Primary results: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beats powerful NYC Democratic Rep. in upset
Voters in seven states headed to the polls Tuesday, with powerful New York City Democratic congressman Joe Crowley losing to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old progressive. Crowley was considered a potential candidate for House Speaker.
In Utah, Republican Mitt Romney won the GOP nomination after toning down his criticism of President Trump.
Other states that had primaries included Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Carolina
Primary election results by state:
New York primary results
Joe Crowley defeated by progressive activist
U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, one of the most powerful Democrats in the House, has been defeated by his 28-year-old challenger, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in a shocking upset.
Crowley had been considered a candidate to become the next House speaker if Democrats win the majority. Ocasio-Cortez, a former Bernie Sanders organizer, whas never held elected office.Ocasio-Cortez ran a low-budget campaign and was outspent by an 18-1 margin. She won the endorsement of some influential groups on the party's left, including MoveOn.
Crowley has been in Congress since 1999. He represents New York's 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens.
Ocasio-Cortez has been a community organizer in the Bronx and worked on Sanders' presidential campaign.
Mr. Trump tweeted after Crowley's loss, calling him a "big Trump hater" and "perhaps he should have been nicer, and more respectful, to his President!"
Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney survived a primary challenge from a well-funded progessive candidate, Suraj Patel.
Maloney won in New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes the east side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn and Queens.The 72-year-old Maloney has been in Congress since 1993. She's backed laws providing medical monitoring and treatment for 9/11 responders, funding to eliminate rape kit backlogs and consumer finance protections.
Patel got attention for some of his campaign tactics, which included using fake profiles on Tinder, Grindr and Bumble to recruit supporters.
The 34-year-old Patel worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign and teaches business ethics at New York University. He made a last-minute push with campaign-themed condoms.
Sander Hicks, a self-proclaimed 9/11 truther, says he'll challenge Maloney as an independent. The 47-year-old says he's a lifelong peace activist upset with Maloney's votes for the Iraq War and Wall Street bailouts.
Rep. Yvette Clarke has narrowly survived a Democratic primary challenge from Adem Bunkeddeko, the 30-year-old son of Ugandan war refugees. The 53-year-old Clarke has represented Brooklyn since 2007, following a stint in the City Council seat her mother had held.
Clarke lists passage of the Affordable Care Act and securing funding for Brooklyn hospitals that faced financial woes among her chief accomplishments.Bunkeddeko's campaign was buoyed by a New York Times endorsement.
Bunkeddeko went to Harvard Business School and worked as a community organizer in Brooklyn and campaign manager for congressional candidates in Arkansas.
On Staten Island, U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, New York City's only Republican congressman, has survived a fierce challenge in New York's Republican primary from Michael Grimm, a former congressman who resigned to go to prison for tax fraud.
Grimm conceded Tuesday night and asked his supporters to back Donovan. Donovan represents New York's 11th Congressional District, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.
Grimm served more than seven months in prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to cheating the government out of taxes at his Manhattan restaurant. He was leading in at least one poll when Mr. Trump weighed in on the race last month, urging voters to stick with Donovan. Trump said in a tweet that a vote for Grimm risked handing the seat to Democrats.
"Very importantly, @RepDanDonovan will win for the Republicans in November...and his opponent will not," Mr. Trump tweeted in March. "Remember Alabama. We can't take any chances on losing to a Nancy Pelosi controlled Democrat."
Mr. Trump was referring to Republican Roy Moore's loss to Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama. During the special primary in Alabama, Moore beat the more establishment candidate, but in the end, lost to Jones after allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with underage girls when he was in his 30s.
Mississippi primary results
Democratic voters reject bid by newcomer
Mississippi Democrats have nominated state Rep. David Baria to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, lining up behind a party stalwart as they reject a bid by a newcomer.
Baria is a Bay St. Louis attorney. He beat venture capitalist Howard Sherman of Meridian in Tuesday's runoff.
Many Democratic politicians backed Baria, the state House minority leader, arguing that Sherman was an unknown quantity. The husband of actress Sela Ward, Sherman voted as a Republican in California and donated to Wicker. Sherman said that was an effort to prevent a tea party conservative from winning office.
Baria says he has the experience to make the uphill campaign against Wicker and be a productive senator.
The Reform Party's Shawn O'Hara of Hattiesburg and Libertarian Danny Bedwell of Columbus also are running in November.
Colorado primary results
Five-term Congressman Jared Polis wins Democratic primary
Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis and Republican state Treasurer Walker Stapleton won their respective party primaries Tuesday for the Colorado governor's race, setting up a left-versus-Trump showdown as Republicans seek a seat they haven't held in more than a decade.
The liberal Polis, a five-term congressman, and Stapleton, who has closely aligned himself with President Trump's immigration and tax policies, easily defeated three challengers each in the top race of this purple state's midterm primary.
The two traded early barbs over taxes and health care in their respective victory speeches.
"Make no mistake: As governor, Jared Polis will raise every tax and fee he can to take more money from hardworking Coloradans," Stapleton said.
