{"id":2068,"date":"2026-07-01T21:41:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T21:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=2068"},"modified":"2026-07-01T21:41:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T21:41:49","slug":"three-lessons-from-this-years-primaries-from-the-politics-desk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=2068","title":{"rendered":"Three lessons from this year\u2019s primaries: From the Politics Desk"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to <\/em>From the Politics Desk<\/em>, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team\u2019s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more Harry Kane\u2019s two late goals rally England past Congo at World Cup<\/a><\/p>\n

I<\/em>n today\u2019s edition, our politics team digs into this week\u2019s primary results \u2014 and how they fit into patterns we\u2019ve seen from contests in both parties so far this year. Plus, a special report digging into how the president\u2019s \u201cbig, beautiful bill\u201d has changed the U.S. in its first year.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scott Bland<\/em><\/p>\n

Three lessons from 2026 primary season so far<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Analysis by Ben Kamisar and Bridget Bowman<\/h3>\n

We\u2019re past the halfway point of primary season, and while the full story is yet to be written, we\u2019re already learning some important lessons. <\/p>\n

The old definition of \u201cprogressive\u201d isn\u2019t enough anymore.<\/strong> In many of this year\u2019s primary upsets, the candidates who lost had r\u00e9sum\u00e9s that checked the boxes of what Democrats used to want in their leaders. <\/p>\n

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Reps. Dan Goldman <\/strong>and Diana DeGette<\/strong>were both prominent figures in President Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s impeachments. Rep. Adriano Espaillat <\/strong>took the Trump administration to court over its immigration detention oversight. Some losing incumbents also supported progressive policies like \u201cMedicare for All\u201d or abolishing ICE. And many of these candidates had the backing of prominent progressive lawmakers. Yet, that wasn\u2019t enough, as up-and-coming Democrats wage war on their party\u2019s establishment, attack them for a lack of urgency and try to change the definition of what it means to be a modern-day progressive. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bad time to be a D.C. politician.<\/strong> The anti-Washington fervor hasn\u2019t just cost incumbents their seats. It has also played out in key open-seat battles on both sides of the aisle. <\/p>\n

Reps. Dusty Johnson<\/strong>, R-S.D.; Jasmine Crockett<\/strong>, D-Texas; Randy Feenstra<\/strong>, R-Iowa; Raja Krishnamoorthi<\/strong>, D-Ill.; and Robin Kelly<\/strong>, D-Ill., are among those who lost bids for higher office. And some of the lawmakers who did win did so either in races against their Washington peers or with a helpful hand from Trump. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s still good to be an incumbent. They are still far more likely to win their primaries, with advantages in name recognition and fundraising. But that advantage appears to be shrinking. <\/p>\n

Battlegrounds have been a mixed bag.<\/strong> So far, some more progressive candidates have been able to win primaries in competitive districts, like Colorado\u2019s 8th District, where state Rep. Manny Rutinel <\/strong>won last night\u2019s Democratic contest. And progressives have bested some candidates backed by the House Democratic campaign arm, including in California\u2019s 22nd District and Maine\u2019s 2nd District (where Republicans also meddled). <\/p>\n

Democratic Senate primaries have seen voters prioritize electability, and the more moderate candidates won the Democratic nods in Iowa and Texas. And even as Democrats backed Graham Platner<\/strong>, the more progressive candidate in Maine, some said in focus groups that they did so because they viewed Platner as the candidate best-positioned to win. <\/p>\n

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The Michigan Senate Democratic primary coming up next month will be key to watch, as progressive Abdul El-Sayed <\/strong>faces Rep. Haley Stevens <\/strong>and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow<\/strong>. Democratic voters in Minnesota will also be choosing next month between progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan <\/strong>and moderate Rep. Angie Craig <\/strong>in that state\u2019s Senate race. <\/p>\n

Read more Send your questions for Lester Holt<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, as primary season begins to wind down, progressive candidates in these districts and states will turn to November, where they\u2019ll try to prove that their message can resonate beyond deep-blue parts of the country.<\/p>\n

For subscribers: A Colorado primary defeat highlights a dangerous political environment for Democratic incumbents<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Scott Bland<\/h3>\n

Another member of Congress fell in a primary Tuesday night, as 30-year Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette <\/strong>lost to democratic socialist Melat Kiros<\/strong>, 29, in Denver. But as shocked as nationalDemocrats might be by this and other recent losses, a deeper look at the 2026 primary results might paint an even more dangerous picture for the party\u2019s entrenched incumbents.<\/p>\n

Keep reading \u2192<\/strong><\/p>\n

How Trump\u2019s \u2018big, beautiful bill\u2019 changed America<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Shannon Pettypiece and Mike Hixenbaugh<\/h3>\n

One year after President Donald Trump <\/strong>signed the law he dubbed the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill\u201d on the South Lawn of the White House, it has begun reshaping the country \u2014 altering who gets help from the government and who goes without.<\/p>\n

The most consequential legislation of Trump\u2019s second term reaches into nearly every corner of American life. It supercharges immigration enforcement, pouring billions into border security and deportations. It rewrites student loan rules. It dismantles tax incentives for electric vehicles and clean energy. It creates a national school-voucher tax credit.<\/p>\n

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And at its core is a seismic shift: extending roughly $4.5 trillion in tax cuts disproportionately benefiting corporations and the wealthy over 10 years while cutting about $1.1 trillion from healthcare and food assistance programs serving poor and working-class people.<\/p>\n

Historians say the law represents a watershed moment in a decades-long conservative effort to shrink the social welfare system built during President Franklin D. Roosevelt<\/strong>\u2019s New Deal and expanded through Great Society legislation of the 1960s. Supporters frame the act as a long-overdue correction. They argue it\u2019s reducing dependence on government programs, rooting out waste, encouraging work and making American businesses more competitive.<\/p>\n

Many of the law\u2019s largest program cuts won\u2019t begin to take effect until next year, but the first consequences are already visible.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2192<\/strong><\/p>\n

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