{"id":2326571,"date":"2024-08-19T05:11:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T09:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-watch-in-florida-wyoming-and-alaska-primaries-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-19T05:17:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T09:17:32","slug":"what-to-watch-in-florida-wyoming-and-alaska-primaries-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-watch-in-florida-wyoming-and-alaska-primaries-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"What to watch in Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska primaries &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-to-watch-in-florida-wyoming-and-alaska-primaries-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2326571&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The document appears\u2063 to \u2064be a piece of news reporting on the upcoming primaries in Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming,\u200d as\u2062 of \u200d2024. Here\u2019s\u200d a \u200csummary of the \u2062key points:<\/p>\n<p>### **Alaska**<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Mary Peltola&#8217;s Campaign**: Mary Peltola, the incumbent Democratic representative,\u200d is running for reelection.\u2063 She won a\u2063 special election in 2022 and will face \u2062challenges from Republican candidates including Nick \u2062Begich and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; \u200c**Ranked Choice\u2064 Voting**: Alaska uses a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/adams-remains-frontrunner-in-wide-open-race-to-be-nycs-next-mayor-poll-shows\/\" title=\"Adams Remains Frontrunner In Wide-Open Race To Be NYC\u2019s Next Mayor, Poll Shows\">ranked choice voting system<\/a>, which was pivotal \u200din Peltola&#8217;s previous wins. The structure allows the top\u2063 four candidates from the primary to advance to the general election, \u2063where voters rank their \u200bchoices.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Funding Advantage**: Peltola currently holds\u200c a \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-leadership-fund-announces-28-million-ad-buy-for-jd-vance-in-ohio\/\" title=\"Senate Leadership Fund Announces  Million Ad Buy for JD Vance in Ohio\">significant fundraising advantage<\/a>\u200d over\u2062 her Republican challengers, with $2.8 million on hand compared to Begich&#8217;s\u2064 $172,548 and Dahlstrom&#8217;s\u200b $317,617.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Political Landscape**: The \u2062state \u200btypically leans Republican, but Peltola\u2019s centrist campaign and the division among Republican candidates may aid her candidacy.<\/p>\n<p>### **Florida**<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Matt Gaetz\u2019s Primary Race**: Rep. Matt Gaetz faces a primary challenge from Aaron Dimmock, who is backed\u200d by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Tensions \u200bfrom Gaetz&#8217;s role in McCarthy&#8217;s ousting add personal stakes to the race.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Funding Dynamics**:\u2064 Gaetz has raised $5 million but \u200danticipates\u200b being significantly\u200c outspent by Dimmock because\u2062 of McCarthy\u2019s\u2064 financial backing.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Senate \u2062Race**: Additionally,\u200d Sen. Rick Scott is \u200blikely\u2063 to\u2064 face former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-gov-cuomo-polling-neck-and-neck-with-kathy-hochul-in-new-poll\/\" title=\"Ex-Gov Cuomo Polling Neck and Neck With Kathy Hochul in New Poll\">competitive general election<\/a>. Both candidates are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/school-board-member-sworn-in-on-stack-of-gay-porn-instead-of-bible\/\" title=\"School Board Member Takes Oath on Gay Porn Stack Instead of Bible\">raising substantial funds<\/a>, with Mucarsel-Powell showing strong\u2062 fundraising momentum recently.<\/p>\n<p>### **Wyoming**<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Republican \u200bDominance**: The state\u200d has not elected a Democrat\u200c statewide since 2006, and both Sen. John Barrasso \u200dand Rep. Harriet Hageman are running with \u200blittle risk of being ousted despite facing\u2062 primary challengers.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; **Challenger Landscape**: Barrasso faces businessman Reid Rasner, who has raised considerable funds,\u200d yet\u200c Barrasso remains a strong \u200cincumbent. Hageman, having\u2063 gained national attention after \u200ddefeating\u200c Liz Cheney, also appears secure.<\/p>\n<p>### **Conclusion**<\/p>\n<p>Each state&#8217;s primaries will serve\u200c as \u200bsignificant indicators of political\u200b alignment and voter sentiment \u200dheading \u2064into the general elections. Peltola\u2019s contest hinges on Democratic unity and vote distribution \u2063in a Republican-leaning state, while Gaetz\u200c and Scott&#8217;s races showcase divisions within the GOP in Florida. Wyoming remains a stronghold for Republican candidates, with a\u2063 stable electoral landscape. <\/p>\n<p>This\u200d summary reflects key themes and\u200c dynamics shaping these\u2064 pivotal \u2063races.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">What to watch in Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska primaries<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1732421\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>With just a handful of states left to hold their primaries in 2024, <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alaska\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Alaska<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Florida<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wyoming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Wyoming<\/a> are up next on Tuesday to see who will win the Democratic or Republican nominations for House and Senate seats.<\/p>\n<p>In Alaska, eyes are on the sole House seat as vulnerable Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mary-peltola\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Mary Peltola<\/a> (D-AK) seeks to defend her seat as the first House Democratic representative in five decades. In Wyoming and Florida, top GOP senators are hoping to defend their seats, while eyes will also be on Rep. