Angela Alsobrooks pulls off major victory in Maryland's pivotal Democratic primary: Recap
A slate of primaries in Maryland, West Virginia and Nebraska on Tuesday set the stage for competitive November general election battles that could determine the balance of power in Congress next year.
The race to replace Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., who's retiring at the end of the year, is already among the most expensive elections in Maryland's history. Former Gov. Larry Hogan prevailed in the state’s GOP primary, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks defeated Rep. David Trone in the Democratic race.
All three states hosted Democratic and Republican presidential primaries – though President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump picked up their victories quickly and have already secured their respective nominations.
Catch up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the latest primaries.
Alsobrooks scores major victory in Maryland Democratic Senate primary
After trailing for months in the polls, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks defeated Rep. David Trone, D-Md., in Maryland’s Democratic Senate primary.
Trone, co-founder of Total Wine & More, poured more than $54 million of his personal wealth into his campaign, while Alsobrooks had the backing of leading Democrats in the state including Gov. Wes Moore; Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md.
Alsobrooks will face off against popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in a November general election that could determine the balance of the Senate next year.
– Karissa Waddick
Fischer and Ricketts win Nebraska Republican Senate primaries
Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., beat their respective primary challengers in Nebraska’s GOP Senate primaries. Ricketts bested his opponent in a special election for the seat he was appointed to in 2023, after former Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. stepped down.
Fischer is likely to face a nonpartisan challenger in the November general election for her seat.
– Karissa Waddick
Nebraska Republican defends House seat from GOP challenger
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., on Tuesday won the Republican primary in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, defeating GOP hardliner Dan Frei.
While Bacon had support from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Frei was backed by Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., the chair of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus.
– Marina Pitofsky
Biden, Trump snag wins in Nebraska
Joe Biden and Donald Trump scored victories in the respective Democratic and Republican Nebraska primaries on Tuesday, as they march toward their party’s nominations.
-Karissa Waddick
Rep. Carol Miller defeats convicted Capitol rioter in West Virginia House race
Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., trounced challenger Derrick Evans in the Republican primary for her 1st Congressional District seat. Evans served three months in prison after joining pro-Trump protesters who invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and threatened to prevent the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 race for the White House.
Miller, a third-term congresswoman, voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
-Karissa Waddick
Nebraska’s 2nd District awaits results from closely watched Republican House primary
With the polls closing in less than an hour, supporters of Republican U.S. House candidate and businessman Dan Frei are eagerly awaiting the results at a golf course on the outskirts of Omaha.
The race between Frei and current Rep. Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska’s 2nd District encompassing Omaha, has draw attention due to a split in endorsements. While Bacon has the backing of over 100 Republican lawmakers in the state, Frei received the endorsement of the state Republican Party and it’s county parties, which had previously supported Bacon.
Lou Sloger, a pastor at a church in Papillion, Nebraska, says doesn’t agree with Bacon voting to support the protection of same-sex marriage or his border stance. He says he used to support Bacon, but doesn’t feel like he aligns with his values anymore.
“He doesn’t care about his constituents,” Sloger said.
- Maya Marchel Hoff
Larry Hogan captures Maryland Republican Senate primary
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan secured the Republican nomination for the Maryland Senate seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin.
Hogan, still a popular figure in Maryland politics, is expected to be a formidable opponent for Democrats in November. He has already raised more than $3 million in the race.
-Karissa Waddick
Biden, Trump win respective Maryland primaries
Joe Biden took first place in Maryland's Democratic primary, while Donald Trump was victorious in the state's Republican race, picking up delegates on the path to their respective party nominations.
-Karissa Waddick
Jim Justice wins West Virginia Republican Senate primary
Gov. Jim Justice beat Rep. Alex Mooney by double digits in the Republican primary for a West Virginia Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Joe Machin. Justice is favored to win the November general election in the increasingly conservative state.
-Karissa Waddick
US Senate candidates head to polls, meet voters
One of the candidates on the ballot for Maryland’s open Senate seat said this morning that the work would continue “until the last hour” to earn votes in today’s primary election.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat, greeted those outside the Green Street Academy in West Baltimore on Tuesday morning in her third of thirteen scheduled stops in the state on Election Day.
