Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a key member of the progressive Democratic congressional “Squad” led by potential 2024 presidential candidate Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, has narrowly won her party’s primary for the Minnesota 5thDistrict (Associated Press).
AP says that Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has 77.5% of the Democratic vote to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, a key Trump acolyte on Capitol Hill. Also in Wisconsin, Doug LaFollette, secretary of state since 1974, won his closest Democratic primary in 48 years and faces Republican candidate Amy Loudenbeck (who beat two other GOP primary candidates) on November 8.
Democratic Rep. Peter Welch handily won Vermont’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by eight-term Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is retiring and will make Independent Bernie Sanders senior senator from the state. Democrat Becca Balintfaces Republican Liam Madden and Progressive Party candidate Barbara Nolfi to replace Welch for the single House seat from Vermont (AP).
--TL