republicans representing a district that President Biden won in 2020. HEAD HERE FOR LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING FROM THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN TRAIL The first-term lawmaker won the seat after his predecessor, former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., retired to run for New York governor. Zeldin flipped the seat for Republicans when he beat incumbent Rep. Tim Bishop, D-N.Y., in 2014. Like Zeldin, LaLota has also aligned himself with Trump, becoming one of the first swing seat Republicans to endorse the former president for reelection. AOC SLAMMED FOR SAYING ‘FALSE ACCUSATIONS’ OF ANTISEMITISM ARE ‘WIELDED AGAINST PEOPLE OF COLOR’ CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Trump has endorsed LaLota as well, writing on Truth Social earlier this month, “Nick is fighting hard to Grow the Economy and Lower Inflation, Defend our Great Military and Police, Secure our Border, Uphold the Rule of Law, and Protect our Constitutional Rights. Nick LaLota has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” LaLota is a Navy veteran and member of the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Small Business committees.
House Democrat becomes the first Squad member ever defeated in a primary battle
Two-term Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York has the dubious honor of becoming the first House member of either party to be defeated by a primary challenger so far in the 2024 election cycle. And Bowman also becomes the first member of the Squad, a progressive group of diverse House Democrats, to be ousted from Congress. This after the Associated Press projected that rival George Latimer would defeat Bowman in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in New York’s 16th Congressional District – which covers southern Westchester County [in suburban New York City] and a small portion of The Bronx. The primary between Bowman, a former middle school principal who four years ago ousted 16-term Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primaries – and Latimer, a Westchester County executive, had already earned a page in the record books as the most expensive congressional primary in the nation’s history. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS PRIMARY NIGHT RESULTS And the contentious battle between a member of the Squad and his more moderate challenger spotlighted the Democrats’ deep divisions over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.. Bowman – who has been outspoken about his support for Palestinians amid the war in Gaza and has charged that Israel has committed genocide – was targeted by roughly $14 million in spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the deep-pocketed pro-Israel group that supported Latimer. WATCH: THIS HOUSE PRIMARY IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY Progressive rock stars Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York supported Bowman, and teamed up with the besieged lawmaker at a rally Saturday in The Bronx. The event was anything but a PG-rated spectacle, as Bowman repeatedly used profanities. “We are going to show f–king AIPAC, the power of the motherf–king South Bronx!” Bowman said at the rally, which was held outside the congressional district’s boundaries. As he conceded on Tuesday night, Bowman made what he called a “public apology” for “sometimes using foul language.” But he added that “we should be outraged when a super PAC of dark money can spend $20 million to brainwash people into believing something that isn’t true. We should be outraged about that.” Speaking with reporters on Monday, Latimer called Bowman’s language “inappropriate. Period.” And Latimer emphasized that “during this campaign I’ve been called a lot of unkind things. I’ve opened up a weekly newspaper in this county and seen myself referred to as genocide George. I’ve had all sorts of claims lobbed at me.” “I think there’s been a lot of criticism lobbed at me by my opponent that’s unfair and inaccurate,” Latimer argued, “But I don’t think I get it right to use my temper. I don’t think I get the right to curse in public and carry on in a certain way.” While the Israel-Hamas war was a top issue in the primary, it was not the only one at play. Bowman, who’s grabbed plenty of attention during his four years in Congress for his verbal warfare with Republicans and for pulling a fire alarm in a House office building last year during a vote over government funding, was also hit for voting against President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill and against raising the debt limit. While knocking off an incumbent is extremely difficult – and had yet to be accomplished by a challenger so far this cycle – Latimer was well known in the district. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Latimer, a former state senator, was endorsed by local mayors and council members, multiple Westchester County legislators, and by former Secretary of State and former Sen. Hillary Clinton. The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee lives close to the district, in northern Westchester County. He spoke with reporters on Monday at an event where he was endorsed by more than a half-dozen diverse clergy leaders from the congressional district. The ads on behalf of Latimer were also a factor. A record $25 million has been spent by outside groups and the two campaigns to run ads in the district, which is located in New York’s pricey media market, according to Adimpact, a well-known national ad tracking firm. Bowman, speaking at a campaign event on Monday, said “this race has gotten national attention because it is the ultimate many verses the money race, and we are the many, we are the people.” And he argued that “we can not let special interest billionaires…buy this congressional seat.” Age and race were also at play in the primary battle. Bowman is 48 years old and Black and part of a new generation of rising Democratic Party stars. Meanwhile, Latimer is 70 years old and white, and is a politician who spotlights his commitment to old-school retail style politics. Fox News’ Sandy Ibrahim and Caroline Elliott contributed to this report Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Jeff Crank wins battle of Trump vs establishment in Colorado
