OTHER RACES TO WATCH
Voters go to the polls on Tuesday in Arkansas, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia. Tea Party challenges to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) are the marquee contests, and no federal races are on the ballot in North Dakota or the Arkansas runoffs.
Here’s a rundown of what to watch on Election Day:
{mosads}Maine’s 2nd District (Polls close 8 p.m. ET)
Both parties will choose their candidate in the race to replace Rep. Mike Michaud (D), who’s running for governor. State Sen. Emily Cain is favored to nab the Democratic nomination over state Sen. Troy Jackson, buoyed by support from a number of national Democratic groups. Jackson was a rare Democrat to draw the opposition of the League of Conservation Voters, which released a poll last week that had Cain up by 35 points. The Republican primary, a contest between former state Sen. Kevin Raye and former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, is likely to be much closer. Democrats say they’d prefer to take on Poliquin in the general and national Republicans have hopes for Raye, who’s run twice before for the seat. But either way, Democrats are still favored to hold the seat in November.
Nevada lieutenant governor (Polls close 10 p.m. ET)
The GOP’s choice for the state’s No. 2 slot could have big 2016 reverberations for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
State Sen. Mark Hutchinson (R) has the backing of Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) and much of the GOP establishment. He’s facing off against former state Sen. Sue Lowden (R), who was national Republicans’ favorite candidate to face Reid in 2010 before losing her primary. But now she’s banking on her name ID and formal support from the state party to break through on Tuesday.
The winner will face Democrat Lucy Flores, and Democrats are hopeful they can take advantage of a fractured GOP after the primary. The race’s outcome could affect whether Sandoval challenges Reid in 2016; if a Republican were to win he wouldn’t be handing the governor’s mansion to Democrats by beating Reid and moving to the Senate.
Virginia’s 8th District (Polls close 7 p.m. ET)
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Don Beyer (D) is the man to beat in the crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.). Beyer started the race with the highest name recognition, has raised by far the most for the race and has brought in a number of big-name Democratic allies to campaign for him. If he wins, as expected, he’s a lock in fall in this liberal suburban D.C. district.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.