Takeaways: Diverse Dems, Trump wins
WASHINGTON » It was a night of firsts: The first openly transgender gubernatorial nominee. The first Somali-American major party nominee. The potential of the first black woman representing Connecticut in Congress.
It was also a night of victories for President Donald Trump. A week after a vote approaching a dead heat, a close ally ousted a sitting GOP governor in Kansas. In Tuesday’s Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries, Republican candidates battled to be the strongest supporter of the president, proving — yet again — Trump’s dominance in the Republican Party.
Here are takeaways from another round of voting ahead of the fall midterm elections:
The rainbow wave marches on
Christine Hallquist became the first openly transgender major party nominee for governor in American history when she captured the Democratic Party nomination in Vermont. As CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative, Hallquist made history in 2015 as the first chief executive to transition on the job. If elected, she’d be the first openly transgender person elected governor.
Her candidacy highlights the surge of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates running for office this year. The majority are Democrats and, like Hallquist, and running on far broader, antiTrump platforms than gay and civil rights. She faces a tough general election race: Republican incumbent Phil
Scott is more popular with Democrats than members of his own party in the solidly liberal state.
Diverse Democratic candidates also notched wins across the country. In Connecticut, Democratic teacher Jahana Hayes’ primary win paved the way for her to be the first black woman from the state to serve in Congress if she wins the general election in November. And in Minnesota, state Rep. Ilhan Omar won outgoing Rep. Keith Ellison’s seat, putting her on track to become the first Somali-American and one of the first Muslim women in Congress.
Trump takes a win
Trump notched a major victory on Tuesday night — if seven days behind schedule. Exactly a week after the Kansas gubernatorial election, incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer conceded to Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
The concession marked a win not only for Kobach but also for Trump, whose support helped push Kobach over the finish line in the neck-and-neck race. Kobach is a staunch anti-immigration conservative and ally of Trump.
It wasn’t an overwhelming victory — Kobach won by 110 votes. But the result was the latest illustration of Trump’s power over the GOP.
Kobach now heads to an unpredictable three-way general election against Democrat Laura Kelly and independent candidate Greg Orman, who’s expected to qualify for the ballot.
Pawlenty’s out
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty lost his party’s nomination for the office he previously held for two terms. His primary race against Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson became a contest over who insulted Trump the least. Pawlenty, who once called Trump “unhinged and unfit,” said he now supports the president and would welcome his endorsement.
Voters didn’t buy it. Like many elected Republican officials, the former financial services lobbyist was trying to prove he belongs in a party that’s changed drastically since his failed presidential bid ended in 2011. Trump lost Minnesota narrowly in 2016 and some Republicans think the state is within their reach in 2020.
But Trump’s approval rating remains below 40 percent in the state.
Ellison accusations
Ellison won the Democratic nomination to be Minnesota’s attorney general, despite accusations of domestic abuse from a former girlfriend. Ellison forcefully denied the charges, which surfaced three nights before the primary.
Democrats have remained largely silent about the allegations
Ellison may also find himself out of step with the #MeToo wave that’s crested over Minnesota.