Voters in 12 states headed to the polls on Tuesday for closely watched primary race.
In California former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, a Republican billionaire who spent $71 million of her own money on her campaign, won the primary to run for California governor in November, while the former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who spent $5 million of her own money on her campaign won the GOP election to run for the U.S. Senate.
Arkansas was one of the big surprises of the night, as two-term Sen. Blanche Lincoln overcame anti-incumbent voters’ sentiment and beat Lt. Gov. Bill Halter for the Democratic Senate nomination.
In Nevada, Brian Sandoval won the Republican gubernatorial nomination against incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons after a four-year term marred with allegations of infidelity and a public divorce. Three Republicans fought for the chance to face Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle running ahead.
In South Carolina seven candidates ran for Senate. Nikki Haley who is currently a state representative has stolen the show from other candidates. Haley was backed by Sarah Palin who released a statement urging voters not to trust blogs that make up rumors of infidelity about Haley. Haley will face Rep. Gresham Barrett in a runoff election in two weeks for the GOP nomination. Barrett, a third-term House member was backed by former Vice President Dick Cheney. State Sen. Vincent Sheheen won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
In Iowa Terry Branstad defeated Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats and state Rep. Rod Roberts to claim the Republican nomination and a bid for a fifth term in office. Another big race is the race for Democratic U.S. senator. Roxanne Conlin had a big lead with more than 78 percent of the votes.
In Maine, Paul LePage, a career businessman backed by the Tea Party won against six rivals and grabbed the Republican nomination for governor. On the Democratic side, Senate President Libby Mitchell captured her party’s gubernatorial nomination.
In California former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, a Republican billionaire who spent $71 million of her own money on her campaign, won the primary to run for California governor in November, while the former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who spent $5 million of her own money on her campaign won the GOP election to run for the U.S. Senate.
Arkansas was one of the big surprises of the night, as two-term Sen. Blanche Lincoln overcame anti-incumbent voters’ sentiment and beat Lt. Gov. Bill Halter for the Democratic Senate nomination.
In Nevada, Brian Sandoval won the Republican gubernatorial nomination against incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons after a four-year term marred with allegations of infidelity and a public divorce. Three Republicans fought for the chance to face Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle running ahead.
In South Carolina seven candidates ran for Senate. Nikki Haley who is currently a state representative has stolen the show from other candidates. Haley was backed by Sarah Palin who released a statement urging voters not to trust blogs that make up rumors of infidelity about Haley. Haley will face Rep. Gresham Barrett in a runoff election in two weeks for the GOP nomination. Barrett, a third-term House member was backed by former Vice President Dick Cheney. State Sen. Vincent Sheheen won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
In Iowa Terry Branstad defeated Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats and state Rep. Rod Roberts to claim the Republican nomination and a bid for a fifth term in office. Another big race is the race for Democratic U.S. senator. Roxanne Conlin had a big lead with more than 78 percent of the votes.
In Maine, Paul LePage, a career businessman backed by the Tea Party won against six rivals and grabbed the Republican nomination for governor. On the Democratic side, Senate President Libby Mitchell captured her party’s gubernatorial nomination.
In North Dakota, Republican Gov. John Hoeven was unopposed in the GOP primary for the Senate seat.
In South Dakota, Senate Democratic Leader Scott Heidepriem was unopposed for his party’s nomination for governor. Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard finished atop a five-person field to win the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Mike Rounds.
In a pair of Virginia congressional districts likely to become fall battlegrounds, Republicans chose Scott Rigell and Robert Hurt to challenge Democratic freshmen Reps. Glenn Nye and Tom Perriello.
And in Georgia, Republican Tom Graves, running with Tea Party support, won a special election to fill out the final few months left in the term of former GOP Rep. Nathan Deal, who resigned to run for governor.
In New Jersey voters endorsed incumbents of both parties in congressional primaries ending Republican hopes that the Tea Party members would lure anti-federal government voters. All seven incumbents facing primary challenges, including Leonard Lance, a Republican in the competitive Seventh District, had secured their parties’ nominations for re-election. New Jersey’s other six representatives faced no primary competition.
In Montana, incumbent Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg won over AJ Otjen, a business professor and former marketing executive, and Mark French, a clinical laboratory scientist. Dennis McDonald secured the Democratic nomination.
In South Dakota, Senate Democratic Leader Scott Heidepriem was unopposed for his party’s nomination for governor. Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard finished atop a five-person field to win the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Mike Rounds.
In a pair of Virginia congressional districts likely to become fall battlegrounds, Republicans chose Scott Rigell and Robert Hurt to challenge Democratic freshmen Reps. Glenn Nye and Tom Perriello.
And in Georgia, Republican Tom Graves, running with Tea Party support, won a special election to fill out the final few months left in the term of former GOP Rep. Nathan Deal, who resigned to run for governor.
In New Jersey voters endorsed incumbents of both parties in congressional primaries ending Republican hopes that the Tea Party members would lure anti-federal government voters. All seven incumbents facing primary challenges, including Leonard Lance, a Republican in the competitive Seventh District, had secured their parties’ nominations for re-election. New Jersey’s other six representatives faced no primary competition.
In Montana, incumbent Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg won over AJ Otjen, a business professor and former marketing executive, and Mark French, a clinical laboratory scientist. Dennis McDonald secured the Democratic nomination.