Polis vowed to protect Colorado residents from efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and reiterated a pledge to secure free preschool and kindergarten for all Colorado children. He said those plans stand "in stark contrast to Walker Stapleton's agenda to enrich the special interests, threaten our health care, and leave our families behind."
As a Democrat, Polis is an early, though far from guaranteed, favorite to become Colorado's next governor. Colorado's last Republican governor was Bill Owens, who served from 1999 to 2007. Centrist Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper is term-limited.
In other races, Democrat Jason Crow won the primary in suburban Denver's 6th Congressional District to try to unseat five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman. Doug Lamborn, the six-term Republican congressman in El Paso County's 5th Congressional District, easily won his primary and is a heavy favorite to keep the seat.
The contest to succeed Hickenlooper topped the primary, one in which unaffiliated voters, the state's largest voting bloc, could participate without having to affiliate with one or the other of the major parties. A voter-passed 2016 initiative allowed them to do so.
Polis, a tech entrepreneur and one of the wealthiest members of Congress, advocates single-payer health care, local control over Colorado's $31 billion oil and gas industry and lofty renewable energy goals for the state.
He invested $12 million in his campaign and is a fierce critic of the Trump administration's immigration policies and efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act.
Stapleton, a distant relative of President George W. Bush, closely wedded himself to Mr. Trump on virtually every issue -- even refusing to condemn the Trump administration's immigrant family separation policies -- except trade, where he opposes tariffs that could produce a trade war and harm Colorado industries.
He welcomed the federal repeal in the individual mandate that helps subsidize the Affordable Care Act and has pledged to fight any public expansion, especially when it comes to Medicaid.
Stapleton has attacked Polis as someone who would chase energy jobs out of Colorado, and he also opposes Polis' pledge to modify a constitutional amendment that severely restricts Colorado's ability to raise taxes or spending.
Polis argues that Colorado's rapid population growth -- 5.6 million people and counting -- demands a fiscal system that allows the state to invest needed billions of dollars in its underfunded infrastructure and public education.
A former state board of education member and founder of English-language schools for immigrants, Polis defeated former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy, who was endorsed by Colorado's teachers unions. Former state Sen. Mike Johnston, an educator and gun control advocate, and Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne also ran.
Stapleton defeated former state Rep. Vic Mitchell, who invested nearly $5 million in his own campaign; Doug Robinson, a first-time candidate and nephew of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; and businessman Greg Lopez.
A preliminary count suggested that unaffiliated voters, Colorado's largest voting bloc, helped produce a surge in turnout by participating in either the Democratic or the Republican primary. Early numbers showed more than 30 percent of active voters casting ballots, a high percentage for a non-presidential election year.
Maryland primary results
Ben Jealous wins Democratic Gov. nomination
Former NAACP President Ben Jealous won the Maryland Democratic nomination for governor on Tuesday, giving him a shot at becoming the state's first black governor and setting up a battle between the progressive candidate and a popular Republican incumbent.
Jealous beat Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker in the crowded primary. In November, Jealous will face Gov. Larry Hogan, who hopes to become the first GOP governor re-elected in Maryland since 1954. Hogan was unchallenged for his party's nomination.
Jealous supports tuition-free college educations and expanding Medicare to all. He also advocates raising teacher pay by 29 percent and funding full-day, universal pre-kindergarten with tax revenue from his proposal to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Jealous won support from leading liberals on the national stage, including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who rallied with him in Silver Spring outside of an early voting center. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California also endorsed him. Comedian Dave Chappelle and Ben Cohen, a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, made stops in Maryland to appear with the candidate.
In 2008 at age 35, Jealous became the youngest person elected to lead the Baltimore-based NAACP, the nation's oldest civil rights organization. After five years at the helm, Jealous was credited with improving the NAACP's finances and donor base.
Jealous campaigned on plans to reduce the state's prison population to save money. One of his proposals includes ending cash bail and ensuring people stay in jail awaiting trial because they are a public safety threat, not because they are too poor to pay bail.
He supports continuing police reform efforts, including changes to the state's Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights so that all allegations of police brutality are investigated, regardless of when the complaint is made.
Hogan is widely popular in the state, where Democrats control many other elected offices, including the General Assembly. He has kept Mr. Trump at arm's length, not attending the Republican presidential convention in 2016 and writing in his father's name when voting for president that year. More recently, Hogan responded to the immigrant family separation crisis on the U.S. border with Mexico by ordering home Maryland's four National Guard members deployed to the Southwest.
Jealous ran in a diverse primary that included nine candidates, including two all-female tickets. While crowded, the primary, for the most part, was a quiet one with the candidates agreeing on many issues and focusing criticism on the governor. However, the sudden death of one candidate, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, shook up the race in May. His running mate, Valerie Ervin, decided to run in his place, though she later dropped out to back Baker.
The co-owner of giant wine retailer Total Wine & More has won Maryland's Democratic primary for the state's only open congressional seat. David Trone finished first in Tuesday's crowded race in the state's 6th district.
Two years ago, Trone broke a record as the biggest self-funder for a House candidate. He spent $13.4 million in a failed primary bid for the 8th District congressional seat. He's reported spending about $10 million of his own money in this race.
