Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Michigan this week, incumbent Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar lost his primary to state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a democratic socialist. McKinney is now heavily favored to win the Detroit-area district in fall.
While Thanedar’s defeat is notable in its own right, the larger pattern is remarkable: Historically, U.S. House members have rarely faced credible primary rivals, and when they have, incumbents only lost when they were burdened by serious scandals. This year, however, Thanedar is one of eight members of Congress who’ve lost in primaries, including Democrats such as Colorado’s Diana DeGette and New York’s Dan Goldman, and Republicans such as Texas’ Dan Crenshaw and Kentucky’s Thomas Massie.
* In North Carolina, where Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards announced his unexpected retirement following a House Ethics Committee investigation, the GOP executive committee in the 11th District is scheduled to meet next week to choose a new nominee.
* Speaking of scandal-plagued incumbents, Republican Rep. Cory Mills is moving forward with his re-election plan in Florida, though two of his fellow Florida Republicans — Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos — announced this week that they’re supporting Mills’ primary rival, Ryan Elijah.
* During remarks in Nevada, President Donald Trump said former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley “should be your governor.” Whatley is running for the Senate in North Carolina.
* In Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary, there were plenty of polls, most of which showed Abdul El-Sayed on track to defeat Rep. Haley Stevens by a wide margin. After the former public health official prevailed by a very narrow margin, there’s a renewed conversation about surveys’ accuracy.
* As his congressional career nears its end, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has agreed to hold joint fundraising events for six GOP Senate candidates. He made clear this week, however, that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who easily defeated him in a primary, will not be one of the six.
* And in Minnesota, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Lindell announced this week that he’s stepping down as the CEO of MyPillow in order to focus all of his attention on his statewide candidacy.
The post Thursday’s Campaign Round-Up, 8.6.26: Yet another House incumbent loses in a primary appeared first on MS NOW.
