Elections test Trump clout in battlegrounds

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — As battleground Ohio was deciding the year’s final special election Tuesday, the Republican president’s shadow also loomed over primary contests in four other states, none bigger than Kansas, where Donald Trump roiled the governor’s race by opposing the GOP incumbent on the eve of the election.

The day’s races, like dozens before them, pitted Mr. Trump’s fiery supporters against the Democratic Party’s anti-Trump resistance. The results will help determine the political landscape — and Mr. Trump’s standing within his ownparty — just three months before the GOP defends its House and Senate majorities acrossthe nation.

Voters in Ohio and Kansas joined those in Missouri, Michigan and Washington state.

Kansas Republicans were fighting among themselves in the battle for governor, where Secretary of State Kris Kobach was trying to unseat Gov. Jeff Colyer.

Should the polarizing Mr. Kobach win the primary, some Republican operatives fear he could lose the governor’s seat to Democrats this fall. The race could become further disrupted if Kansas City-area businessman Greg Orman makes it onto the November ballot. He submitted petitions Monday with more than 10,000 signatures for what could become the most serious independent run for Kansas governor in decades.

Mr. Trump made his preference clear for Mr. Kobach.

“He is a fantastic guy who loves his State and our Country - he will be a GREAT Governor and has my full & total Endorsement! Strong on Crime, Border & Military,” the president tweeted on the eve of the election. “VOTETUESDAY!”

Republicans were hoping for Democratic discord in Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District, a suburban Kansas City district where several candidates were fighting for the chance to take on Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder in November.

The five-way Democratic primary featured labor lawyer Brent Welder, who campaigned recently with selfdescribed democratic socialists Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and ascending political star, Alexandria OcasioCortez, a New York congressional candidate.

Also in the race: Native American attorney Sharice Davids and former school teacher Tom Niermann.

Voters in suburban Detroit were also weighing in on the direction of the Democratic Party. Three mainstream Democrats were among those vying for a chance at retiring Republican Rep. Dave Trott’s seatin November.