8 states vote in key primary elections

By Veronica Rocha, Meg Wagner and Brian Ries, CNN

Updated 2:00 p.m. ET, June 6, 2018
42 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
8:09 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

She could be the first Native American woman in Congress

From CNN's Gregory Krieg

Deb Haaland has won the primary for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, CNN projects, putting her on track to become the first Native American woman in Congress.

The former Democratic state party leader, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, is seeking to replace Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is leaving her post representing the solidly Democratic district to run for governor. Haaland outlasted a strong field that included former US Attorney Damon Martinez and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, an activist and former law professor.

"Tonight, New Mexico made history," Haaland said in a speech Tuesday, calling hers a "victory for working people, a victory for women and a victory for everyone who has been sidelined by the billionaire class."

There are 23 tribes in New Mexico, according to the state's Indian Affairs Department, and Native Americans make up a little more than 10% of the total population.

Haaland will face Republican Janice Arnold-Jones, who ran unopposed, in November.

2:00 p.m. ET, June 6, 2018

California voted yesterday — but some key races may be undecided for days

From CNN's Maeve Reston

Voters cast their ballots at a Masonic Lodge on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California.
Voters cast their ballots at a Masonic Lodge on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images

All eyes last night were on California’s “jungle primary,” where the two-top finishes, regardless of party, move onto the general election.

But it's not all decided this morning: Democratic hopes of wresting control of the House of Representatives were hanging in the balance early Wednesday morning, as many votes remained uncounted in California's most competitive congressional races.

It may, in fact, be days, if not more than a week, before all the votes are tallied in three of the mostly closely watched races in the country: California-39, California-48 and California-49.

Here's what we know now:

  • The California governor's race: Republican businessman John Cox will face off against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, in the November general election.
  • Republicans advance: CNN projected that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher will advance to the general election in California's 48th District and former California State Assemblywoman Young Kim will advance in California's 39th District.
  • In the 19th District: As of early Wednesday morning, CNN projected that in California's 49th District — where GOP Rep. Darrell Issa is retiring — one Democrat will advance to the general election, avoiding a shutout for the party. 

And here's what we're still watching:

  • A Democratic lockout? While CNN projects Rohrabacher and Kim will advance, it's unclear who their challengers will be. There is still a possibility Democrats could be locked out in these districts.
  • Vote-by-mail and provisional ballots: Election officials still must count huge numbers of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots. A printing error in Los Angeles County that left 118,000 voters off the roster created further suspense — particularly in California-39, which is represented by retiring Congressman Ed Royce.

7:06 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

More than 118,000 California voters were left off the rosters. The Fonz says he was one of them.

Henry Winkler, known for playing Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli in "Happy Days," tweeted last night that he was one of the many California voters left off the voter rolls in L.A. County tonight.

The error — which was a random printing error — caused widespread confusion in the midst of voting in the California primary on Tuesday. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder said that the names of 118,522 voters were omitted from the roster

Voters whose names did not appear on the roster should have been given provisional ballots. (It's unclear if the Fonz voted with a provisional ballot.)

The error could have a major impact on the timing of the results in the state, with an increase in provisional ballots possibly delaying the count for days. 

6:59 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

Last night was another big night for women

From CNN's  Eric Bradner and Dan Merica

Republican Rep. Kristi Noem won the South Dakota primary and is now likely to become the state's first female governor.
Republican Rep. Kristi Noem won the South Dakota primary and is now likely to become the state's first female governor. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Following a trend that's been clear throughout 2018's primaries, Tuesday was another big night for female candidates, some of whom took steps toward breaking their states' gender barriers. 

In South Dakota, Republican Rep. Kristi Noem won the primary and is now likely to become the state's first female governor. 

In Iowa, Democrats Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer could become the state's first female House members. 

And in New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland's win puts her on track to become the nation's first Native American congresswoman.

Progressive women dominated a slate of Democratic primaries on May 22, winning races in Kentucky and Texas and giving Georgia the first black woman to ever be nominated for governor by a major political party.

4:10 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

8 states held primary elections yesterday. Here's how it went down.

