Voters in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington will go to the polls this Tuesday, August 4, in a primary election day that will help define the political landscape ahead of the November elections. At stake will be candidacies for governor, Senate, House of Representatives, state legislatures, supreme courts, and various local positions, as well as several constitutional amendments and citizen consultations.
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The contests will serve to select the Democratic and Republican candidates who will compete in the general elections in the fall, when the balance of power in Congress will also be at stake during the second half of President Donald Trump’s term. Although each state has its own rules and schedules, all will hold votes on the same day, with early voting and mail-in voting options already underway or concluding in the days prior to the election.
What is being voted on in each state?
In Kansas, one of the main contests is the race for governor, where Democrats and Republicans will choose their respective candidates for November. There will also be elections for the state and federal Congress, as well as a consultation that could change the way judges of the State Supreme Court are selected. Currently, the justices are appointed by the governor from a shortlist prepared by a judicial nomination commission. The consultation will ask voters if they prefer to replace that system with the direct election of judges by popular vote.
In Michigan, voters will decide candidacies for governor, the federal Senate, the House of Representatives, and numerous local positions. The primary to replace Governor Gretchen Whitmer, barred from seeking another term due to constitutional limits, is among the most watched.
In the Republican Party, Congressman John James, backed by Trump, and businessman Perry Johnson stand out. Among the Democrats, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are competing.
Another highly watched contest will be the Democratic primary for the federal Senate between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed. The winner is expected to advance to face Republican Mike Rogers in November.
In Missouri, voters will define candidacies for several House of Representatives districts under a new congressional map approved this year. They will also choose candidates for state auditor and decide on four constitutional amendments.
In Virginia, the primaries will serve to choose candidates for the federal Senate, the House of Representatives, and various local positions. Attention is focused on several congressional districts considered competitive, especially the seventh, where Republicans will define the rival of Democrat Eugene Vindman. There will also be primaries in districts 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10, as well as the Republican contest to decide who will face Democratic Senator Mark Warner in the general elections.
In Washington, which uses an open primary system known as top two, all candidates compete on the same ballot and the two with the most votes advance to November, regardless of their political affiliation. Voters will choose the finalists for Congress, the State Legislature, and four positions on the Washington Supreme Court.
What other measures will appear on the ballots?
In addition to candidacies, several states will include consultations and proposals that could modify aspects of their institutional functioning.
In Kansas, voters will decide whether the judges of the state Supreme Court should continue to be appointed through a nomination commission or be elected directly at the polls.
Missouri will attract much attention with four constitutional amendments related to taxes, local administration, and the process for approving future constitutional reforms.
In Michigan, some communities will vote on local initiatives. In Wayne County, for example, a proposal will be decided to renew a tax aimed at expanding public transportation service through new bus routes and services for the elderly and disabled.
Washington will also hold votes on local initiatives, in addition to judicial and legislative elections.
How and where to vote?
The five states offer early voting options, although with different schedules.
In Michigan, early voting ends on August 2, and those who need to register can still do so at their municipal clerk’s office until election day.
Kansas has enabled early voting centers in various counties and set August 4 as the deadline for in-person voting.
Virginia will maintain in-person early voting until August 1, while Washington will continue to receive mail ballots and official drop boxes until 8:00 p.m. on election day.
In Missouri, the early voting period without needing to justify absence ends on August 3.
When do the polls close and when will there be results?
Closing times vary between states. In Missouri and Virginia, polls will remain open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., while in Michigan voting centers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., depending on the respective jurisdiction. Kansas and Washington also apply their own schedules established by their electoral authorities.
Initial results will begin to be released shortly after the polls close. Some results could be known during Tuesday night, while the closest contests may take longer to be decided.
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