Trone has highlighted the opioid crisis as a top concern and focused on job creation. He says his business created close to 7,000 jobs in 24 states.
The district has been criticized as one of the state's most gerrymandered. Rep. John Delaney doesn't live in the 6th District and isn't running for re-election. He's seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Tony Campbell has won Maryland's Republican nomination in the state's crowded primary for a U.S. Senate seat.
Eleven Republican candidates campaigned ahead of Tuesday's race.
Campbell teaches politics at Towson University in Maryland and was a chaplain in the Army. Among the issues central to his campaign is education reform.Campbell faces popular, well-funded U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin in the November general election. Earlier Tuesday night, Cardin won the Democratic nomination for his bid to earn a third term, beating convicted leaker Chelsea Manning and six others.
Cardin has name recognition within the state. He served 20 years in the U.S. House before becoming a senator in 2006.
Oklahoma primary results
Oklahoma voters decide on medical marijuana
Oklahoma voted to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. Despite opposition from law enforcement and business, faith and political leaders, State Question 788 passed as a result of an activist-led signature drive.
The medical marijuana proposal will allow physicians to approve medical marijuana licenses for people to legally grow, keep and use cannabis. The proposal doesn't list any qualifying medical conditions, allowing doctors to prescribe it for a wide range of ailments.
Opponents had argued the proposal was too loosely written, and Republican Gov. Mary Fallin said it would essentially allow recreational use. She recently warned that if the measure passed, she would have to call lawmakers into a special session to develop rules regulating the industry in Oklahoma.
It's the first marijuana question on a state ballot in 2018. Elections are scheduled for later this year in Michigan and Utah.
Candidate results
It was a mixed bag for teachers running for political office in Oklahoma but a bad night for incumbent Republicans who voted against a tax package earlier this year to fund a teacher pay raise.
Several GOP incumbents who voted against the tax hikes were either ousted from office or pulled into a runoff against a fellow GOP opponent, a signal some teacher candidates say bodes well for them in November.Of the 10 "no" voters in the House who were running for re-election, two were defeated outright on Tuesday night - Reps. Chuck Strohm of Jenks and Scott McEachin of Tulsa. Seven others were pulled into an Aug. 28 primary runoff against fellow Republicans.
Four other Republican incumbents lost on Tuesday, including one who lost to a teacher.
Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb has conceded in the Republican primary to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Mary Fallin. The 46-year-old Lamb told supporters Tuesday at an election night party that it appears he lacks the votes to make a two-way runoff for the nomination.
Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett had already clinched a spot in the Aug. 28 runoff. Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt held a slight lead over Lamb for the second spot with nearly all votes counted in the 10-candidate Republican primary.
Stitt is the founder and CEO of Jenks-based Gateway Mortgage Group and a political newcomer who has painted himself as the outsider.
Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson won the Democratic nomination for governor Tuesday and will face the winner of the Republican runoff in November.
Former Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris has advanced to a runoff election for the Republican nomination in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District.
The longtime prosecutor advances in a five-candidate field for the GOP nomination for the open Tulsa-area district. A runoff election is set for Aug. 28, and the winner will meet the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 6 general election.
First elected DA in 1998, Harris is the longest serving district attorney in the county's history. He retired in 2014.
The seat has been vacant since April when former U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine resigned to become administrator of NASA. Mr. Trump nominated Bridenstine to head the space agency in September.
South Carolina primary results
Trump-backed Henry McMaster wins GOP runoff
Gov. Henry McMaster won the primary runoff, defeating businessman John Warren. Mr. McMaster was endorsed by Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump campaigned Monday in South Carolina for McMaster, and Mr. Trump again tweeted his support for McMaster on Tuesday.
South Carolina already had its upset election earlier this month when incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Sanford lost to state Rep. Katie Arrington after Mr. Trump blasted Sanford on Twitter. Arrington is now recovering from serious injuries that resulted from a Friday night vehicle collision.
There are a number of House primary runoffs Tuesday night in South Carolina. Both Republicans and Democrats have runoffs in the Fourth Congressional District. The Democratic runoff is between Brandon Brown and Doris Turner, and the Republican runoff is between Lee Bright and William Timmons.
Democrats in the Seventh Congressional District also have a runoff, between Mal Hyman and Robert Williams.
Utah: Mitt Romney wins GOP Senate nomination
Republican 2012 presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Republican primary for Utah's Senate seat. He faced off against state lawmaker Mike Kennedy after fending off attacks on his onetime criticism of Mr. Trump.
Romney was the heavy favorite to win the race in Utah, where he moved after his failed 2012 presidential run and is a beloved adopted son.
Romney blasted Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, though the two men have largely buried the hatchet, and Romney has accepted the president's endorsement.
No Democrat has represented Utah in the U.S. Senate since 1977, but the Democratic nominee, Jenny Wilson, was selected to run in November through a convention.
November's winner will replace retiring GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Romney stopped at Utah restaurants and posed for photos with voters to wrap up his primary campaign Tuesday. The former Republican presidential candidate started his morning at a northern Utah diner where he sat down to a big breakfast of pancakes and eggs with his wife Ann Romney and grandkids and checked out a vintage car parked outside.