Casten and Miller Win in Illinois; Colorado Statewide Races Set;
More Primary Results News

By Jim Ellis — June 29, 2022

Primary Results

Illinois: Reps. Casten and Miller Win — The big news from last night’s primary election surrounded the two paired districts. In the Chicago suburbs, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove), who unexpectedly lost his 17-year-old daughter just two weeks ago, scored a landslide win over fellow Rep. Marie Newman (D-La Grange) in the new 6th District that contained more of the latter member’s current turf.

In the downstate Republican 15th CD, freshman Rep. Mary Miller (R-Oakland), armed with an endorsement and rally appearance from former President Donald Trump, recorded a decisive 57-43 percent over veteran Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville). Davis will now see his congressional career draw to a close after serving what will be ten years in the House.

The Democratic pairing occurred in order to create a new Chicago-anchored Hispanic district. State Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) easily won the Democratic nomination in this seat, and becomes the prohibitive favorite for the general election. State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) won an outright majority with 57 percent of the vote opposite five opponents in the governor’s primary. He advances to the general election to oppose incumbent J. B. Pritzker (D). Conservative activist Kathy Salvi won the Republican Senate nomination, and now faces a likely insurmountable opponent in Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D).

Colorado: Statewide Races Set — As expected, University of Colorado Regent Heidi Ganahl captured the Republican gubernatorial nomination with a 53 percent majority over GOP nominating convention winner Greg Lopez. In the Senate contest, as most predicted, construction company owner Joe O’Dea defeated state Rep. Ron Hanks (R-Penrose) with just under 55 percent of the vote. Like Lopez, Rep. Hanks also won the Republican nominating convention endorsement.

The two will advance to the general election against Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D). Neither incumbent was opposed for re-nomination and both are now heavy favorites to win re-election in November.

MS-3 and 4: Guest Wins; Palazzo Loses — As predicted, despite a scare in the primary election, Mississippi 3rd District Rep. Michael Guest (R-Brandon) easily won re-nomination last night in the Mississippi congressional runoff election. He topped challenger Michael Cassidy with two-thirds of more than 70,000 votes that were cast in last night’s election. Rep. Guest will now have an easy run in the general election.

Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Biloxi) was not so fortunate in his southern Mississippi 4th CD. He failed to overcome Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell and lost his seat in a 54-46 percent count. Palazzo becomes the eighth House incumbent to be denied re-nomination and the fourth who lost to a challenger that was not a fellow incumbent forced into a paired district. Sheriff Ezell is now the heavy favorite to win the seat in November.

NE-1: Flood Wins Special — Another special congressional election was held last night, and this result ended in a closer final tally than originally expected. Nebraska state Sen. Mike Flood (R-Norfolk), a media company owner, claimed the seat with a 53-47 percent victory over fellow state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks (D-Lincoln) in a district the FiveThirtyEight data organization rates as R+17.

Flood will be sworn into the House upon official election certification. He will replace convicted Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Lincoln). Rep-Elect Flood and Sen. Pansing Brooks will see each other again. Both are the party nominees for the regular general election in November.

New York: Hochul vs. Zeldin — The New York statewide contests also ended as expected. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who ascended from the lieutenant governor’s position when Andrew Cuomo (D) resigned, easily defeated NYC Public advocate Jumaane Williams and US Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), 68-19-13 percent. Williams was unopposed for the Working Families ballot line, so he will advance into the general election despite his loss last night.

The Republican battle was a bit closer. US Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley; East Long Island) topped Andrew Giuliani, son of ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in a 44-23 percent split. Former Westchester County executive and 2018 gubernatorial nominee Rob Astorino and businessman Harry Wilson recorded 18 and 15 percent, respectively. Gov. Hochul begins the general election as the decided favorite.

Oklahoma: Rep. Mullin Secures First, Incumbents Easily Win — As polling correctly predicted, Oklahoma US Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Westville) built a major advantage in the special US Senate GOP primary and claimed first position with 44 percent of the vote, but it was not enough to win the party nomination. Former state House Speaker T. W. Shannon (R) is well behind, but his 18 percent is enough to capture second place and advance to the Aug. 23 runoff election opposite Rep. Mullin. The eventual Republican nominee will be favored in the general election over former US Rep. Kendra Horn (D).

Both Sen. James Lankford and Gov. Kevin Stitt easily won re-nomination and have ostensibly been re-elected to new terms.

In Rep. Mullin’s open eastern Oklahoma 2nd District a total of 14 Republicans were on the ballot and the top five candidates all finished within a four percentage point range. State Rep. Avery Frix (R-Muskogee) is the first-place finisher and he clinched a runoff position for the Aug. 23 secondary election. It appears that former state Sen. John Brecheen will edge Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee for the second qualifying position. The eventual Republican nominee will take the seat in the fall.

South Carolina: State Rep. Wins Senate Runoff — The Democratic runoff to produce an opponent for Sen. Tim Scott (R) this November ended with a 56-44 percent victory for state Rep. Krystle Matthews (D-Ladson). She is a decided underdog in the general election.

Utah: Sen. Lee, Other Incumbents Easily Win — Sen. Mike Lee (R) clinched his nomination for a third term with a 62-30-8 percent primary win over former state Rep. Becky Edwards and ex-Kaysville Councilwoman Ally Isom. The Utah general election is now more interesting because the Democrats are not fielding a candidate and have instead coalesced behind Independent Evan McMullin. This could make the general election slightly more competitive, but Sen. Lee remains a clear favorite to win again.

All four Republican US House incumbents had primary opposition, and each easily prevailed. Reps. Blake Moore (R-Salt Lake City), Chris Stewart (R-Farmington), John Curtis (R-Provo), and Burgess Owens (R-Salt Lake City) all presumably clinched another term with their primary victories last night.

Senate

Washington: Race Tightens — Republican Tiffany Smiley, who has been polling closer to Sen. Patty Murray (D) than one might expect for a Washington Senate race, just released the results of her internal Tarrance Group poll (June 14-16; 17-18; 600 registered Washington state voters). The results find Sen. Murray’s lead dropping to 48-43 percent. A great deal of the downturn is likely due to President Biden’s job approval rating moving into upside-down territory with a 53 percent unfavorable in a state that he carried 58-39 percent. Sen. Murray is countering with an ad blitz on the Roe v. Wade overturn decision.

Governor

Arizona: Ex-Rep. Matt Salmon Drops Bid — Former US Rep. Matt Salmon (R), who was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2000, dropped his comeback bid on Tuesday. In an announcement, Salmon said that, “the numbers are the numbers” — meaning he doesn’t believe he can overcome former television news anchor Kari Lake’s large GOP polling lead. The move leaves Arizona University Regent Karrin Taylor Robson as Lake’s most credible Republican primary opponent.