What Went Down In Elections In Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont And Connecticut

We’re keeping an eye on one race in Vermont: the Democratic primary for the state’s at-large district. Democratic Rep. Peter Welch is running for Senate following the retirement of longtime Sen. Patrick Leahy, and the race for this open seat has attracted two high-profile Democratic contenders: state Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint and Lt. Gov. Molly Gray. Thanks to the state’s solidly blue lean, the winner of the primary will almost certainly win in November, so Vermont appears set to send its first woman to Congress — the 50th and final state to do so.

But while some early polls showed a close race, two recent polls found Balint with a big lead, ranging from 32 to 42 percentage points. Balint is viewed as the more progressive choice — she has the coveted endorsement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — and she’s focused on the importance of fighting efforts to roll back rights, such as voting rights, reproductive rights and same-sex marriage.