Democrats face their most consequential race of the 2026 primary season in battleground Michigan on Tuesday, where Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are clawing at each other for a seat that could determine control of the Senate, while four other states are going to the polls as well.
President Donald Trump won Michigan in 2024. Stevens, a former Obama administration official embraced by the party establishment, has argued that El-Sayed, a Detroit-based public health officer running a progressive campaign, risks losing the seat to Republican Mike Rogers, who is unopposed for his party's nomination. El-Sayed's side contends outsider candidates generate more enthusiasm.
In Virginia, where both parties will pick nominees for several seats they
hope to flip, former Rep. Elaine Luria won a primary to reclaim her old seat representing Virginia's 2nd District to take on old rival, Rep. Jen Kiggans, in one of the most competitive swing districts in an area that includes Virginia Beach.
In a race with a similar ideological divide in Missouri, former Democratic Rep. Cori Bush is looking to make a comeback in a rematch against Rep. Wesley Bell, who defeated her for the seat in 2024 with the help of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.
Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited, and both parties have crowded primary fields vying to replace her. In Washington state, Republicans are choosing a nominee to run against swing-district Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez.
Polls close across Michigan and Kansas
09:00 PM ET, August 4 2026, James PowelAll polls have closed in Michigan and Kansas.
Polls in the majority of both states closed at 8 p.m. ET but polls in western portions of them remained open until 9 p.m. due to time differences.
Results are expected shortly.
Can a centrist win again in Washington state's 3rd Congressional District primary?
08:32 PM ET, August 4 2026, Terry Collins and James PowelIn Washington state's 3rd Congressional District, Republicans will pick a nominee to go against Democratic incumbent Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
The centrist Gluesenkamp Perez, known for frequently working across the aisle with Republicans, is seeking a third term for the seat she narrowly won in 2022.
The congresswoman faces eight primary challengers, including fellow Democrat Brent Hennrich, a progressive, and President Trump-endorsed Republican state Senate Minority Leader John Braun.
Washington state has a top-two primary system in which all candidates compete on the same ballot and the two highest vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to November's general election.
Republicans, led by state senator John Braun, view the conservative-leaning seat in the state's rural southwest as a potential pick-up in the fall.
"We're basically seeing who's going to run against (her)," Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a nonpartisan newsletter at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told USA TODAY about Gluesenkamp Perez's chances. "It's going to be a big shock if she didn’t advance, but I doubt that will happen."
Gluesenkamp Perez, a two-term congresswoman, defeated Republican Joe Kent for the seat twice. President Trump has won the district in all three elections he has run in. In 2024, she ran about seven points ahead of Kamala Harris.
A poll by Emerson College for the Northwest Progressive Institute released on July 13 shows that Braun and Gluesenkamp Perez are tied atop the primary field and are neck and neck in November's one-on-one contest.
While Gluesenkamp Perez will likely face a Republican challenger in November, her moderate stances have drawn scorn from within her own party.
Voters in a multitude of Democratic primaries so far this cycle have ousted incumbents over frustrations with the party over its second loss to Trump and how it has operated during his second term. Critics of Gluesenkamp Perez point to her votes for a $1.5 billion defense bill that includes the SAVE Act and a bill on how schools handle a child's gender identity as sources of ire against her.
Elaine Luria wins primary for old seat in Virginia's 2nd congressional district
08:11 PM ET, August 4 2026, Jay StahlFormer Rep. Elaine Luria won a primary to reclaim her old seat representing Virginia's 2nd District, setting up a rematch from 2022 with incumbent Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Republican, according to projections from NBC News and DDHQ.
Luria, a Navy commander, was elected in Democrats' "blue wave in 2018." She won reelection in 2020, before losing to Kiggans in the 2022 midterm elections.
Now, ahead of Trump's second midterms, national Democrats have prioritized the battleground district as they hope to win back the House in November. Luria prevailed over three primary challengers in her quest to again face Kiggans.
Polls close in Missouri, begin closing in Michigan and Kansas
08:00 PM ET, August 4 2026, James PowelPolls closed across Missouri and in large parts of Michigan and Kansas at 8 p.m. ET.
Results from Missouri are expected shortly.
Parts of Michigan that are in the Central Time Zone and parts of Kansas that are in the Mountain Time Zone will see their polls close at 9 p.m. ET.
