Night's primaries

Tuesday night's primaries in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont and Connecticut had some surprising outcomes. Here's a rundown of some of the most significant ones.  

 

The Wisconsin Senate race is one of the most high-profile elections in the country. 

Nancy Vu

What's happening: Ron Johnson has his official Democratic challenger in the toss-up Wisconsin Senate race. Vermont voters have picked who will likely become the first woman to represent the state. Ilhan Omar narrowly defeated her primary challenger. Here's a quick look at how some of Tuesday night’s primary results shook out.

Wisconsin: Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won his bid for the Democratic primary, setting up this progressive to go against Republican incumbent Sen. Johnson. The contrast between the two candidates could not be further: Johnson, a Trump foot soldier who often finds himself doused in controversy, will be fighting to defend his seat against Barnes, a progressive who's pledged his support for Medicare for All and vowed to end the filibuster. 

Minnesota: Squad member Rep. Omar was able to retain control of her seat in the Democratic primary, but by a close call — a little more than 2 percent of the vote, or more than 2,400 votes. She will go up against Cicely Davis, a Black Republican who's running to "stand up to Marxism," and push for more funding for law enforcement and border security.

Also in Minnesota, former USDA Rural Development director Brad Finstad won a special election to represent the state’s first district, as well as the GOP nomination to run for the seat in November. He will be serving out the remainder of the late GOP Rep. Jim Hagedorn's term until he faces Democratic nominee Jeff Ettinger, a local business executive.

Vermont: State Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint is poised to become the first woman to represent the state in Congress. Defeating Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, a more moderate candidate that won the endorsement of retiring Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, Balint will be the party’s nominee facing veteran Liam Madden to fill the seat of Rep. Peter Welch. Welch, meanwhile, won the Senate Democratic primary to replace Leahy and will be facing Republican newcomer Gerald Malloy.

Connecticut: Trump-backed Leora Levy will be facing incumbent Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal come November, in a seat that hasn't sent a Republican to the Senate in more than 30 years. She carried the vote over the Republican establishment's favored pick, former state minority leader Themis Klarides, and former immigration attorney Peter Lumaj.