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/matt-gaetz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Matt Gaetz<\/a>&lsquo;s (R-FL) House race as he faces a challenger backed by former Speaker <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kevin-mccarthy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kevin McCarthy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>All three states voted for former President Donald Trump in the 2016 and 2020 races, by significant margins in Alaska and Wyoming. However, ranked choice voting in Alaska helped congressional Democrats get a foot in the door of an otherwise solid red stronghold and is on track to do so again in November 2024.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; Alaska U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, speaks to reporters after giving an address to state lawmakers, Feb. 17, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo\/Becky Bohrerm File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Peltola seeks reelection in Alaska<\/h2>\n<p>Alaska&rsquo;s only race on Tuesday&rsquo;s ballot will be the lone House seat represented by Peltola, who won a special election in August 2022 and a full term later that year in the November general election. The death of Rep. Don Young, the longest-serving <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>House Republican<\/a> in history, opened the floodgates to challengers from both parties. <\/p>\n<p>Peltola defeated 47 contenders in the special primary race, including former GOP Gov. and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Republican Nick Begich. Begich is back for round three this year, battling against Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom for Republican votes.<\/p>\n<p>Alaska is unique in that it uses a garbage primary and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ranked-choice-voting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ranked choice voting<\/a> system for its general election. In the primary, the top four vote-getters advance to the general election. In November, voters will rank their preferences, and the candidate to receive 50% of the vote initially wins. If no one does, candidates are eliminated and the votes reallocated based on who a voter put as their second choice if their first choice is disqualified.<\/p>\n<p>Peltola won the 2022 elections partially due to ranked choice voting and partially because of GOP infighting between Palin and Begich and their allies. This year, Begich and Dahlstrom have pledged to focus their attacks on Peltola and not each other &mdash; a contrast from 2022, when Peltola could rely on positive messaging and Republican mudslinging to skate by.<\/p>\n<p>The incumbent congresswoman holds a significant fundraising advantage over Begich and Dahlstrom. Peltola&rsquo;s campaign reported having <a href=\"https:\/\/alaskabeacon.com\/briefs\/peltola-still-holds-fundraising-cash-advantage-in-u-s-house-race-new-figures-show\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>$2.8 million<\/a> cash on hand as of July 31, compared to Dahlstrom with $317,617 and Begich with $172,548. Peltola&rsquo;s campaign has raised more than $7.5 million this cycle, compared to Begich&rsquo;s $983,000 and Dahlstrom&rsquo;s $912,000.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Cook Political Report<\/em> rates the race as &ldquo;lean Democrat&rdquo; due to the presence of two Republican candidates once again. Peltola won in a state that voted for Trump by 10 percentage points mostly because Republicans could not consolidate behind one candidate the way Democrats did. This allowed Peltola to run a centrist campaign and build up a coalition of independents, Democrats, and even some GOP voters.<\/p>\n<p>Begich has confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he will withdraw from the race if he comes behind Dahlstrom in the primary. Dahlstrom has made no such pledge, meaning Republicans could face another repeat of 2022 if both candidates remain in the general race.<\/p>\n<p>Most polls in Alaska close at 12 a.m. Eastern time, with the last polls closing at 1 a.m. Eastern time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo\/Nathan Howard, File) Right: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Gaetz is facing Aaron Dimmock, a McCarthy-backed challenger in the House primary in Florida on Aug. 20, 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gaetz McCarthy feud comes to head<\/h2>\n<p>Eyes will be on Matt Gaetz&rsquo;s race in Florida as he fights a battle of personal and party identity in the state&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz will face Aaron Dimmock, who is backed by McCarthy. McCarthy was ousted after Gaetz and seven other House Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to remove the former congressman as speaker last fall.<\/p>\n<p>The House subsequently devolved into chaos for three weeks, showing a clear division between establishment Republicans, who backed McCarthy, and hardline conservatives who were upset with McCarthy working with Democrats to pass a government spending deal. <\/p>\n<p>That theme of GOP infighting has been present through much of the 2023-2024 Congress under Republican leadership, with some hardliners like Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) suffering defeat in his primary due to fracturing of support within the GOP Freedom Caucus. <\/p>\n<p>Gaetz himself backed Good, pitting himself against former President Donald Trump, who held a vendetta against Good for originally endorsing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) as the GOP nominee for president. However, Trump is still supporting Gaetz and <a href=\"https:\/\/floridapolitics.com\/archives\/676460-matt-gaetz-notches-trumps-complete-and-total-endorsement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>endorsed him<\/a> in May.<\/p>\n<p>The Florida congressman has raised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/races\/summary?cycle=2024&amp;id=fl01\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>$5 million<\/a> this cycle in an effort to boost support among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/morning-consult-polls-show-record-high-support-for-trump\/\" title=\"Morning Consult polls indicate that there is a significant increase in support for Trump, reaching a new record high.