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PRIMARIES
Today’s Vote: GA, OK, VA
Political types will be watching today's primaries – not looking for the winners as much as looking for trends.
Voters in Oklahoma and Virginia casting ballots in their full primaries, while certain Georgia districts will host runoff elections.
VIRGINIA
The races of most interest come in central Virginia, where two-term Rep. Bob Good (R-Lynchburg) faces a serious opponent in state Sen. John McGuire (R-Manakin Sabot).
This is a contest that could feature the first challenger victory of the primary season. At this point in contested House Republican and Democratic primaries, the incumbents are 11-0.
To complicate matters for Rep. Good, this is the first time he has faced a primary election. His two previous nominations were won through district conventions.
Additionally, former President Trump has endorsed Sen. McGuire, and ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy has raised substantial money toward a Super PAC that is attempting to unseat Good. The Congressman was one of the leaders of the movement that ousted McCarthy from the Speakership.
OKLAHOMA
House Appropriations Committee chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) is facing a multi-million-dollar campaign coming from businessman Paul Bondar. Both men are heavily attacking each other — Rep. Cole hitting Bondar as a recent transplant from Texas, and the challenger attacking the incumbent as being out of touch with the district. Rep. Cole is still favored for renomination.
GEORGIA
The major runoff to be decided tomorrow comes in western Georgia, where former Trump White House aide Brian Jack and state Sen. Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton) battle each other. Jack came close to winning the nomination outright in May, but fell just short. He appears to be a clear favorite heading into the secondary election.
PRESIDENT
Colorado: Libertarians Reject National Nominee
The Colorado Libertarian Party leadership announced yesterday that they will not slate the national party’s nominee Chase Oliver for the general election, arguing he is “too moderate.”
State party leaders plan to inform the Colorado Secretary of State as to whom the local organization will choose prior to the ballot certification deadline.
The Libertarian Party is the only minor party where in 2020 their nominee, Jo Jorgensen, had 50-state ballot access; 48 under the party name and in two, Alabama and Tennessee, where she appeared on the Independent line.
Along with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I) and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, the non-Democratic and Republican finalists will likely be significant in the swing states where they appear on the ballot.
In Colorado, however, the Libertarian line will only make a minor difference as President Biden is a heavy favorite to win the state.
HOUSE
MN-5: Two Major Unions Endorse Rep. Omar’s Opponent
While three-term Minnesota US Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minneapolis) just launched a television ad talking about how proud she is to represent her constituents, two important labor unions endorsed her Democratic primary opponent, former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels.
The United Steelworkers and the International Union of Operating Engineers both issued endorsements for Samuels, the campaign announced yesterday. In 2022, Samuels held Rep. Omar to a 50-48% renomination victory. The two again do battle in the state’s August 13 primary election.
Rep. Omar is a member of the far-left group known as “The Squad” within the House. Two of its other members, Reps. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), also face strong Democratic primary challenges in the coming weeks.
Jim Ellis is a 35-year veteran of politics at the state and national levels. He has served ss executive director for two national political action committees, as well as a consultant to the three national Republican Party organizations in DC, the National Federation of Independent Business, and various national conservative groups.
Born and raised in Sacramento, California, he earned a B. A. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis in 1979. Jim raised his daughter, Jacqueline, alone after his wife died following a tragic car accident. He helped establish the Joan Ellis Victims Assistance Network in Rochester, NH. Jim also is a member of the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association, which officiates high school games throughout the region.
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