Democrats eye key primaries in Iowa, California, Montana

by · UPI

June 2 (UPI) -- Democrats will determine who their candidates will be to try to flip Iowa's governor and a Senate seat blue Tuesday while Republicans look to hold open seats.

California, New Mexico, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota round out the six states with primary elections on Tuesday. California's key elections include races to succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Two Iowa Republicans are running to represent the party in the gubernatorial election against Democrat and State Auditor Rob Sand. Sen. Randy Feenstra from deeply conservative learning Northwest Iowa is leaving his seat to run against Zach Lahn of Belle Plain, Iowa.

Lahn has positioned himself as the more conservative candidate while Feenstra has touted his record voting with President Donald Trump.

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Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson is vying for the Senate seat soon to be left vacant by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Hinson has been endorsed by Trump.

The Democratic side of the ticket will be decided in a primary between state Sen. Zach Wahls and state Rep. Josh Turek. Wahls is a senator from Johnson County, home to the University of Iowa. It is the most Democrat-leaning region of the state. Turek, a paralympian, flipped a Republican-held House seat by six votes in 2022.

Republicans and Democrats are running to fill the California governor's mansion next year but November's election will not necessarily see the two parties square off. California's gubernatorial primary sends the top two candidates to the election regardless of party.

For Democrats, billionaire Tom Steyer and former Biden administration Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra are among the overall frontrunners. Republican and former Fox News host Steve Hilton has Trump's endorsement on the Republican side.

California's new congressional map will be put to the test in November. On Tuesday, voters will decide who appears on the Democratic and Republican ticket in the newly drawn

districts.

Voters approved the new map in November. It was drawn in response to Texas redistricting to add Republican seats in Congress at the demand of Trump.

Democrats are also trying to flip a House seat in Montana. The seat has been left open by Rep. Ryan Zinke. Trump has endorsed radio host Aaron Flint to succeed Zinke.

Sam Forstag has the endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who hosted a rally for him last week. He is running against former gubernatorial candidate Russ Cleveland.

This week in Washington

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump participate in a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo