5 Takeaways From the Ohio, Illinois, and California Primaries

Former President Donald Trump’s political power was on full display as several states, including battleground territories, held their Republican primaries. The presumptive GOP nominee added to his 2024 endorsement record, with many key Trump-backed candidates scoring victories.

In the Ohio Republican Senate primary race, Trump-backed MAGA candidate, Bernie Moreno, secured the GOP nod and will face incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown in November. After receiving an endorsement from President Trump, Ohio State Sen. Derek Merrin recorded a double-digit victory in the primary race. Five-term incumbent Rep. Mike Bost, supported by President Trump, also won his primary.

With exit polls in Ohio highlighting that 91 percent of GOP primary voters believe it is important for the next senator to support the 45th president, the Trump bump persists heading into November’s general election.

Moreno Triumphs

President Donald Trump’s rally last weekend to bolster Bernie Moreno’s GOP Senate primary bid was a success, as Mr. Moreno decisively defeated state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose in the primary election for the U.S. Senate.

Ohio is a deep red state President Trump won in 2016 and 2020 by eight points.

Mr. Moreno’s win set up a general election clash with incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was first elected to the post in 2007.

It was a vicious Republican primary marked with mudslinging and arguing about each candidate’’s commitment to Republican values.

During his victory speech, Mr. Moreno echoed a view shared by Mr. Dolan and Mr. LaRose.

“We have one mission, and that is to get rid of Sherrod Brown. As Republicans, we have spirited debates. Sometimes, too spirited. But we will now be united to defeat Sherrod Brown, regain control of the U.S. Senate, return Donald Trump to the White House, and make sure the America First agenda moves forward.”

Mr. Moreno noted that Mr. Brown votes with President Biden “99 percent of the time.”

Sen. J.D. Vance, who endorsed Mr. Moreno, agreed that “Republican primaries are slugfests, like mine was in 2022, but like we did then, we will now regroup for the purpose of winning in November.”

Rep. Kaptur’s Challenger Emerges

In Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, state Rep. Derek Merrin won the GOP primary. He will take on 21-term incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), who has been in the House since 1983 and is the longest-serving female member of Congress ever.

Mr. Merrin, who was endorsed at the last minute by President Trump, defeated former state Rep. Craig Riedel and real estate owner and former mayor of Napoleon, Ohio, Steve Lankenau.

The exit of controversial MAGA firebrand J.R. Majewski sealed Mr. Merrin’s victory, and provides the GOP with a formidable candidate that could send Ms. Kaptur packing.

In Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, former Ohio state Sen. Kevin Coughlin won the GOP primary to take on incumbent Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio), a freshman congresswoman. He defeated U.S. Marine veteran and businessman Chris Banweg and imaging technician Richard Morckel, who also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2016 and 2020.

In 2022, candidate quality in key races was an issue for the GOP, who failed to materialize a “red wave.” Republicans hope for the opposite come November.

Key Races in Illinois

In one of the closely watched Congressional primaries in Illinois, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) successfully fended off multiple challengers, including community activist Kina Collins and Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin. Mr. Davis scored more than 50 percent of the vote total, not far from what he earned in 2022, when he faced Ms. Collins alone.

Another incumbent, Sean Casten (D-Ill.), also defended his seat against insurgents within the party. In his case, they included Mahnoor Ahmad, who helped bring Democratic support for Israel to the fore. Incumbent Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) faced a similar challenge from Qasim Rashad and came out ahead.

Retired Judge Joe McGraw won against Scott Crowl in the 17th Congressional District GOP primary. He will go up against incumbent Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) in what could prove to be a competitive race in a narrow band of western Illinois.

Another key primary, among the Republicans in the 12th Congressional District, came down to a narrower margin. Incumbent Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) led Darren Bailey by 6 points as of 10:50 p.m. Central. Mr. Bost was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, while Mr. Bailey, who lost to J.B. Pritzker as a Republican candidate for governor, had the backing of Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Other notable wins include that of incumbent Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.), a left-leaning candidate who beat law-and-order Ald. Ray Lopez in the Democratic primary for the 4th District.

Jerry Evans won the 11th District GOP primary and will face incumbent Mr. Foster, while James Marter beat Charlie Kim in the primary for the once solidly red, recently redistricted 14th District, now represented Lauren Underwood, who was unchallenged in the primary.

Cook County State’s Attorney Race Too Close to Call

The race between Clayton Harris III and Eileen O’Neill Burke for Cook County State’s Attorney was still undecided late on the evening of March 19, a reality both candidates acknowledged.

As of 10:37 p.m. Central, Ms. Burke led by roughly 2 points. She’s been strong in Cook County’s suburbs, while Mr. Harris III performed better in the city. Some mail-in ballots have yet to be counted.

“We will let the democratic process play out,” Ms. Burke told her supporters at her election party.

Mr. Harris made similar remarks at his own election night event, vowing to “make sure… that every voice is counted,” according to reporter Quinn Myers of Block Club Chicago.

Mr. Harris is an activist and University of Chicago lecturer perceived as an inheritor of the mantle of current State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who has not sought an additional term.

If Ms. Burke wins, it will be seen as blow to the progressive wing of Chicago’s almost uniformly Democrat-led political establishment–including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who endorsed Mr. Harris.

Meanwhile, “Bring Chicago Home,” a controversial real estate transfer tax referendum, appeared on track to lose.

The proposal, which would raise those taxes on more expensive properties while cutting them on less costly properties in the name of housing the homeless, has met with support from key left-leaning organizations, including Service Employees International Union (SEIU)–a major source of foot soldiers in Chicago’s politics.

At 10:45 p.m. Central, with 83 percent of the vote counted, “No” led “Yes” by 53.7 percent to 46.3 percent.

At the referendum’s coalition’s election night event, chants of “We Will Not Give Up” echoed late on Tuesday evening, as the Chicago Tribune’s Jake Sheridan reported.

The Race for McCarthy’s Seat

In California’s 20th district, Republican State Assemblyman Vince Fong and Republican Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux both won the special election to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)

Mr. Fong scored 42 percent of the vote, while Mr. Boudreaux garnered 24 percent. They will now head to a special general election runoff on May 21.

In California’s primaries, all candidates from all parties run on the same ballot, with the top two advancing to the special general election. However, if one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, he or she automatically wins the vacant seat.

Mr. Fong and Mr. Boudreaux finished first and second, respectively, in the regular March 5 primary for the next Congressional term.

The congressional district covers the state’s Central Valley between Bakersfield and Fresno. In 2020, it voted overwhelmingly for President Trump.

Heading into the GOP primary, Mr. Fong secured endorsements from Mr. McCarthy and former President Trump.

“Now is the time to unite around Vince Fong and elect a true Republican to this seat,” President Trump wrote on his Truth Social account in February.

In December, two months after being ousted as House Speaker, Mr. McCarthy announced that he would be stepping down from his seat. He served for nearly 20 years and became the first speaker to be removed from office through a motion to vacate.

Recent reports suggest that Mr. McCarthy is a top candidate to serve as chief of staff in a potential Trump administration.