What happened
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday became the first member of the leftist "Squad" to lose a primary fight while far-right media star Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo) won a crowded open primary in Colorado's eastern 4th Congressional District. In other notable primary results, Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) beat a Donald Trump–backed candidate in the GOP race to replace Sen. Mitt Romney, and former CNN anchor John Avlon easily won the Democratic primary in a district on New York's Long Island that Democrats hope to flip in November.
Who said what
Boebert is switching from Colorado's western 3rd District after nearly losing her seat to a little-known Democrat in 2022 and a later scandal involving poor behavior in a Denver theater. Bowman lost to moderate challenger George Latimer after the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC spent nearly $15 million to unseat the blunder-prone two-term incumbent, in the most expensive House primary in U.S. history. Bowman told supporters they should be "outraged" that a super PAC can spend so lavishly to "brainwash people."
In Utah, Curtis' victory over MAGA candidate Trent Staggs means "Mitt Romney will be replaced by a guy who sure sounds a lot like Mitt Romney," Politico said.
What next?
Boebert, Latimer and Curtis are all expected to win in November. Democrats, who see New York as crucial to their bid to retake the House, say Avlon is running in "one of the most competitive districts in the country"; the Cook Political Report rates the race "likely Republican."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Taps could run dry in drought-stricken TehranUnder the Radar President warns that unless rationing eases water crisis, citizens may have to evacuate the capital
-
Alaska faces earth-shaking loss as seismic monitoring stations shutterIN THE SPOTLIGHT NOAA cuts have left the western seaboard without a crucial resource to measure, understand and predict tsunamis
-
10 great advent calendars for everyone (including the dog)The Week Recommends Countdown with cocktails, jams and Legos
-
What happens to a Democratic Party without Nancy Pelosi?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The storied former speaker of the House is set to retire, leaving congressional Democrats a complicated legacy and an uncertain future
-
Trump ordered to fully fund SNAPSpeed Read The Justice Department is appealing the decision
-
Judge issues injunction on DHS use of forceSpeed Read Agents can only use force under the ‘immediate threat of physical harm’
-
France targets Shein over weapons, sex dollsSpeed Read Shein was given 48 hours to scrub the items from their website
-
Trump tariffs face stiff scrutiny at Supreme CourtSpeed Read Even some of the Court’s conservative justices appeared skeptical
-
FAA to cut air travel as record shutdown rolls onSpeed Read Up to 40 airports will be affected
-
Democrats sweep top races in off-year electionSpeed Read A trio of nationally watched races went to the party
-
Trump to partly fund SNAP as shutdown talks progressSpeed Read The administration has said it will cover about 50% of benefits