\">primary voters ahead<\/a> of Tuesday. Polling shows Gaetz has a sizable lead in the race, but Dimmock, a moderate Republican and retired Navy pilot, is gaining thanks to the financial support from McCarthy and his allies.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Usually I&rsquo;ve had a resource advantage when I&rsquo;ve run,&rdquo; Gaetz <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/08\/15\/nx-s1-5073003\/matt-gaetz-florida-primary-kevin-mccarthy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told<\/a> NPR on Friday. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to be outspent 3 or 4 to 1 in this contest because Kevin McCarthy has mobilized the millions of dollars he had in his political committees to run advertisements against me.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While the race will determine where Florida Republicans fall on the conservative spectrum, the contest will also bring McCarthy and Gaetz&rsquo;s personal feud to a head. The former speaker blames Gaetz for leading the charge to remove him from the top House leadership position, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2454921\/top-takeaways-from-kevin-mccarthys-farewell-speech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>arguing it was payback<\/a> for an Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that Gaetz was tied to sex trafficking and drugs. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims.<\/p>\n<p>The two men also clashed at the Republican National Convention, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3086280\/security-separate-gaetz-mccarthy-live-interview-verbal-fight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>forcing security to step between them<\/a> after Gaetz taunted McCarthy during a live interview he was conducting with CNN.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What night are you speaking? Are you speaking tonight?&rdquo; Gaetz asked mockingly.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s got an ethics complaint about paying, sleeping with a 17-year-old,&rdquo; McCarthy told CNN&rsquo;s Kaitlan Collins without looking at Gaetz, then pivoted back to his answer in the interview.<\/p>\n<p>McCarthy later told NBC News that Gaetz &ldquo;probably shouldn&rsquo;t be on the streets&rdquo; but &ldquo;unfortunately,&rdquo; the Florida Republican is still in Congress.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Great Scott&hellip; elsewhere in Florida<\/h2>\n<p>Other Florida races to watch include Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who is likely to face former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in November. Mucarsel-Powell was ousted in 2020 by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) and is heavily favored to win her Democratic primary against three other competitors.<\/p>\n<p>The general election race, which originally was thought to be an easy win for Republicans, is turning more competitive thanks to Mucarsel-Powell&rsquo;s large fundraising intake.<\/p>\n<p>FEC reports on July 31 show Mucarsel-Powell has $4.4 million in her account compared to Scott&rsquo;s $3.9 million. She <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/candidate\/S4FL00611\/?cycle=2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>raised<\/a> $14.4 million from donors, with Scott putting in $13.7 million of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/receipts\/?committee_id=C00676965&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2024&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2022&amp;two_year_transaction_period=2020&amp;line_number=F3-13A&amp;data_type=processed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>own money<\/a> into the contest. Scott, who barely ousted former Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2018, spent $63.6 million of his own money in that race.<\/p>\n<p>Still, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fau.edu\/newsdesk\/articles\/aug24floridapoll.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>poll<\/a> from Florida Atlantic University\/Mainstreet Research USA released on Aug. 14 found Scott leading Mucarsel-Powell by 4 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Scott&rsquo;s race is significant as he has already announced that he plans to run for Senate Republican leader in the next Congress. He is one of three contenders to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), but he is the only contender on the 2024 ballot. <\/p>\n<p>Most polls in Florida close at 7 p.m. Eastern time, with some closing at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., center, offers remarks following the Senate Republicans policy luncheon at the Capitol Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) Right: Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., arrives carrying a lariat as House Republicans hold a closed-door forum to hear from the contenders for speaker of the House, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wyoming Republicans face competitors but no serious bid<\/h2>\n<p>This year, only Republicans are facing contested primaries for the state&rsquo;s Senate seat and sole House seat. The last time a Democrat won statewide office was in 2006, when former Gov. Dave Freudenthal was reelected.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <em>Associated Press<\/em>, only 11% of the 220,000 registered voters are Democrats, with 81% identifying as Republican.<\/p>\n<p>Though Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-barrasso\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>John Barrasso<\/a> (R-WY) and Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) are facing primary challengers, neither are in serious danger to lose their seats.