US midterm primary elections live updates: High-stakes Michigan Senate race among key contests in five states

Summary

Good evening. In Michigan , voters are casting ballots in a Democratic primary that has become a high-stakes test of the party’s future. Polls close at 8 p.m. local time. Michigan is one of five states holding primary elections today, along with Kansas, Virginia, Washington and Missouri . Voters in Michigan are choosing between Abdul El-Sayed , a progressive former public health official, and representative Haley Stevens , a centrist backed by Democratic leaders. The race has become the Democratic Party’s most expensive and contentious Senate primary, with Stevens benefiting from more than $60m in outside spending from super PACs backing her campaign. Still, recent polls gave El-Sayed a slight lead as voting got underway today. Three Democrats are pitted against each other for the role of Kansas governor, while Republican candidates include current secretary of state Scott Schwab , senate president and Trump-endorsed Ty Masterson and insurance commissioner Vicki Schmidt. Virginians are choosing nominees, in a delayed manner, for a US Senate race and several congressional districts after redistricting pushed back the election schedule. Moving on to Washington state , Democratic representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is seeking a third term to represent the third congressional district, where she faces several challengers in the primary, including Republican state Senate minority leader John Braun , who has received President Trump’s endorsement.