Jeff Crank emerged with the victory in the heated race for the GOP nomination in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, besting Trump-backed Dave Williams in one of the most watched primary elections of the day. Crank won the GOP nomination Tuesday with 67.9% percent of the vote, at the time the Associated Press called the race. The race for the nomination was one of the most closely watched contests around the country, pitting state Republican Party Chair Dave Williams, a former state representative, against conservative activist Jeff Crank. NY DEM SLAMS ‘SQUAD’ MEMBER’S PROFANITY-LACED RANT AT RALLY WITH AOC: ‘UNHINGED’ Williams, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has been at the center of controversy in the final days of the race after his comments on Pride Month in a series of emails in social media posts. “God Hates Pride,” Williams said in one social media post, according to a Colorado Politics report. The comments spawned a movement to remove Williams from his post as Party Chairman among GOP county members from across the state, the report noted, though those backing the effort acknowledged the petition to remove the candidate from his leadership position was largely a symbolic one. Williams ran his campaign to the right of Crank, promoting a conservative agenda and a lack of need to compromise with Democrats. ANOTHER HOUSE MEMBER CALLS ON NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC GOV. HOCHUL TO PARDON TRUMP: ‘YOUR SOLEMN DUTY’ Crank, who was endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, ran as the more traditional Republican option, promising continued U.S. support for Ukraine and to work across the aisle in order to pass legislation. Neither candidate was able to clear the $1 million mark in fundraising, with Crank hauling in just over $500,000 in contributions compared to the just over $100,000 raised by Williams, according to Federal Election Commission data. But outside groups made a push to elect Crank down the stretch, with a Colorado Sun report earlier this month noting that Republican PACs had spent more than $1 million attempting to boost Crank’s campaign. The heated primary battle was made possible by the retirement of Rep. Doug Lamborn, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek a 10th term. Crank will now go on to face the winner of the Democratic primary, which pits River Gassen against Joe Reagan. The seat is largely expected to stay in Republican hands, with the district being won by a member of the GOP in every election since it was created in 1973.
Trump-backed Republican seeking to oust Democrat lawmaker wins Colorado House race
Republican candidate Gabe Evans, who received the backing of former President Donald Trump, defeated his primary challenger in the race to represent Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in the House. The victory by Evans, a current member of the Colorado House of Representatives, came after he was pitted against former state Rep. Janak Joshi in Tuesday’s primary election. Evans previously served in the U.S. Army and Colorado Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and company commander, according to his campaign’s website. In addition to his service in the military, Evans, a first-term state representative from Fort Lupton, also served as an Arvada police officer for more than a decade. Now, in his free time from serving as a state lawmaker, he teaches a concealed carry class in the 8th District. SEMI DRIVER IN DEADLY COLORADO HIGHWAY CRASH IS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO WAS DEPORTED FROM US MULTIPLE TIMES: ICE Evans’ campaign outlines “four pillars” on its website for which he is running his campaign, including American prosperity, American security, American education, and the defense of American values. Evans and Joshi were the only two Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in Tuesday’s election. Evans received support from Trump and several other prominent Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, while retired physician Joshi was backed by the Colorado Republican Party. Trump gave Evans his “Complete and Total Endorsement” earlier this month, writing in a post to Truth Social, “A decorated Army helicopter pilot and police officer, Gabe will be an INCREDIBLE Fighter in Congress and will work hard to Grow the Economy, Lower Inflation, Uphold the Rule of Law, Defend the Border, Promote American Energy, and Support our Great Military and Police.” With his primary victory in the bag, Evans now advances to the state’s Nov. 5 general election, where he will face off against incumbent Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo – a former Colorado state representative who has represented the district in the House since 2023. Caraveo’s campaign previously slammed Evans following the endorsement from Trump, saying he “will do anything to get elected.” “Evans will do anything to get elected, even stand by convicted felon Donald Trump. Now, Trump is rewarding Evans’ allegiance with an endorsement,” Mallory Payne, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told Colorado Politics this month. “If it wasn’t already clear that Evans would cave to his MAGA leader’s every demand, it is now.” VULNERABLE HOUSE DEMS DO A U-TURN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AFTER CALLING CRISIS ‘NON-EXISTENT THREAT’ Immigration issues and the border crisis are likely to play a large role in the general election matchup between Evans and Caraveo. Evans’ campaign website notes the “humanitarian and public policy crisis at the Southern border started the moment Joe Biden took office” and that a “huge percentage of the crime in Colorado is driven not just by homegrown criminals but by international crime organizations and cartels who exploit the open border and Colorado’s sanctuary policies as they prey on Colorado residents.” Caraveo was one of 211 Democrats who voted against the Secure the Border Act of 2023. That measure, which passed in the House, would have expanded the type of crimes that make someone ineligible for asylum, limited the eligibility to those who arrive at ports of entry, mandated a system similar to the E-Verify employment eligibility verification system and created additional penalties for visa overstay. Caraveo was also one of the many House Democrats who voted against a GOP-led effort in the House to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas. During her previous tenure in the Colorado state House of Representatives, Caraveo joined other Democrats from across the nation to send a letter urging the Biden administration to relax immigration rules and “divest from immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP.” The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election analyst, currently ranks Colorado’s 8th District as a “Democrat Toss Up” race this cycle.