Laura Reimers, RTV
Polls closed in eight states last night. If that’s too many races for you to keep track of, don’t worry. We have you covered. Here’s what happened:
Iowa: Mark Jacobs beat the record for self-funding an Iowa election, but he lost the hotly contested Senate race. The nomination went to one-time pig farmer, Joni Ernst, who made news months ago when she touted her experience castrating hogs.
In Iowa’s 3rd Congressional district, no candidate received the 35% share required to win the Republican nomination. For the first time in a decade, the race will be taken to the Party convention to be decided late in June. The winner will take on Democrat Staci Appel who sailed through her primary unopposed.
Mississippi: The longest serving Republican Senator, Thad Cochran, faced state legislator Chris McDaniel in an 8 million dollar primary. Cochran fell just short of the 50% votes needed to clinch his party’s nomination, sending the pair to a run off later this month. Democrats hope for a win from McDaniel who polls show would enter the general election in a dead heat with Democratic challenger, Travis Childers.
California: This was the first test of California’s new top two primary system, where the top two challengers move onto the general election regardless of party affiliation. Democratic incumbent Governor Jerry Brown held a huge lead through the night, but Republican challengers battled early into the morning. Former US Treasury executive, Neel Kashkari emerged with a narrow victory over assemblyman Tim Donnelly.
Alabama: It was an early end to election night for the Alabama Gubernatorial race. Republican incumbent, Robert Bentley, handily defeated his opponent by about 80 points. Democrats picked Parker Griffith, formerly a Republican, for their nominee.
Montana: After serving four months in Congress, Democratic Senator John Walsh won his first election last night. The recently appointed Senator filled Max Baucus’ seat after he left Congress to become ambassador to China. Senator Walsh will face an uphill battle against the state’s only Representative, Republican Steve Daines.
New Jersey: Former Reagan speechwriter Jeff Bell fended off three opponents to win the opportunity to face Democratic Senator Cory Booker in November. New Jersey hasn’t elected a Republican Senator since 1978, when Bell defeated the Republican incumbent in an unexpected primary race.
New Mexico: Attorney General Gary King defeated four candidates to win the Democratic gubernatorial race last night. In November he will take on incumbent Susana Martinez, the country’s first Hispanic woman to serve as Governor. King, who is running to improve the state’s economy and education system, will face Martinez’s $4 million campaign fund in the general election.
South Dakota: In a six-way race, former Governor Mike Rounds swept his opponents, securing the Republican nomination for South Dakota’s recently vacated Senate seat. He will take on Sioux Falls restaurant owner and Democrat, Rick Weiland, in what is expected to be a key race of the cycle. The open seat leaves Democrats vulnerable lose a seat in the Senate, helping Republicans gain ground on their goal to reclaim the majority.
Millennials faith in the presidency has dropped 12 points since 2010.