Aug. 4 (UPI) — The Democratic primary for Michigan’s Senate seat between Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens is just one of Tuesday’s key races to watch.

Michigan is one of five states holding primaries on Tuesday, along with Virginia, Missouri, Kansas and Washington.

Michigan

El-Sayed and Stevens are running for the seat left open by retiring Sen. Gary Peters. El-Sayed has received endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., while Stevens has the endorsement of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Stevens represents a more moderate wing of the Democratic Party while El-Sayed is the more progressive candidate.

As of about 11:30 p.m. EDT, Stevens had 48.71% of the vote to El-Sayed’s 45.34%, according to unofficial state results.

Mike Rogers, a former Republican congressman, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Rogers lost a tight race against Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., in 2024. Rogers is endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Whitmer’s endorsement of Stevens is among the last endorsements she will make as sitting governor. She has reached her term limit, leaving the governor’s seat up for grabs.

For the Democratic Party, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson appeared poised late Tuesday for a landslide victory against Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Unofficial state results show Benson had 87.9% of the vote to Swanson’s 12.1%.

“Thank you, MICHIGAN!” Benson said online, claiming victory.

“I’m so proud to be your Democratic nominee for governor of Michigan. I’m ready to fight for your future — costs down, wages up, rights protected and a government that works for all of us.”

For the Republican Party, Rep. John James was poised to defeat businessman Perry Johnson. James is endorsed by Trump.

Unofficial results show James had secured 48.49% of the vote to Johnson’s 33.42%.

Virginia

The Democratic Party is focused on flipping House seats in Virginia after the state’s Supreme Court struck down a congressional redistricting plan pushed by Democrats. The proposed map would have favored Democrats in 10 of 11 congressional districts.

Instead, Democrats are hoping to flip several Republican-held seats, including that of Rep. Jen Kiggans. Elaine Luria, a former congresswoman, is poised to win the Democratic nomination to take on Kiggans, who defeated her in 2024.

According to unofficial state results, she had secured 80.42% of the vote. Of the three other candidates, only S. “Dre. Nila” Devanath had more than 10%, as Devanath had 16.2%.

“I’m honored to be your Democratic nominee in Virginia’s Second Congressional District to lower prices for working families, take on corruption in Washington and flip the House to hold Donald Trump and Jen Kiggans accountable!” she said online, claiming victory.

Prosecutor Shannon Taylor, whose campaign has the backing of the Democratic Party, claimed victory Tuesday night to challenge Republican Rep. Rob Wittman in the Williamsburg and suburban Richmond district.

Unofficial results show Taylor — the first Democrat to be elected Henrico County commonwealth’s attorney in 40 years — had secured 53.11% of the vote in the seven-person race. Salaam Bhatti was second with 19.66%.

“Virginia, I am deeply honored to be your nominee for the 1st Congressional District,” she said online.

“Thank you to every voter, volunteer and all the supporters who believed in me and in this campaign. This victory belongs to all of us.”

Missouri

Republican-led redistricting in Missouri has altered the makeup of the state’s congressional districts. Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents Kansas City, is running unopposed in a district that suddenly is more Republican-leaning than it has been in recent elections.

Missouri State Sen. Rick Brattin was poised Tuesday night to challenge Cleaver come November.

Among the six Republican candidates running, Brattin had secured 43.45% of the vote. Taylor Burks, a former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander and Boone County’s first Republican clerk, followed with 27.49% of the vote.

Pro-Israel Rep. Wesley Bell was poised Tuesday night to hold on to his Democratic nomination in a firmly Democratic district in St. Louis.

He faced a challenge from former Rep. Cori Bush, a progressive who was seeking a return to Congress after losing her seat to Bell in 2024.

Unofficial results show Bell with 57.7% of the vote to Bush’s 38.5%.

“I am honored and grateful that the people of Missouri’s First Congressional District have continued to put their trust in me to represent them in Congress,” Bell said online.

Washington

In the state of Washington, nonpartisan primaries will see the top two vote-getters on the ballot in November regardless of party. Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is running for re-election against eight candidates in Washington’s District 3.

Unofficial results show Perez with 38.9% of the vote. John Braun of the Republican Party narrowly trailed with a 38.71% vote share.

Kansas

The Kansas gubernatorial election is an open race because Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has reached her term limit this year. Three Democrats and seven Republicans are running for her seat in a state that favored Trump by 16 points in 2024.