{"id":85574,"date":"2026-06-23T06:45:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T10:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/four-key-races-to-watch-in-tuesdays-new-york-maryland-utah-and-south-carolina-primaries\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T06:45:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T10:45:53","slug":"four-key-races-to-watch-in-tuesdays-new-york-maryland-utah-and-south-carolina-primaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/four-key-races-to-watch-in-tuesdays-new-york-maryland-utah-and-south-carolina-primaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Key Races to Watch in Tuesday’s New York, Maryland, Utah and South Carolina Primaries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn’t on any ballot Tuesday, but he’s one of the most important figures in the day’s elections. The mayor has thrown his support behind three far-left candidates connected to the Democratic Socialists of America, who are challenging two established Democratic incumbents \u2014 Representative Adriano Espaillat in the Bronx and Representative Dan Goldman in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan \u2014 while a third candidate backed by Mamdani is competing for an open seat in Queens.<\/p>

Both Espaillat and Goldman supported other candidates during the mayoral race, and Mamdani views them as not being tough enough in their stance toward Israel during its ongoing conflict with Hamas. Prominent democratic socialists in national politics include Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose congressional district covers parts of the Bronx and Queens.<\/p>

Mamdani’s involvement puts him in direct conflict with House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, another powerful New York political figure. Jeffries, who would become third in line to the presidency if Democrats recapture the House in November, has a vested interest in protecting Democratic incumbents.<\/p>

New York, Maryland, and Utah are all holding primaries Tuesday, while South Carolina is hosting runoffs the same day.<\/p>

Mamdani’s Challengers<\/strong><\/p>

The three candidates Mamdani is championing are Darializa Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander, and Assembly Member Claire Valdez. Avila Chevalier, who is both an activist and a doctoral student, is running against Espaillat \u2014 a five-term congressman who leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus \u2014 in a district that stretches across northern Manhattan and into the Bronx.<\/p>

Lander, a former New York City comptroller who also ran for mayor, is challenging Goldman in Lower Manhattan. Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, became well known for leading House Democrats’ investigation into the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.<\/p>

Valdez is competing in a crowded race for the seat being vacated by retiring Representative Nydia Velazquez, whose district covers portions of Brooklyn and Queens. Her opponents include Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and New York City Council Member Julie Won.<\/p>

The results in these three races won’t change Democrats’ chances of winning the House majority, but they will serve as a measure of Mamdani’s political reach and the broader strength of the democratic socialist movement.<\/p>

A Vulnerable Republican Learns His Opponent<\/strong><\/p>

Republican U.S. Representative Mike Lawler, who holds a district that Kamala Harris carried in 2024, will discover his Democratic general election challenger on Tuesday. The leading Democratic contenders include Cait Conley, a combat veteran and national security expert who is part of a group of female veterans called the “Hell Cats” running for office, and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson.<\/p>

Lawler’s lower Hudson Valley district is one of just three Republican-held seats in areas Harris won, making it a prime target for Democrats hoping to flip the House in November. Harris won the district by only 0.6 percentage points, though Lawler himself won reelection by 6 percentage points. Despite a favorable national political climate for Democrats, Lawler is expected to start the general election with a cash advantage of between $3 million and $4 million over whoever wins the Democratic primary.<\/p>

A Kennedy, a Conway, and Two Lawmakers Battle for Manhattan Seat<\/strong><\/p>

A packed Democratic field is competing to replace retiring Representative Jerry Nadler in his Manhattan district. The contenders include two state Assembly members, an attorney whose former wife was a top adviser to President Trump, and a grandson of President John F. Kennedy.<\/p>

A recent Emerson College poll showed Assembly Members Micah Lasher \u2014 a former aide to Nadler \u2014 and Alex Bores essentially tied. Both were well ahead of attorney George Conway, whose ex-wife Kellyanne Conway served as a Trump adviser during his first term, and Kennedy family member Jack Schlossberg. Conway and Schlossberg were polling in the low double digits, but nearly one in three likely primary voters remained undecided, leaving the door open for a surprise outcome.<\/p>

Stand for New York PAC, a super PAC funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has poured more than $10 million into supporting Lasher. A pro-artificial intelligence super PAC called Think Big has spent close to $8 million in opposition to Bores, who has the backing of three other super PACs.<\/p>