Shannon Taylor wins Democratic primary in Virginia's 1st congressional district
07:57 PM ET, August 4 2026, Jay StahlShannon Taylor, who lost a competitive primary last year to Jay Jones, the state's attorney general, won the Democratic nomination in Virginia's 1st District as national Democrats seek to unseat incumbent Rep. Robert Wittman, according to NBC News and DDHQ.
Democrats have lasered in on two of the five Virginia districts currently held by Republicans. The 1st and 2nd districts are among the 30 seats nationally that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted.
Can Haley Stevens stick it to 'em?
07:26 PM ET, August 4 2026, Jay StahlStevens, a suburban moderate, has become an unlikely internet star. Stevens went viral after she campaigned July 18 against El-Sayed in Ecorse, a Detroit suburb with a majority Black population.
"I am gonna be telling the stories on our behalf," the centrist congresswoman told the crowd. While thrusting her balled-up fists forward, Stevens told the audience, "And you better believe I'm going to be doing it with a little bit of joy, a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy."
And, Stevens said, punching her right fist to her left palm four times, "a little bit of stick it to 'em."
A clip of the speech, originally filmed by C-SPAN, accumulated 5 million views on X, fueling mixed reviews of Stevens' enthusiastic demeanor. A follow-up video from TMZ about the clip amassed over 4.5 million views on the platform.
Polls close in Virginia
07:02 PM ET, August 4 2026, James PowelPolls closed in Virginia at 7 p.m. ET. The first results from the state are expected shortly.
Suburban Detroit voters weigh party hopefuls
06:07 PM ET, August 4 2026, Violet IkonomovaRepublicans and Democrats cast ballots at a steady clip Tuesday afternoon at North Hill Elementary School in Rochester Hills, a Detroit-area suburb.
Many in the purple district declined to speak to the Detroit Free Press, a member of the USA TODAY Network, about their choices, with some citing what they called a too-divisive political climate.
One Democratic voter who spoke with the Free Press said she cast her ballot for Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s open U.S. Senate contest — not because she was particularly enthusiastic about her, but because she felt Stevens would fare better against Republican Mike Rogers in the November general election than her primary opponent, Abdul El-Sayed.
"I think it's based on — I hate to say it — name brand," Jill Simpson, 58, said. "Her name is more out there right now. His name is out there, but maybe it's more of a negative connotation … There’s been a lot more money spent negatively on him and spent positively on her."
On the Republican side, Rochester Hills residents Tracy Ann Mancour, 67, and Randy Partin, 53, both voted for Perry Johnson in the state gubernatorial primary and Michael Bouchard in the Congressional race to replace John James, who declined to seek re-election to run for governor.
Mancour said she was on the fence between Johnson and James but ultimately chose Johnson because she believes he has stronger conservative values and can better address cost-of-living struggles for seniors like her.
Partin said he voted for Johnson over James due to "his agenda."
"He aligns with Trump," Partin said. James also aligns with Trump, but Partin said he didn’t vote for him because he had doubts about his authenticity.
"He seems like he’s just trying to get his foot in the door somewhere …" Partin said. "Like he’s waiting to take money from people to get stuff done."
Stevens, El-Sayed repeatedly trade insults
05:54 PM ET, August 4 2026, Jay StahlThe race between Stevens and El-Sayed has been heated since state Sen. Mallory McMorrow exited on July 5, making the divisions clearer between the centrist congresswoman and progressive insurgent.
The Democratic opponents have traded barbs over spending from pro-Israel groups, including after a contentious July 27 debate.
El-Sayed slammed Stevens to Fox 2 Detroit for her support from pro-Israel groups, who want to prevent the former public health director from prevailing in the race. Stevens has criticized El-Sayed over his financial disclosures.
"I think this is all a distraction from the question of who are all the 501C4s that have funded Center Forward (PAC), who are all the funders behind the Center for Democratic Priorities?" El-Sayed said. "Now, to say that somehow my tax return is more important to the voters in the state than the $60 million that have been spent in this race on ads, most of them attacking me at this point, I think is missing the vote – so, I'm happy to release everything."
On Election Day, at her polling place in Birmingham, Michigan, Stevens portrayed herself as the most authentic candidate, telling reporters – including Fox – that El-Sayed's support from figures like controversial leftist political commentator Hasan Piker has caused discomfort.
"Some of this stuff makes people uncomfortable, frankly it makes me uncomfortable," Stevens said. "We don't need these demagogues or people citing allegiance to Mao coming in."
