{"id":574,"date":"2026-06-02T09:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=574"},"modified":"2026-06-02T09:09:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T09:09:03","slug":"democratic-battles-and-incumbents-on-defense-what-to-watch-in-tuesdays-primaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=574","title":{"rendered":"Democratic battles and incumbents on defense: What to watch in Tuesday\u2019s primaries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The fight to shape the future of the Democratic Party is playing out in a slew of key primaries across six states Tuesday, as races across six states set the matchups in crucial November battlegrounds and settle personal and ideological battles across the country.<\/p>\n

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Voters will head to the polls in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, with the biggest contest of the night being California\u2019s race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.<\/p>\n

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California has a slew of important House primaries, too, after Democrats redrew the state\u2019s congressional lines in hope of netting their party up to five seats. More than a half-dozen incumbents in both parties are fighting for political survival.<\/p>\n

And in Iowa, where they believe they can compete up and down the ballot despite Republicans\u2019 recent dominance, Democrats first have to get through a competitive Senate primary, while a broad field of Republicans has been competing for the governorship. <\/p>\n

Here are the major races to watch.<\/p>\n

California contests<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The race to succeed Newsom, who is term-limited, has largely narrowed to a three-way contest among two Democrats \u2014 former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire activist Tom Steyer \u2014 and former television personality Steve Hilton, a Republican. Newsom has stayed neutral in the race.<\/p>\n

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California\u2019s primaries are top-two contests, in which all candidates run on the same ballot and the top two move on to the general election, regardless of party. That means it is possible for one party to be shut out of the general election.<\/p>\n

The race also includes former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan \u2014 all Democrats \u2014 and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican.<\/p>\n

Becerra has surged in polls since former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race following sexual misconduct and assault allegations. A former Biden Cabinet member, California attorney general and 12-term congressman, Becerra has cast himself as an experienced and steady leader. However, he has faced criticism from several Biden administration colleagues, including suggestions he\u2019s not capable of managing California\u2019s enormous bureaucracy.<\/p>\n

Steyer, meanwhile, has dumped more than $215 million of his own money into his campaign, blanketing the California airwaves with ads. He has pitched himself as a loyal and aggressive progressive, advocating for single-payer healthcare, taxes on oil company profits and a billionaire tax that is likely to appear on the ballot this fall.<\/p>\n

Hilton has earned the support of President Donald Trump \u2014 an endorsement that actually made the race less messy for Democrats by lowering the chances that two Republicans could advance to November as a crowded field of Democrats split the vote. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces two major challengers in her all-party primary: Republican Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, and Democrat Nithya Raman, a City Council member and member of the Democratic Socialists of America. <\/p>\n

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Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, has sharply criticized Bass\u2019 response to the crisis. Trump has praised Pratt\u2019s bid, saying: \u201cI\u2019d like to see him do well. He\u2019s a character.\u201d <\/p>\n

It is possible for a candidate to win the mayor\u2019s race outright Tuesday by winning a majority of the vote. If no candidate does so, the top two vote-getters will advance to a November election.<\/p>\n

Incumbents on defense<\/strong><\/h2>\n

More than a half-dozen California incumbents face serious threats from members of their own parties. <\/p>\n

Democratic Reps. Mike Thompson, Doris Matsui and Brad Sherman all face well-funded challengers who are calling for a new generation of progressive leaders. Their Democratic colleagues Reps. Jimmy Gomez and Linda S\u00e1nchez face primary challengers, too. <\/p>\n

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