Voters in six US states — Iowa, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, South Dakota and California — are deciding primary elections that will determine key contenders for the November midterm elections. These races will shape the battle for control of Congress, with all 435 House of Representatives seats and about one-third of Senate seats up for grabs. In Iowa, an open Senate seat is drawing intense attention after Republican Senator Joni Ernst announced she would not seek re-election. Democrats Josh Turek and Zach Wahls are vying for their party's nomination, while Republican US Representative Ashley Hinson is favored to win her primary unless no candidate secures at least 35% of the vote, in which case the nominee would be chosen at a party convention on June 13. New Jersey's 7th congressional district is another focal point, where Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. is running unopposed in his primary despite missing over 100 House votes and skipping public events. He attributed his absences to a "personal medical issue," a statement that has drawn criticism for lacking detail. On the Democratic side, Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, leads a field that includes doctor Tina Shah, businessman Brian Varela and Michael Roth, a former official in the Biden administration. In Montana, five Democrats are competing for the chance to run for the Senate seat left vacant after Senator Steve Daines withdrew just before the March filing deadline. Seth Bodnar, a Green Beret veteran and former University of Montana president, is running as an independent but has faced scrutiny for using the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. California's nonpartisan primaries will advance the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, to the general election. The outcomes in these states will directly influence the balance of power in Congress during the remainder of the current presidential term.
Tom Kean Jr. faces a Democratic challenge in November despite running unopposed in his primary, exposing a vulnerability rooted in his absence from House votes and district engagements. His explanation of a "personal medical issue" has not reassured constituents who expect visibility from their representative. In a state where control could shift, low engagement risks turning a safe seat into a competitive one.
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