These are the races to watch in Tuesday's primaries in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Vermont

Gov. Scott Walker will find out his challenger Tuesday

(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

published 14 August 2018

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Vermont are holding primary elections on Tuesday. Republicans in key races in the upper Midwest have been battling over who can most forcefully renounce their former criticisms of President Trump, while Democrats are fighting to reverse recent losses in Wisconsin and hold off a Republican challenge in the race to replace outgoing, unpopular Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D).

In Wisconsin, eight Democrats are fighting to take on Gov. Scott Walker (R), with state schools chief Tony Evers the best known of the candidates. Two Republicans, state Sen. Leah Vukmir (R) and Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson, are battling to face Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D), and both parties have competitive races to replace House Speaker Paul Ryan (R) — Democrats will chose between iron worker Randy "Iron Stache" Bryce and Janesville school board member Cathy Myers, while former Ryan staffer Bryan Steil faces off against four lesser-known Republicans.

Vermont Democrats have four choices to challenge Gov. Phil Scott (R), including a transgender woman, former energy executive Christine Hallquist, and 14-year-old Ethan Sonneborn. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is expected to win the Democratic primary, then renounce the nomination and run as an independent.

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In Minnesota, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is vying for a shot at his old seat against Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, and the Democrats running to replace outgoing Gov. Mark Dayton (D) include Rep. Tim Walz (D), Attorney General Lori Swanson, and state Rep. Erin Murphy. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), appointed to replace former Sen. Al Franken (D), is running to finish Franken's term, and she will face Richard Painter, former ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush. The winner's likely Republican challenger will be state Sen. Karin Housley. The race for state attorney general has been roiled by a domestic abuse allegation against Democratic frontrunner Rep. Keith Ellison.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.