Voters in Delaware, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island are set to head to the polls on Tuesday to select new governors, senators, and House members in the final round of primaries before the 2024 general election.
In Delaware, the departures of prominent Democratic lawmakers have triggered a series of competitive primaries. Governor John Carney’s decision to step down after two terms has led to a six-way contest for the Democratic nomination, with Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, and National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O’Mara vying for the top spot. However, Hall-Long’s campaign has been marred by controversy over her financial disclosures, which have been deemed “incomplete, inconsistent, and often inaccurate” by the state’s elections chief. A poll from Slingshot Strategies from Aug. 8-13 found Meyer leading Hall-Long by 4 percentage points, 27% to 23%.
The state’s Senate seat, left open by Tom Carper’s retirement, has attracted two high-profile candidates: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and former Walmart executive Eric Hansen. While both are running unopposed in their respective primaries, the real contest will be for Blunt Rochester’s House seat, where Democratic state Sen. Sarah McBride is the clear frontrunner. If elected, McBride would become the first openly transgender member of Congress.
In New Hampshire, the state’s independent streak is on full display as voters head to the polls to select a new governor and congressional representative. The gubernatorial primary pits former Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte against former state Senate president Chuck Morse, with Ayotte holding a significant financial lead. The 2nd Congressional District is also up for grabs, with over a dozen Republicans vying for the nomination, including author and economist Vikram Mansharamani and Lily Tang Williams.
Rhode Island, meanwhile, is experiencing a relatively quiet primary season, with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse facing a challenge from Mike Costa in the Democratic primary. Whitehouse’s significant financial advantage and name recognition make him the clear favorite to win. The state’s two House Democrats, Reps. Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner, are not facing strong primary challengers and are expected to cruise to reelection.
Polls in all three states close at 8 p.m. Eastern time, with Delaware’s polls closing at the same time. New Hampshire allows independents and undeclared voters to participate in either party’s primary, while Rhode Island also permits unaffiliated voters to cast ballots.