“I am working until the last hour to earn the vote of every single voter that I can interact with — to spread not only information about my record, but the message about a positive vision that I have for our state,” she said, in an interview.
Another Democrat on the ballot, U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-6th, entered the voting booth Tuesday morning, casting his ballot in Montgomery County. Alsobrooks cast her ballot in Prince George’s County on May 3, one of the first days of the early voting period.
— Dwight A. Weingarten
Joe Biden locks down West Virginia Democratic primary
Joe Biden won West Virginia's Democratic primary, picking up 20 more delegates as he seeks a second term in the White House.
– Karissa Waddick
Donald Trump wins West Virginia primary
Donald Trump quickly clinched victory in West Virginia's Republican presidential primary, picking up the state's 32 delegates on the way to the Republican convention this summer.
– Marina Pitofsky
West Virginia's leadership shakeup
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s decision to run for the U.S. Senate created a domino effect that led key Republican leaders across the state to seek open positions.
Six Republicans are running for governor, including Attorney General Patrick Morrisey; Secretary of State Mac Warner and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s, R-W.Va, son, Moore Capito. Morrisey is favored to win.
Four candidates are running for Warner’s position as Secretary of State – and there’s a chance the position will stay in the family. Kris Warner, executive director of the state Economic Development Authority and Mac Warner’s brother, is running against Doug Skaff, a former Democratic House of Delegates member turned Republican.
- Karissa Waddick
Who will voters back in Nebraska's primaries?
In ruby-red Nebraska, Republican incumbents hold advantages GOP Senate primaries. Sen. Pete Rickets, R-Neb. is favored to win a special election for the seat he was appointed to in 2023, after former Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. stepped down. If elected, Ricketts, a part-owner of the Chicago Cubs, has said he plans to run for a full-term in 2026.
Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., is also leading in her Senate race. She is likely to face a nonpartisan candidate in the November election.
- Karissa Waddick
West Virginia's critical GOP primary
In West Virginia, Tuesday’s Republican primaries are expected to all but determine the winner of congressional and state elections in November.
West Virginia’s Senate GOP primary is emblematic of the tug-of-war playing out in Congress between traditional conservatives and ultraconservative hardliners that is engulfing the Republican Party. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is backing Gov. Jim Justice in the race, while Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah support Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va.
Polls conducted between mid-March and the end of April showed Justice with a double-digit lead in the race.
- Karissa Waddick
West Virginia congressional bid is test of Capitol riot
Derrick Evans, is one of three people convicted in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots who are running for Congress in 2024.
Evans, a 39-year-old former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, is running against Republican Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., for the 1st Congressional District seat in the southern part of the state.
- Karissa Waddick
Who is Sarah Elfreth?
Sarah Elfreth is a Maryland state Senator running in the crowded Democratic primary for the open 3rd Congressional District. She is competing against 21 other candidates for the seat, including former Capitol police officer Harry Dun who testified before congress about the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
- Karissa Waddick
Nebraska’s Don Bacon faces tough Republican challenger, Dan Frei
Longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon faces a tough primary challenge from hard-right candidate Omaha businessman Dan Frei for the state’s competitive 2nd Congressional District.
Whoever wins will face off against Democrat Tony Vargas in a closely watched race that could help flip the House in November, Bacon has to fend off a hard-right and state party-endorsed challenger.
- Maya Marchel Hoff
What time do polls close in Nebraska?
The Cornhusker State is covered by two time zones. Some polls close at 8 p.m. Central and others at 7 p.m. Mountain
Is Marianne Williamson still running for president?
Yes. Williamson suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination in early February, but rejoined the race several weeks later.
Williamson has acknowledged that Joe Biden has earned enough delegates to be considered the presumptive Democratic nominee. But in a post on her campaign website, the self-help author said that a vote for her “sends a message” that the issues in her platform should be reflected in Biden’s campaign.
-Karissa Waddick
What time do polls close in West Virginia?
Polls opened in West Virginia at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. They'll close at 7:30 p.m. ET
What to know about Baltimore’s mayoral election
The collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge thrust the city’s 2024 mayoral election into the spotlight in late March. The winner of the Democratic primary is likely to become the liberal-leaning city’s next leader, and they’ll be charged with working with federal and state leaders to mitigate the economic impact of the collapse on businesses and port workers.
