Both wings of the Democratic Party came out of Tuesday's contests victorious. But establishment Democrats gained a few more wins than the progressive arm of the party.
Progressives largest test — Michigan's Senate race— is yet to be determined. In a close matchup, former county health director Abdul El-Sayed was ahead of Rep. Haley Stevens early Wednesday morning. [Ed.: NBC News called the race for El-Sayed, though other outlets say it's too close to call.]
The heated contest is important for progressive Democrats. If El-Sayed wins, it shows there is an appetite for populist policies, like Medicare for All, even in a swing state. Stevens, who flipped a suburban area in 2018, is backed by establishment Democrats and has taken a more moderate approach.
Either way, the race makes it clear there is a stark divide among Democratic primary voters. Whoever wins the primary will face a tough challenge from Republican nominee former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.
Progressives did pick up a win in Michigan's one true toss-up district. Progressive William Lawrence beat two other Democrats for the nomination. Lawrence is set to challenge first-term incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in November.
Establishment Democrats got the candidates they wanted in a few key races. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell won a rematch against former Rep. Cori Bush. Bell was backed by the national party, while Bush clenched endorsements from Democratic socialists and high-profile progressives, such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Bell will face Republican nominee Paul Berry in November, though Cook Political Report rates the district as solidly Democratic.
In Virginia, Democratic voters picked establishment-backed candidates for two House seats. The two seats, Virginia's 1st and 2nd congressional districts, are ones Democrats hope to flip in November to inch toward the party's goal of taking control of the chamber. [snip]
It was a tough loss for two Republican-led ballot initiatives in Missouri and Kansas.
No changes to the state supreme court bench are happening in Kansas' future. Voters there rejected a Republican-backed proposal for state supreme court justices to be elected instead of appointed.
Currently, judges for the state's highest court are appointed by the governor based on choices presented by a nominating committee. Most of the court has been appointed by the current and previous governors, both Democrats elected in the mostly Republican state. The court has upheld abortion rights among other stands objected to by Republican leaders.
Voters in Missouri voted against a proposal by the Republican-led legislature to make it harder for the public to pass future amendments to the state constitution... (our emphasis)
However these primaries turn out, the all-important thing is for Democrats to unite in the battle to defeat the Malignant Fascist and his fascist cult/ party in November.
UPDATE: CNN joins NBC News in calling the election for El-Sayed. AP, too.
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