Primaries (Part One)

Primaries (Part One)

As campaign season looms before us, we will take a look at the initial primary results as a gauge for the attitude of the nation and as foreshadowing for midterms. 
Pennsylvania 
Democratic primary: former party-switcher Arlen Specter was defeated by Joe Sestak in this week's primary. Spector had been a Republican for nearly thirty years but decided to caucus as a Democrat last April. Spector's loss was not exactly shocking, as his idealogical switch was highly controversial at the time. If Sestak, a major advocate of Wall Street reform, wins the general election, the PA seat will have become decisively more liberal, although it would not change the party holdings in the Senate.
Republican primary: Pat Toomey, previously a member of the House of Representatives, gained the support of the GOP in his race for the PA Senate seat. Toomey would certainly swing the seat to the right, and he has already begun to paint his challenger as a Washington insider, as compared to his time in Pennsylvania.
Special Election: Late Representative John Murtha's seat was also contested this week. The seat stayed in the hands of the Democratic party, whose candidate, Mark Critz, defeated Republican Tim Burns. The race was seen by many to be an indicator of how the midterms will play out.
Kentucky 
Democratic primary: Jack Conoway, the state's Attorney General, won over Kentucky Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, both moderates. Mongiardo had run for the US Senate unsuccessfully in the past, and Conoway had similar results in his prior bid for the House.
Republican primary: Conservative Republican and son of failed presidential candidate Ron Paul, Rand Paul, overtook Trey Grayson, Kentucky Secretary of State, in the GOP primary. Paul is viewed by many to by extremely conservative, a point his new challenger has already begun to capitalize upon.
Arkansas 
Democratic primary: Due to overly close and severed votes, a runoff election will be held between incumbent Senator Blanche Lincoln, who was the youngest woman to be elected to the US Senate, and Lt. Governor Bill Halter. The Arkansas seat has been held by a Democratic candidate for over 130 years.
Republican primary: Representative John Boozman fought for and won the GOP primary. He will be facing tough opposition by whoever wins the Democratic run-off and will have a difficult time swinging a liberal state. Still, discontent with Senator Lincoln's positions may prove a blessing for Boozman as voters turn to other solutions.