What to Watch in the 2019 Primaries
This page contains Daniel Nichanian’s cheat sheets for what to watch in key primaries throughout the 2019 cycle.
June 11, 2019: Virginia
| Election | Stakes | Results |
| Prosecutor Arlington (D) | Incumbent T. Stamos faces P. Dehghani-Tafti, who said she’s running to “dismantle the mass incarceration machine.” Contrasts on death penalty, pot, and more. Preview. | Parisa Dehghani-Tafti |
| Prosecutor Fairfax Co. (Dem) | Incumbent Ray Morrogh faces Steve Descano. Contrasts on death penalty, pot, structure of diversion programs & felony charges. Preview. | Steve Descano |
| Prosecutor Prince William (D) | Incumbent Paul Ebert is retiring after 51 years. 2 candidates who’ve talked about reforming the local system in slightly different ways are running to replace him. Preview. | Amy Ashworth |
| Legislative SD24 (GOP) | Tina Freitas is challenging GOP Senator Emmett Hanger Jr. in part because he backed Medicaid expansion (Augusta area) Preview. | Emmett Hanger |
| Legislative HD28 (GOP) | Paul Milde is challenging GOP Delegate Robert M. Thomas Jr. in part because he backed the Medicaid expansion. | Paul Milde |
| Legislative SD35 (Dem) | Yasmine Taeb is challenging Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw from the left in a Northern Virginia district. | Richard Saslaw |
| Legislative HD50 (Dem) | Delegate Lee Carter is facing a challenger from the right by Mark Wolfe. Preview. | Lee Carter |
| Legislative SD31 (Dem) | Dem Sen. Barbara Favola is facing a challenge from the left by Nicole Merlene. See. | Barbara Favola |
| Legislative HD38 (Dem) | Dem Del. Kaye Kory is facing a challenge from the left by Andres Jimenez. See. | Kaye Kory |
| Legislative HD48 (Dem) | Delegate Alfono Lopez is facing a challenge from the left by J.D. Spain. See. | Alfono Lopez |
May 21, 2019: Kentucky, Pennsylvania
Statewide
| KY: Gov (D) | Four Democrats are vying for the nomination to face Gov. Bevin. Some contrasts, incl. on abortion. | Beshear |
| KY: Gov (R) | Gov. Bevin faces three primary challengers | Bevin |
| KY: SoS | Both parties are choosing their candidates to replace SoS Grimes, for the office that runs elections but whose powers just shrunk. | Henry (D) Adams (R) |
Congressional & legislative special elections
| PA, CD12 | PA12 is electing the replacement of Rep. Marino, in a Republican district. | GOP hold |
| Legislative specials | Republicans are defending three seats (SD33, SD41, HD11), each in red territory. | GOP holds |
Criminal legal system
| PA: Allegheny Co. DA (D) | DA Stephen Zappala is facing his first opponent in 20-years, with stark contrasts on criminal justice reform and the DA’s responsibility toward mass incarceration. | Stephen Zappala |
| PA: Philly sheriff (D) | Foreclosures and ICE in courthouses on the menu in sheriff’s election; Sheriff Williams seeking re-election. | Rochelle Bilal |
| PA: Northampton Co. DA (D) | Punitive DA’s retirement leaves an open Dem primary; bold ideas are not being tossed around. | Terry Houck |
Local elections
| Philadelphia: Mayor | Mayor Jim Kenney faces two opponents. City commissioners run Philly elections, and the Philly Inquirer did a thorough job laying out where they stand on the issues. | Jim Kenney |
| Philadelphia: City commissioner | One stake: Run Philly elections, and the Philly Inquirer lays out where they stand on the issues. | Lisa Deely & Omar Sabir |
April 2, 2019: Illinois, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
Statewide
| Wisconsin Supreme Court | To replace a retiring liberal justice. Court has been at center of many recent political battles, and redistricting is on horizon. | Hagedown (conservative) |
Legislative
| PA: #SD37 special | GOP-held Senate seat in Pittsburgh-region district (#SD37). Outcome could either hinder or set up a chamber majority flip (toward Dems) next year. | Dem GAIN |
Referendum
| Kansas City | Kansas City votes on whether to increase sales tax to fund universal pre-K. Some concerns include use of funds for vouchers & private schools. | No |
| IL: Chicago mayor | Runoff after February’s first round. | Lightfoot |
| IL: Chicago aldermanic elections | Four candidates endorsed by DSA in runoffs (Jeannette Taylor, Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Andre Vasquez, Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez); 2 won in Feb. | 4 DSA wins |
| MO: Ferguson council | Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown, is running for city council in Ferguson; faces K. Kallstrom and Fran Griffin. | Griffin |
| MO: Kansas City mayor | The first round of the mayoral election; field will be narrowed to two. | Jolie Justus vs Quinton Lucas [Lucas eventually] |
| NV: Las Vegas mayor | Mayor Carolyn Goodman’s reelection bid. First round, but more than 50% wins it. | Goodman |
| NV: Las Vegas council | Ruben Kihuen’s new bid for elected office | Kihuen out |