Dems hope primary wins send message
Victories include a transgender hopeful for Vermont governor
Democrats delivered groundbreaking victories in Tuesday’s primaries for a transgender female candidate in Vermont, a Muslim woman in Minnesota and an African-American woman in Connecticut, while party members in Wisconsin nominated a top state education official to challenge Gov. Scott Walker, one of the most vulnerable high-profile Republicans of the midterms cycle.
Tony Evers, the Wisconsin schools superintendent who was the best known and best-funded candidate, prevailed in a crowded field of seven other entrants. But the November election is likely to be a referendum on Walker, the polarizing Republican incumbent, who is seeking a third term.
In all, four states — Vermont, Connecticut, Minnesota and Wisconsin — hosted primary elections Tuesday with Democrats hoping to topple Republican control of Congress and governors’ offices across the nation.
Vermont Democrats nominated Christine Hallquist, a longtime energy executive who could become the nation’s first transgender governor. She will face the Republican incumbent, Gov. Phil Scott. Hallquist, the chief executive of the Vermont Electric Cooperative for 12 years, ran on a progressive message that included a higher minimum wage and “Medicare for all.” Her transition from male to female took place in 2015.
Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota state lawmaker, was poised to be one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, winning the Democratic nomination in a left-leaning district. And Jahana Hayes, a former national teacher of the year who would be Connecticut’s first black woman in Congress, easily defeated Mary Glassman in a House Democratic primary for an open seat.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont easily won his state’s Democratic primary, all but guaranteeing his re-election in November. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, plans to reject the nomination and run instead as an independent, according to advisers.
In a Senate primary, Wisconsin Republicans turned to Leah Vukmir, a longtime politician with the backing of establishment figures, over Kevin Nicholson, a 40-yearold former Marine. Vukmir will take on Sen. Tammy Baldwin this fall.Randy Bryce, a union ironworker known as “Iron Stache,” won the Democratic primary in the race to replace retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan.
In Kansas, the excruciatingly close Republican primary for governor finally ended Tuesday night when Gov. Jeff Colyer conceded to Kris Kobach, the hard-line secretary of state who had the support of President Donald Trump a week after that state’s primary.
In Connecticut, businessman and political newcomer Bob Stefanowski bested four other Republicans for the chance to replace unpopular outgoing governor, Democrat Dan Malloy. Former gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont won the Democratic nomination.