Schumer's reputation at stake, ex-Obama advisor says
05:36 PM ET, August 4 2026, Phillip M. Bailey
Confidence in Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer could fall further if Rep. Haley Stevens fails to grab the party's Senate nomination in Michigan, a former top Obama administration official says.
Schumer is backing Stevens over Abdul El-Sayed in his quest for retake Congress' upper chamber by flipping at least four GOP-held seats and protecting Democratic seats such as Michigan.
Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said in a Aug. 4 post on X that the party's establishment "threw everything it had" at El-Sayed, adding that if he prevails, the "reverberations will be felt far outside" of the swing state.
A Stevens loss would "raise even more questions about whether (Schumer) and his operation have lost touch with the Democratic base," he said.
Some Senate candidates on the Democratic side have pledged they will oppose Schumer leading the caucus if they win and the party takes back the majority.
Democratic state legislator Josh Turek, who is running for Senate in Iowa, wouldn't say in a July 29 interview if he would want Schumer to be in charge. In Maine, Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson told The New York Times that he didn't want Schumer as the caucus leader.
El-Sayed's electability will be challenged if he wins Senate primary
05:26 PM ET, August 4 2026, Terry Collins
If progressive Abdul El-Sayed can defeat moderate Rep. Haley Stevens for Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, he might risk losing the seat to Republican Mike Rogers, who is unopposed for his party's nomination, come November.
While El-Sayed was ahead in many polls over Stevens, including a recent survey conducted by Emerson College, the Democratic novice is trailing in some polling against Rogers, which the GOP nominee sees as advantageous.
"If he wins, I think we’re in good shape,” Rogers told CNN last month in response to a question about his campaign’s strategy for El-Sayed. "I mean, I think he’s so radical. I think he’s going to lose big parts of the west part of the state. We think we can do well in part of the southeast part of the state. I think we’ll do well if he in fact is the nominee."
Rogers echoed similar confidence to Fox News.
El-Sayed will have to expand his electorate to beat Rogers, David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, told USA TODAY. El-Sayed will have to get not only a majority of Democratic votes, but a fair share of independent voters and some disenchanted Republicans, McCuan said.
"Can El-Sayed turn out the voters? Democrats in Michigan have had a Senate seat since 1984, and if it’s lost in November, the impact will be huge," McCuan said. "It won't be a pebble dropped into a lake, but like a boulder dropped into a stream."
Bush v. Bell II: Israel takes center stage
04:31 PM ET, August 4 2026, Phillip M. Bailey
It's a déjà vu primary election for voters in Missouri's 1st Congressional District, where Democratic Rep. Wesley Bell is facing off against former Rep. Cori Bush in one of the more bitter contests in 2026.
Their rivalry began two years ago when Bell, a former St. Louis prosecutor, abruptly ended his Senate bidto challenge Bush while she was facing immense blowback for criticizing Israel's military response to the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, spent millions targeting Bush, who lost by about six percentage points. Now it is pouring $3 million into this contest, according to federal campaign finance records.
Bell remains steadfast in his support for the U.S. ally, telling USA TODAY it is "absurd" when Bush and others describe the nation's actions in Gaza as a genocide. But views on Israel have shifted towards more opposition since 2024, particularly among Democratic voters, as the Palestinian death toll has risen.
In a deep-blue seat covering St. Louis and its northern suburbs, the rematch will provide a signal into how much the Gaza war matters among rank-and-file primary voters.
Who stands behind El-Sayed and Stevens?
04:02 PM ET, August 4 2026, Emily R. Condon
Tuesday's Michigan Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate between Abdul El-Sayed, a Detroit-based public health officer, and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens will be another test of whether party voters are going in a more progressive direction or if the establishment will hold sway.
El-Sayed is seen as the more progressive candidate, with major democratic socialist names like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in his corner. These other major names endorsed El-Sayed, according to his campaign:
- Senators: Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith.
- Representatives: California Rep. Ro Khanna, Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost and eight others.
- The United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union.
- Michigan Democratic Party LGBT&A Caucus and the Young Democrats of Michigan.
- AJP Action Lobbying for Palestinian Rights.
In Stevens' camp are members in line with the more establishment wing of the party. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who hold the current seat, are backing Stevens. Other names endorsing her, according to her campaign, include:
- Senators: Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
- Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard.
- U.S. Reps. Jim Clyburn (South Carolina) and Lauren Underwood (Illinois).
- Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Elect Democratic Women PAC and the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
Wildfire evacuees still voting in Spokane
03:39 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. Wire
Wildfires in Spokane, Washington, have displaced tens of thousands of people, but the state's primaries are still going on.
