The primaries in Maryland, Nebraska, and West Virginia on May 14 will have significant implications for the House and Senate majorities. In Maryland, former Governor Larry Hogan is the clear front-runner for the GOP Senate nomination. The Democrat Senate primary in Maryland, to succeed retiring Senator Ben Cardin, is a battle between big money and high-profile endorsements. Rep. David Trone, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, has spent over $50 million on his campaign, while Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks enjoys support from the state’s Democrat establishment.
In West Virginia, with Senator Joe Manchin not seeking re-election, Governor Jim Justice is favored to win the GOP Senate primary. Justice, a billionaire businessman, is a former Democrat who switched parties. Don Blankenship, a former coal company CEO, is running for the seat as well. Republicans are looking to flip several Democrat-held seats in the Senate, including West Virginia. Democrats, on the other hand, are eyeing Republican-held seats in the House, such as Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which President Biden carried in 2020.
In Nebraska, Republican Rep. Don Bacon is facing a primary challenge from Dan Frei, who is backed by the state GOP. A victory by Frei would be advantageous for Democrats as they aim to flip the district in November. Both of Nebraska’s Republican senators, Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, are facing nomination opposition in the primary. In West Virginia, the GOP gubernatorial primary is a focal point with several candidates including state attorney general Patrick Morrisey and former state Rep. Moore Capito.
Both President Biden and former President Trump are looking to increase their delegate totals in the presidential primaries being held in these states. However, there may be some backlash against Biden in the Democrat primaries due to his support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In the GOP primaries, there could be continued support for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was the final Trump challenger for the Republican nomination. Overall, these primaries will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the House and Senate majorities in the upcoming election.