<\/p>\n<p>Barrasso, who has represented Wyoming since 2007, is facing businessman Reid Rasner. Rasner has spent $1.2 million, with his fundraising including a $1.18 million campaign loan, compared to Barrasso spending $5 million, per the <em>Associated Press<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Hageman is a freshman Republican who received national attention after she defeated former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney in the 2022 midterms. Cheney had isolated herself from the party after she broke ranks to criticize former President Donald Trump for the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the insurrection. Of the 10, only Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and David Valadao (R-CA) are still serving in the House. The other eight either chose not to seek reelection or, like Cheney, were defeated in the primaries.<\/p>\n<p>Hageman, a hardline conservative and House Freedom Caucus member, faces Steven Helling in the primary, who hasn&rsquo;t reported any fundraising to the Federal Election Commission. Helling ran for the seat in 2022 but as a Democrat, switching his party affiliation in 2024 and running a campaign on nuclear energy legislation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Even though I&rsquo;m now a Republican, which fits my stance, I haven&rsquo;t changed my positions,&rdquo; Helling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyomingpublicmedia.org\/politics-government\/2024-06-24\/democrat-turned-republican-challenges-wyomings-harriet-hageman-for-u-s-house-seat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told<\/a> Wyoming Public Media in June. &ldquo;I was [also] pro-life when I was a Democrat.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Democrats in both Wyoming congressional primaries are running unopposed: Scott Morrow for the Senate and Kyle Cameron for the House. Both Barrasso and Hageman&rsquo;s seats are ranked &ldquo;solid Republican&rdquo; by the <em>Cook Political Report<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Polls in Wyoming close at 9 p.m. Eastern time.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1732421\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1732421\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**What to Watch in the Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska Primaries**<\/p>\n<p>As the 2024 primary season nears its conclusion with only a few states remaining, Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming are set to hold their primaries on Tuesday. These elections will determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for various House and Senate positions. In Alaska, attention is focused on the lone House seat where vulnerable Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) aims to retain her position as the first Democratic representative in decades. Meanwhile, in Wyoming and Florida, prominent GOP senators are working to secure their seats; additionally, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) faces a challenger supported by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.<\/p>\n<p>All three states previously backed Donald Trump significantly in both 2016 and 2020 elections\u2014especially notable margins were seen in Alaska and Wyoming. However, ranked choice voting implemented in Alaska has allowed congressional Democrats to gain traction within this traditionally Republican stronghold.<\/p>\n<p>In Alaska&#8217;s primary race on Tuesday for Peltola&#8217;s seat\u2014she won a special election in August 2022 followed by a full term later that year\u2014the competition is fierce following the passing of long-serving Rep. Don Young. Peltola triumphed over numerous candidates during her previous campaign against notable figures like former GOP Governor Sarah Palin and Nick Begich; Begich returns this year alongside Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom vying for Republican support.<\/p>\n<p>Alaska employs an unusual primary system where the top four candidates advance to a general election featuring ranked choice voting\u2014a method that benefited Peltola last time due to division among Republicans between Palin and Begich\u2019s factions.<\/p>\n<p>Peltola currently enjoys a substantial fundraising lead with $2.8 million cash on hand compared to Dahlstrom\u2019s $317K and Begich\u2019s $172K as of July 31st; she has raised over $7 million this cycle versus about $900K each from her opponents.<\/p>\n<p>In Florida&#8217;s upcoming primary race for Gaetz&#8217;s seat within District 1\u2014he faces Aaron Dimmock who is backed by McCarthy\u2014the stakes are high amid ongoing tensions between Gaetz and McCarthy following Gaetz\u2019s role in ousting him from his speakership last fall.<\/p>\n<p>Gaetz has raised around $5 million but anticipates being outspent significantly due to Dimmock receiving financial backing from McCarthy\u2019s political committees amidst ongoing GOP divisions highlighted throughout Congress recently.<\/p>\n<p>Other significant races include Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who may face off against former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell come November after she successfully navigated through her own competitive primary process while raising considerable funds compared with Scott&#8217;s contributions of personal wealth into his campaign efforts thus far.<\/p>\n<p>In Wyoming&#8217;s primaries exclusively involving Republicans for both Senate incumbent John Barrasso (R-WY) facing businessman Reid Rasner\u2014and freshman Rep Harriet Hageman (R-WY)\u2014neither candidate appears at risk despite facing challengers given that Democrats have not won statewide office since 2006 when Gov Dave Freudenthal was reelected amidst overwhelming Republican voter registration dominance across state lines<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2326572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaetz-and-mccarthy-feud-florida-2024-primary.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[8320,5113,9973,32076,3630],"class_list":["post-2326571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-alaska","tag-florida","tag-primaries","tag-washington-examiner","tag-wyoming"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaetz-and-mccarthy-feud-florida-2024-primary.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2326571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326571\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2326572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2326571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2326571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2326571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}