Washington is a 100% vote-by-mail state, so there are no polling locations, but voters can bring their ballots by hand to either two voter service centers or to one of 26 drop boxes, Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton told USA TODAY.
“We have a pretty constant flow of people walking in who need a replacement ballot,” she said.
Thousands of people don’t know if their houses have burned, “and yet they are still taking that moment to get a replacement ballot and to vote,” Dalton said.
She said it gives them something to focus on when so much is out of their control.
A drop box located within one of the mandatory evacuation areas has been emptied and locked so that no more ballots can be inserted, she said.
“Not even my people can go in,” Dalton said.
The state has an online portal where voters can login and print a replacement ballot if theirs was misplaced or left behind in evacuations, she said. All open Spokane city and county public libraries are available to assist displaced voters with printing a replacement ballot.
“At least we do have options available,” she said.
The state allows friends and family to drop off ballots for people, she said, and there are people who have refused to evacuate who are coordinating to hand off their ballots to people they trust.
“As long as they don’t cross the line, they are OK. They can go back up to their house,” she said.
The fires have delayed mail delivery and she urged people not to put their ballots in their mailbox or postal drop boxes because they aren’t guaranteed to be postmarked today. Instead, people need to walk up to the counter in a post office and have their ballot postmarked.
Washington accepts ballots until Friday as long as they were postmarked before or on Election Day.
That means it is too soon to know what the fires will mean for voter turnout.
“We aren’t really going to know what the impact of this is until Friday,” Dalton said.
Democrats target Virginia House seats
02:21 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. Wire and Emily R. CondonDemocrats are heavily focusing on two of the five Virginia districts currently held by Republicans. The 1st and 2nd districts are among the 30 seats nationally that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted.
In Virginia's 1st District, seven Democrats, including prosecutor Shannon Taylor, are vying to oust incumbent Rep. Robert Wittman.
Former House member and retired Navy commander Elaine Luria is on the primary ballot with three other Democrats hoping to flip incumbent GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans' seat in Virginia's 2nd District. A Tulchin Research poll in July showed Luria and Kiggans split even, both at 47%.
Virginia Republicans pick Senate nominee to challenge Warner
02:04 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. WireVirginia Republicans on Tuesday are picking a nominee to take on incumbent Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner. Republicans haven’t held a U.S. Senate seat there since 2009.
On the ballot are three potential challengers: CPA Kim Farrington, retired Army Major Gen. Bert Mizusawa and former CIA and State Department employee David Williams.
Are the Spokane fires impacting primary day voting in Washington?
01:47 PM ET, August 4 2026, Jeanine SantucciTuesday is primary Election Day in Washington state, but the wildfires impacting the Spokane area could affect voters as they head to the polls or try to deliver their ballots.
At least one ballot drop box, at Indian Trail Library, is located within an evacuation zone, authorities said. Voters should instead use drop boxes at North Spokane Library, Shadle Park Library or any of the other 24 ballot drop boxes in Spokane County instead, county officials said.
Voters can check whether their ballots made it to the Elections Office by logging in at votewa.gov and checking on their ballot status.
Replacement ballots can be printed out at the same site by selecting "Your Ballot & Voting Materials," then "Get a Replacement Ballot," or can be obtained at any county election office, officials said. The voter service center at Centerplace in Spokane will also have replacement ballots from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Voters can return replacement ballots via the U.S. Postal Service or a drop box until 8 p.m. If using USPS, officials ask that voters walk inside and request a hand cancellation to ensure a postmark on Election Day.
“Our first concern is for the safety and security of the residents within the fire evacuation areas,” Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said. “We are here to assist them and ensure they can cast a ballot. This is one small aspect of normalcy we can offer in what is otherwise a traumatic and overwhelming situation.”
Missouri to vote on ending income taxes
01:22 PM ET, August 4 2026, James PowelVoters in Missouri on Tuesday will decide if income taxes will be eliminated in the state.
Amendment 5 asks voters whether Missouri should gradually phase out the individual income tax and allow the legislature to "modify" sales and use taxes to replace that revenue. It also requires municipalities to reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues grow, while still maintaining local funding for public schools and "other purposes."
The amendment does not specify exactly how the state will make up the lost income tax revenue. It would also make the elimination permanent, meaning another public vote on a new amendment would be required to reinstate the income tax.