Former Mayor Sheila Dixon is challenging current Mayor Brandon Scott for the position. The race has focused heavily on crime reduction, with both leading candidates highlighting the decrease in homicides during their tenures.
Baltimore’s homicide rate dropped for the first time in three decades during Dixon’s first year in office in 2008. The annual number of homicides dipped below 300 last year under Scott’s watch for the first time since 2015.
Several months ago, Dixon, who was forced to resign in 2010 after she was convicted of embezzling gift cards meant for people in need, appeared to be ahead in the race. But Scott received a boost after his immediate handling of the Key Bridge, and it's now a tight match up, Foxwell said.
– Karissa Waddick
Primary election dates 2024
Wondering when your state will hold its 2024 primary elections? Check out USA TODAY's breakdown of the Democratic and Republican primary schedules from coast to coast.
When is the next Republican primary? A guide to the 2024 election schedule
When is the 2024 Democratic primary? A state-by-state guide to the election schedule
Is Dean Phillips still in the 2024 presidential race?
No. The Minnesota congressman dropped out of the Democratic Party’s presidential primary in early March after suffering a string of double-digit defeats. His name may still appear on primary ballots printed before he left the race.
– Karissa Waddick
How many delegates does Donald Trump have?
Donald Trump has picked up 2,037 delegates during the course of his reelection bid. He's widely expected to win Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia's delegates on Tuesday, which would grant him 95, 29 and 20 more.
– Marina Pitofsky
Is Nikki Haley still running for president?
No, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley dropped out of the 2024 Republican primary earlier this year. She told her supporters in March "I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard. I have done that."
But if you're a Maryland, Nebraska or West Virginia resident, don't be surprised if you see Haley's name on a ballot today. The list of candidates on a ballot is often determined far in advance, and their names aren't pulled automatically when they drop out of a primary.
– Marina Pitofsky
Angela Alsobrooks vs. David Trone: Maryland’s contentious Senate primary
Maryland’s Democratic primary between Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. David Trone, co-founder of Total Wine & More, is expected to come down to a razor-thin margin.
Alsobrooks has picked up endorsements from Democratic heavyweights in the state, including Gov. Wes Moore; Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., to name a few. If she wins the nomination and is elected in November, Alsobrooks will be the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate and the third Black woman ever elected to the chamber.
But Trone appears to have a slight edge among the state’s electorate. While there haven't been frequent polls in Maryland, public surveys on the race showed the third-term congressman ahead as of early April. The alcohol tycoon has poured more than $54 million of his personal wealth into his campaign.
– Karissa Waddick
When do we vote for president in 2024?
Maryland, Nebraska and West Virginia voters are casting ballots in their respective state primaries on Wednesday.
However, the nation will vote in the 2024 general election, where Joe Biden and Donald Trump are widely expected to face off, on Nov. 5.
– Marina Pitofsky
Where are Donald Trump, Joe Biden in 2024 polls?
According to a Real Clear Politics average of national polls, Donald Trump is currently leading Joe Biden 46.1% to 44.9%.
But presidential election polls can be complicated. Should you trust state-level polls or national surveys? How can you weigh different numbers from different polls? Check out USA TODAY's primer here:
Can independents vote in MD, NE, WV?
Maryland: No, you have to be affiliated with the Democratic or Republican Party to vote in their respective primaries.
West Virgina: Yes; unaffiliated voters can choose a major party ballot in the primary. Voters who are registered with a party can only vote in that party’s primary.
Nebraska: Yes; unaffiliated voters receive a nonpartisan ballot. They can also request a ballot with races from either party on it.
- Karissa Waddick
What time do polls close in Maryland?
Polls opened in Maryland at 7 a.m. on Tuesday. They'll close at 8 p.m. ET.
A tool to find your polling place can be found online at the State Board of Elections website. There are also 286 drop boxes for mail-in ballots across the state of Maryland.
A copy of the ballot for your jurisdiction can be found online at the State Board of Elections website. Each party’s ballot in each county is also available on the state board’s website.
– Salisbury Daily Times
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maryland primary replay: Angela Alsobrooks notches major victory
