Multiple states are holding primary elections today with fewer than five months to go until the midterms. Voters are casting ballots in both Maryland and Utah. There are also key elections happening in South Carolina and in New York State. CBS News political director Finn Gomez joins to break that down.
In New York, the primary elections serve as the first major test of whether Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political brand can travel beyond City Hall. This is his first major test of political influence since becoming mayor last year. He has endorsed candidates in three closely watched House Democratic primaries, including challenges against Democratic incumbents in Manhattan and the Bronx. These candidates include Brad Lander, who is running against Congressman Dan Goldman in the 10th district; Disa Aila Shivay, a DSA candidate running against Adriano Espayat in the 13th congressional district; and Claire Valdez for the open seat in the 7th district. All three are running as progressives or democratic socialist candidates, making these races a potential referendum on the mayor’s coattails.
Although the mayor lives in the open 12th district, the Jerry Nadler seat, he has stayed out of that specific race. One of the front-runners in that district, Alex Bores, mentioned having a friendly call with the mayor, who indicated he wanted to keep his focus on the three candidates he had already endorsed. The primary question of the day is whether Mamdani can convert his 2025 citywide coalition and the political capital gained from that win into congressional victories. If his candidates perform well, it would strengthen his position as a national leader of Democratic socialists.
Additionally, there is a gubernatorial runoff happening in South Carolina today. This race is notable because the president offered a dual endorsement for both candidates, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, calling it a “wealth of riches” for Republicans. While Evette received the president’s original endorsement, Wilson has gained significant momentum in recent weeks. Since Wilson finished first in the primary on June 9th by a few points and has received support from most of the field that lost, including Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, many Republicans believe Wilson carries the momentum. In such a reliably red state, the winner of this race is the likely next governor and will become a major player in the 2028 presidential cycle as South Carolina is a key early primary state.