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe supports the measure, saying that it is needed for the state's economy. "When we're competing against states like Tennessee and Texas, states with no individual income tax, too often the conversation ends before it truly begins," Kehoe said during his State of the State address in January. "The issue at hand here is competitiveness. And competitiveness starts with our tax code.”
Missourians for Fair Taxation, the main opposition campaign to the amendment, calls it "a blank check" for politicians to raise sales taxes that would disproportionately affect poor Missourians.
"To replace revenue lost from phasing out the income tax, the largest possible source of new money comes from raising the current sales tax on goods such as your groceries and gas, plus adding a new sales tax on services you use every day," the group says on its website. "Income tax cuts help the most wealthy, while sales tax increases hit hardest for those with lower incomes, such as working families, senior citizens, retirees, veterans and disabled persons."
Justice Department sends poll monitors to Michigan
01:01 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. WireThe Justice Department announced Tuesday it is monitoring polling sites in four Michigan cities for the state's primary election, including Detroit, Hamtramck, Lansing and East Lansing.
In a news release, the Department said its Civil Rights Division will monitor compliance with federal civil rights laws and to ensure ballot security and transparency. The DOJ has monitored poll sites for years in both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Michigan early votes top 1.3 million
12:48 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. Wire and Paul Egan
More than 1.3 million Michigan voters had already cast ballots by the time Election Day polls opened at 7 a.m. on Aug, 4, Michigan Department of State spokeswoman Angela Benander said at a media briefing.
That number exceeds those from the 2024 Michigan primary, which was a presidential election year, when just over 1 million Michigan residents had voted prior to the polls opening, Benander said.
Benander said that most of the early votes were cast by absentee ballot, but 139,609 ballots were cast at early voting sites around the state. That number was also up considerably from 2024, she said.
The busiest day for early voting in Michigan was Sunday, Aug. 2, she said.
What to watch in Missouri
12:43 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. WireIn the St. Louis area, look for the rematch between Rep. Wesley Bell and former Rep. Cori Bush.
Bell is backed by establishment Democrats. Bush, a progressive, hopes to harness energy from the left to regain the seat.
Tuesday is also the deadline for Missouri's Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to certify or reject a referendum effort to block the state's redrawn congressional districts from taking effect.
In the spring, a court upheld the new maps that Republican state lawmakers drew in 2025. Legal challenges continue to play out and could yet invalidate the map.
Rejecting the referendum potentially hands Republicans another congressional seat. Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which encompassed much of the Kansas City metro area, was carved up to favor a Republican challenger. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver is running in the new district. Republican voters will pick among six candidates, including state Sen. Rick Brattin and Navy veteran Taylor Burks.
What to watch in Kansas
12:39 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. WireDespite a late entry into the race, Democratic Senate nominee Adam Hamilton has outraised his 10 opponents and positioned himself a moderate bridge-builder.
Hamilton is the founding pastor at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, a megachurch in Kansas City.
The Democratic nominee will challenge Republican Sen. Roger Marshall.
A Democrat hasn’t represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate for nearly 100 years, but the party will need to win seats in traditionally red states to secure a majority and take control of the Senate.
Kansans will also decide whether to make their state Supreme Court a voter-elected office rather than appointed. States across the country have moved to make this change. Republican state lawmakers are pushing for the constitutional amendment and $10 million has been spent by groups hoping to influence the issue.
Voters will also select nominees for governor.
Democratic state Sen. Ethan Corson is backed by term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly and vows to work across the aisle like she has. State Sen. Cindy Holscher is promising a more combative, populist style.
Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson has Trump’s endorsement for governor. He faces a crowded field for the GOP nomination that includes Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.
What to watch in Michigan
12:25 PM ET, August 4 2026, Sarah D. Wire and Emily R. CondonCorrection: Abdul El-Sayed has not been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, just some of its members.
Most eyes are on the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Abdul El-Sayed, a Detroit-based public health officer, and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens face off for the Democratic nomination to succeed Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat. Peters announced in April that he was not seeking reelection.
El-Sayed has been endorsed by prominent members of the Democratic Socialists of America, such as Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan. Stevens is considered more of a moderate, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed her campaign.
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is the only Republican on the ballot. Both Michigan Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2002, but President Donald Trump carried the state in both 2016 and 2024.
Also keep an eye on the 13th District, which includes a chunk of Detroit and some of its suburbs. There, incumbent Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar faces democratic socialist state lawmaker Donavan McKinney.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election results live: Elaine Luria wins Virginia primary, Dems battle in Michigan
