June 3 (UPI) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will be part of a runoff election in November while the president’s pick for Iowa governor lost his primary and a host of incumbents advanced in New Jersey.
Tuesday’s primaries set much of the stage for November’s midterm elections. There is still more to be decided in Los Angeles’ mayoral race as it has not yet been determined who will challenge the incumbent, Bass.
Republican Spencer Pratt has an edge over Democrat Nithya Raman as of Wednesday morning but the race has not been called. Pratt has 30% of the votes counted, while Raman has 22%. Bass has captured 35% so far.
Bass is seeking a second term as mayor. She was one of 14 candidates in her primary.
California’s primary system is unique in that the top two vote-getters advance, regardless of party. It is possible for both mayoral candidates in November to be Democrats, depending on how the race between Pratt and Raman falls.
Raman is a Los Angeles city council member. Pratt is a former reality television star.alifornia is also set to choose a new governor to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. Republican Steve Hilton had about 27% of the votes on Wednesday morning, followed by Democrats Xavier Becerra with about 25% and Tom Steyer with 19%. About 58% of votes have been counted.
In Iowa, Sen. Randy Feenstra, President Donald Trump‘s choice for governor, lost the Republican primary to business owner Zach Lahn. Feenstra conceded the race on Tuesday night.
“We’ve got a new chapter and I’m so looking forward to that new chapter in life,” Feenstra said.
Lahn had less than a percentage-point edge over Feenstra with 99% of votes counted. He will face Democrat and State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Sand was uncontested in the Democratic primary.
Incumbents in New Jersey kept their campaigns alive on Tuesday, winning up and down the ballot though with eight of 12 running uncontested.
Incumbent Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., tallied 69% of votes in District 8, defeating Mussab Ali with 31% with 88% of votes counted Wednesday morning.
Rep. LaMonica McIver, the Democratic incumbent in District 10, has more than 84% of the vote with 85% counted, securing victory over Lawrence D. Poster with 15% of the vote.
In District 11, incumbent Rep. Analilia Mejia, D-N.J., has more than 81% of the vote and has been declared the winner with 88% of votes counted.
Republican Justin Murphy has advanced to November’s midterms to face incumbent Sen. Cory Booker, who ran uncontested in the Democratic primary.