Kimberlee Weaver, left, an election worker for the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, hands an "I Voted" sticker to a voter during the state's primary elections, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Sacramento, California.
Kimberlee Weaver, left, an election worker for the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, hands an "I Voted" sticker to a voter during the state's primary elections, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Sacramento, California.

Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota had primary races Tuesday.

But all eyes were on California’s “jungle primary,” where the two-top finishes, regardless of party, move onto the general election.

By Wednesday morning, however, many votes remained uncounted in California's most competitive congressional races.

  • Where the race stands in California: It may, in fact, be days, if not more than a week, before all the votes are tallied in three of the mostly closely watched races in the country: California-39, California-48 and California-49. The districts are key to Democratic hopes of notching the 23 seats they need to win back the House.
  • The California governor's race: Republican businessman John Cox will face off against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, in the November general election.
  • Showdown in Montana: State Auditor Matt Rosendale will win the GOP Senate primary, CNN projects, and will face incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester, who is running for a third term in a state Trump won in 2016.
  • Alabama runoff: Republican Rep. Martha Roby will face a July runoff to save her seat after failing to top 50% in Tuesday's primary. Roby will face Bobby Bright -- a former Democratic congressman who is now running as a Republican.
  • Rep. Kristi Noem: She won the Republican primary for governor against Attorney General Marty Jackley. If Noem wins in November, she'd be the state's first female governor.
  • Iowa race: Democrat Fred Hubbell won his primary to face Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Two women in Iowa also advanced to the general election.
  • New Mexico: Deb Haaland won the primary for the state's 1st Congressional District, CNN projects, putting her on track to become the first Native American woman in Congress.
3:25 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

Former Bernie Sanders staffer finishes third in Iowa House race

From CNN's Gregory Krieg

Pete d'Alessandro, Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 Iowa state director, finished third in the state's Third Congressional District primary on Tuesday, having been outraised by both the winner, small business owner Cindy Axne, and second place finisher, Eddie Mauro.

In an interview Tuesday, d'Alessandro credited Sanders for paving the way for his campaign, which he said wouldn't have been possible -- or lasted as long in what had been a deep and well-funded field -- without the "political revolution" they launched two years ago.

"Someone like me couldn't even be in the race," he said.

"The fact that so many people like me are in these races throughout this country is actually the story. We're gonna win some, we're gonna lose some, but the story isn't necessarily about the win-loss score."
3:11 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

Republican John Cox says California governor's race will be civil

California GOP Gubernatorial Candidate John Cox speaks during an election eve party at the US Grant Hotel on June 5, 2018 in San Diego, California.
California GOP Gubernatorial Candidate John Cox speaks during an election eve party at the US Grant Hotel on June 5, 2018 in San Diego, California.

Republican businessman John Cox will face off against Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in California's gubernatorial election in November.

Cox, speaking to supporters in San Diego tonight, attacked Newsom for imposing high taxes in California and "protecting MS-13."

"You're the one that's making our communities less safe," he said, adding that he will get rid of the "sanctuary state" law if he is elected.

Cox promised to grow the economy and cut the cost of living in California. He also vowed to "deliver results that matter with quality, efficiency and integrity."

He said the governor's race this November will be serious, substantive and "importantly, it's going to be civil."

3:21 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

CNN projects: Democrats and Republicans will face off in 2 California House races this November

Republican Congressman Tom McClintock
Republican Congressman Tom McClintock

CNN projects Republican Congressman Tom McClintock and one Democratic candidate will advance to the general election in California's fourth Congressional race. It is not yet clear which Democrat.

And CNN projects incumbent Republican Congresswoman Mimi Walters and one Democratic candidate will advance in California's 45th Congressional race.

3:17 a.m. ET, June 6, 2018

CNN projects: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher will advance to general election

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

CNN projects GOP Congressman Dana Rohrabacher will advance to the general election in California's 48th District. The second candidate has not yet been determined.

In the California 38th Congressional District, CNN projects that Republican Young Kim will also move through to the general election in November. Kim is looking to replace retiring Congressman Ed Royce. It is not known who the second top finisher will be yet.

And in the race to replace GOP Congressman Darrell Issa in California's 49th District, CNN can project Democrats will not be shut out of the fall race, with at least one Democratic candidate advancing to the general election.