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

There are three-and-a-half primaries we’re watching in the Badger State, whose polls close in 25 minutes:

• A couple of weeks ago, the Democratic primary for Senate was on course to be one of the biggest races today. But instead, progressive Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is now his party’s presumptive nominee after his three leading opponents dropped out and endorsed him in late July. Barnes will face Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in the general election in one of the marquee races this cycle.
• Meanwhile, in the 3rd District, Democrats will choose a nominee as they try to hold onto this R+9 seat following the retirement of Democratic Rep. Ron Kind. Despite the difficult terrain, three notable Democrats have jumped into the race: state Sen. Brad Pfaff, former CIA officer Deb McGrath and businesswoman Rebecca Cooke. Pfaff has led in fundraising and has Kind’s endorsement, but McGrath has been running an eye-catching ad while Cooke has support from organized labor.
• For their part, Republicans will choose a candidate to take on Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, Tony Evers. The early favorite was former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who has the support of former Gov. Scott Walker, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Ted Cruz. However, businessman Tim Michels has come on strong at the end, thanks to Trump’s endorsement and almost $11 million in self-funding, as of July 25. A recent Emerson College poll showed Kleefisch (36 percent) and Michels (34 percent) in a virtual tie.

Finally, Republicans also have a competitive primary for attorney general. There haven’t been any public polls, but fundraising suggests former state Assemblyman Adam Jarchow is favored over Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney. Abortion has become a major issue in the race, with Jarchow and Toney both saying that, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade earlier this summer, they would enforce Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban. The incumbent attorney general, Democrat Josh Kaul, has said he will not enforce it.