Six states vote Tuesday in a mix of primaries and a general election, with Michigan's Senate primary drawing the most national attention as Democrats choose between competing wings of the party. Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, and Washington round out the map with primary contests that will set the fall matchups in several competitive House seats.
Michigan: Democratic Senate Primary Splits Party Factions
Tuesday's marquee contest is the Democratic primary in Michigan's Senate race, where Abdul El-Sayed faces Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow for the right to face Republican Mike Rogers in November. Senator Bernie Sanders has argued publicly that El-Sayed can draw working-class Republican and independent votes, while RealClearPolitics reports center-left Democratic figures have been working to boost his rivals — a split that reflects broader tension over which candidate profile is better suited to a swing state. El-Sayed leads narrowly in fundraising, with $14.5 million raised to Stevens' $11.9 million and McMorrow's $11.4 million, though he trails both in cash on hand. The general election, regardless of nominee, is rated a Toss-up by Inside Elections, Cook, and Sabato's Crystal Ball.
Michigan's gubernatorial primary is also drawing notice. Politico reports Republican frontrunner John James, who has Donald Trump's endorsement and leads in polling, is facing an unexpected grassroots challenge in the campaign's final stretch. On the Democratic side, an EPIC-MRA poll fielded through July 31 shows Jocelyn Benson leading John James 47 to 38 percent in a hypothetical general-election matchup.
Virginia: Senate Primary Set, House Primaries Test Crowded Fields
Virginia Republicans will choose a nominee to face Democratic Senator Mark Warner in the state's Senate race, with Kim Farington, Bert Mizusawa, and David Williams competing for the nomination. Warner, who has said this will be his last Senate campaign, faces no primary opposition after a potential challenger withdrew. Cook, Sabato's, and Inside Elections all rate the general election Solid or Safe D.
The more crowded contest is the Democratic primary in Virginia's 1st Congressional District, where Shannon Taylor leads pre-primary fundraising with $2.14 million, ahead of Jason Knapp, Salaam Bhatti, and Melvin Tull. Separately, in the state's 7th District, a Tulchin Research poll has Democrat Elaine Luria tied with Republican Jen Kiggans at 47 percent each — a race Cook, Sabato's, and Inside Elections all rate Lean R heading toward November.
Kansas: Governor's Primary Turns on Data Center Growth
Kansas' gubernatorial primary has become a proxy fight over the state's data center boom, according to Politico, with candidates in both parties sparring over development incentives, infrastructure costs, and environmental tradeoffs. A district judge separately reinstated a three-day grace period for mail ballots ahead of Tuesday's vote, blocking a 2025 law that had shortened the deadline to election night. In the Senate race, Republican incumbent Roger Marshall is rated Solid R by Cook and Inside Elections and Safe R by Sabato's Crystal Ball against Democrat Adam Hamilton, who polled at 30 percent in a July GBAO survey with no reported opponent figure.
Elsewhere Tuesday, Missouri holds House primaries across several GOP-held districts, including contests involving Jason Smith and Ann Wagner, alongside Democrat Wesley Bell. Washington voters will weigh in on its 3rd District House primary, rated Lean D by Cook, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball, where Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and John Braun previously polled within a point of each other in an Emerson College survey.
Polls
| MI Governor EPIC-MRA (n=600 LV) | Jocelyn Benson 47% · John James 38% |
| MI Governor Mitchell Research (n=672 LV) | Jocelyn Benson 46% · John James 44% |
| OH House Republican firm (R) | Brian Poindexter 44% · Max Miller 39% |
| MI Senate EPIC-MRA (n=600 LV) | Abdul El-Sayed 43% · Mike Rogers 46% |
| MI Senate EPIC-MRA (n=600 LV) | El-Sayed 43% · Rogers 46% |
Follow the Money
Michigan Senate: Three-Way Fundraising Split
The Michigan Senate race produced the most crowded set of competitive filings this period, with two Democrats and a Republican all posting totals above $10 million in receipts. Democrat Haley Stevens reported $11,884,632.43 raised and $9,091,338.23 spent, leaving her with $2,793,294.20 on hand. Fellow Democrat Mallory McMorrow raised $11,386,720.36, spent $9,519,089.08, and closed with $1,867,631.28 in the bank. Republican Mike Rogers brought in $10,898,177.09, spent $6,680,643.32, and holds the largest cash reserve of the three at $4,473,237.49.
The disparity in burn rates is notable: Stevens and McMorrow each spent more than 80 percent of what they raised this period, while Rogers spent roughly 61 percent, preserving a larger share of his war chest heading into the next filing period.
Ohio Senate: Brown's Fundraising Lead
In the Ohio Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown reported the largest single fundraising haul among all candidates in this batch of filings — $38,566,234.10 in total receipts. He spent $22,336,492.78 during the period and retains $16,229,741.32 in cash on hand, the highest balance of any candidate listed here.
House Filings: Vindman and McClain Delaney
Two House candidates posted receipts above $12 million. Democrat Eugene Vindman, running in the Virginia 7th District race, raised $12,355,663.90, spent $5,917,504.37, and holds $6,573,093.27 in cash on hand — a relatively conservative spend rate that leaves him with substantial reserves. Democrat April McClain Delaney, running in the Maryland 6th District race, raised a similar $12,308,220.11 but spent nearly all of it — $12,013,487.97 — leaving just $307,611.31 on hand.
Other Senate Filings: North Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, New Hampshire
Republican Michael Whatley, in the North Carolina Senate race, raised $11,272,504.49 and spent $7,810,806.43, leaving $3,461,698.06 on hand. Republican Pete Ricketts, in the Nebraska Senate race, reported $11,233,506.70 raised against $4,809,505.91 spent, resulting in $6,910,969.90 cash on hand — one of the stronger reserve positions in this group relative to receipts. Democrat Angie Craig, in the Minnesota Senate race, raised $12,746,617.68 and spent $9,179,437.38, leaving $3,567,180.30 on hand. Democrat Chris Pappas, in the New Hampshire Senate race, raised $13,371,607.38, spent $8,595,870.88, and reported $5,183,320.73 in cash on hand.
Headlines
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What to Watch
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