Several primary races, and one special election, seem to bode well for Dems' chances in the fall general election. Some specific races:
The special election in New York's swing 19th District pitted Dem Pat Ryan against Republican Marc Molinaro, and was seen as a potential foreshadowing of voting in swing districts nationwide. Ryan won with 52% of the vote with 95% of the votes cast. Women's reproductive choice was the main issue for Ryan, while his competitor said the issue should be left to each state.
Dems selected a strong candidate to face spineless Sen. Marco "Little Marco" Rubio for the Senate in Florida. Rep. Val Demings racked up a landslide against her opponents, winning 84% of the vote. Demings has been outraising Rubio by a wide margin, and has been slightly ahead in some polls, and even or behind in others.
Fellow Floridian Rep. Charlie Crist, a former Republican Governor of Florida turned Dem, won his primary against state agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried and will face the repugnant authoritarian Gov. Ron "One Glove" DeSantis in November. Although the race is a long shot for Crist, he sees the opportunity to knock off, or at least dirty up, the Trumpist successor to the Malignant Loser:
"'This guy wants to be President of the United States of America,' Crist said in his victory speech. 'However, when we defeat him on November 8, that show is over.'"
Finally, primary elections in New York City's redrawn 12th District brought an end to the notable 30-year career of progressive Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who lost in a landside to fellow Dem Rep. Jerry Nadler, who led the House Judiciary's impeachments of the Malignant Loser. Both were worthy of reelection in their old Districts, but redistricting changed that situation.
BONUS: The day didn't go well for two crackpot Republicans running for Congress. Laura "Loony" Loomer lost her primary in Florida (blaming voter fraud, of course) and Hitler- admirer Carl Paladino lost his in New York. Still --
Carl Paladino, who said someone like Hitler who can rile up a crowd is "the kind of leader we need today," is taking 48% in his GOP primary.
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) August 24, 2022
Laura Loomer, a conspiracy theorist who has aligned with white nationalists and "reported" for InfoWars, is taking 44% in her GOP primary.