Schlossberg, 33, is the wild card in the race. Despite a limited professional background, he has built a significant social media following, with more than 850,000 followers on TikTok \u2014 a profile that echoes Mamdani’s own digital popularity. Whoever wins this primary will be heavily favored to win the congressional seat in November.<\/p>

Trump Backs Both Candidates in South Carolina Governor’s Runoff<\/strong><\/p>

South Carolina voters are deciding their likely next governor in a runoff between Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson. Trump had initially endorsed Evette, but late last week he signaled to South Carolina Republicans that either candidate would be acceptable.<\/p>

“These were the two that I was hoping would get into a Runoff, and they did,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!”<\/p>

Trump’s endorsement record has been mixed recently. While he successfully pushed out Republican Senators John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy and Representatives Thomas Massie and Nancy Mace, two of his gubernatorial picks have fallen short. Earlier this month, Iowa voters rejected Trump-backed Representative Randy Feenstra in favor of businessman and farmer Zach Lahn. Last week, Georgia voters chose billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson over Trump-endorsed Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.<\/p>

The winner of the South Carolina runoff will face Democratic state Representative Jermaine Johnson in the general election, though the Republican is expected to prevail in a state Trump won by 18 percentage points in 2024.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday brings primary elections in New York, Maryland, and Utah, plus runoffs in South Carolina, with several high-stakes races that could reshape the Democratic Party’s future. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing far-left challengers against Democratic incumbents, testing his political influence. Meanwhile, a crowded Manhattan Democratic primary and a South Carolina governor’s runoff round out the day’s biggest contests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":85573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782211553307.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-mge","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":85560,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nyc-mayors-socialist-endorsements-spark-democratic-party-tensions-ahead-of-primary\/","url_meta":{"origin":85574,"position":0},"title":"NYC Mayor’s Socialist Endorsements Spark Democratic Party Tensions Ahead of Primary","author":"Admin","date":"June 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a slate of democratic socialist candidates in Tuesday's New York primaries, challenging established Democrats. The results could have national implications for the party's direction heading into the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race. Political strategists warn that far-left candidates may energize\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782209982805.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":85461,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/kennedy-grandson-progressive-challengers-shake-up-new-york-primary-races\/","url_meta":{"origin":85574,"position":1},"title":"Kennedy Grandson, Progressive Challengers Shake Up New York Primary Races","author":"Admin","date":"June 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"New York's congressional primaries are drawing national attention as Democratic incumbents battle progressive challengers backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Meanwhile, Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, is competing for an open Manhattan seat. A Trump-endorsed political newcomer is also vying for a Republican seat in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782189326051.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782189326051.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782189326051.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782189326051.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":84914,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nyc-congressional-candidates-make-final-push-before-tuesday-primary\/","url_meta":{"origin":85574,"position":2},"title":"NYC Congressional Candidates Make Final Push Before Tuesday Primary","author":"Admin","date":"June 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"New York's congressional primary is set for Tuesday, with progressive candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani squaring off against establishment Democrats in several key races. The contests are being watched closely as a test of Mamdani's political influence following his mayoral victory. Meanwhile, Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782102884441.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782102884441.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782102884441.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782102884441.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":83941,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/democratic-socialists-riding-wave-of-anti-trump-energy-in-mayoral-races-nationwide\/","url_meta":{"origin":85574,"position":3},"title":"Democratic Socialists Riding Wave of Anti-Trump Energy in Mayoral Races Nationwide","author":"Admin","date":"June 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A growing number of democratic socialist candidates are winning mayoral contests in major U.S. cities, fueled in part by strong opposition to President Trump's agenda. 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Boylan was the first woman to publicly accuse former Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment.","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776469018136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776469018136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776469018136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776469018136.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54249,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/former-president-obama-visits-nyc-mayor-at-childcare-center\/","url_meta":{"origin":85574,"position":5},"title":"Former President Obama Visits NYC Mayor at Childcare Center","author":"Admin","date":"April 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former President Barack Obama made his first visit with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Saturday at a childcare facility where they read stories to young children. 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