{"id":2615079,"date":"2026-06-17T09:31:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-takeaways-from-the-june-16-primaries\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T09:33:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:33:12","slug":"four-takeaways-from-the-june-16-primaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-takeaways-from-the-june-16-primaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Four takeaways from the June 16 primaries"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/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%2Ffour-takeaways-from-the-june-16-primaries%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=2615079&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>voters across the U.S. held primaries revealing a mix of outcomes: political outsiders gained ground, progressives strengthened in traditionally Democratic areas, and the influence of Donald Trump on the GOP remains complex. In Georgia, both governor brian Kemp and Trump&#8217;s endorsed candidate Burt Jones lost their races, with Rick Jackson defeating Jones in the gubernatorial runoff; Jackson&#8217;s victory was marked by a historic, costly self-funding campaign. Meanwhile, Trump&#8217;s endorsed candidate Mike Collins narrowly won the Republican Senate primary in Georgia, set to challenge Democrat Jon Ossoff in November.<\/p>\n<p>In Washington, D.C., progressive Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George led in the mayoral race, emphasizing issues like housing and inequality, signaling continued strength for progressive candidates in urban strongholds. Additionally, Robert White is positioned to become the district\u2019s first new congressional delegate in decades, succeeding Eleanor Holmes Norton.<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Trump-backed candidates showed varying results: Alabama&#8217;s Rep. Barry Moore won his Senate race after a runoff, helped by outside spending, while some others, like Oklahoma\u2019s jackson Lahmeyer, face runoffs.In California, Democrat Aisha Wahab advanced to a runoff for the congressional seat vacated by Eric Swalwell, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/failed-dem-presidential-candidate-tom-steyer-wants-to-jail-agents-as-california-governor\/\" title=\"Failed Dem Presidential ... Tom Steyer Wants to Jail Agents as California Governor\">resigned amid sexual assault allegations<\/a> and announced his departure. these <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >primaries reflect shifting political dynamics<\/a>, with some trump endorsements succeeding and others facing setbacks.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voters across the country delivered a mixed verdict in a series of high-profile primary contests Tuesday, elevating political outsiders, boosting progressive candidates in deep-blue jurisdictions, and offering fresh clues about President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> hold on the GOP ahead of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-kemp-and-trump-both-lose-in-georgia-s-gubernatorial-race\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kemp and Trump both lose in Georgia\u2019s gubernatorial race<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> businessman Rick Jackson <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4611810\/rick-jackson-trump-burt-jones-georgia-gubernatorial-runoff\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4611810\/rick-jackson-trump-burt-jones-georgia-gubernatorial-runoff\/\">defeated Trump\u2019s preferred candidate<\/a>, Lt. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/burt-jones\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21409\">Burt Jones<\/a>, in Tuesday\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"164\">Georgia<\/a> Republican gubernatorial runoff, marking the second time in the 2026 election cycle that GOP voters have rejected a Trump-backed candidate in a statewide race.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4611358\/dc-mayoral-race-fight-between-left-far-left\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DC mayoral race is fight between \u2018Left\u2019 and \u2018far Left\u2019: Byron York<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4607641\/janeese-lewis-george-campaign-funnels-secret-payouts-through-local-union\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Janeese Lewis George campaign funnels secret payouts through local union<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4605570\/ohio-photo-id-mail-in-ballots-2027\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ohio adds photo ID requirement for mail-in ballots in 2027<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump and term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) both endorsed Jones, but their support proved insufficient. With 85% of ballots counted, Jackson led Jones 52.8% to 47.3%. He will advance to face the Democratic nominee, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, in November.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVote for Burt Jones,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4576037\/burt-jones-rick-jackson-debate-georgia-runoff\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4576037\/burt-jones-rick-jackson-debate-georgia-runoff\/\">Trump said<\/a> at a May campaign rally. \u201cHe\u2019s just an incredible guy who has my complete and total endorsement in the race.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4609588\/trump-brian-kemp-georgia-gop-runoff-2026\/\"><strong>TRUMP AND KEMP PLAY KINGMAKER AS GEORGIA VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson\u2019s victory came after he poured at least $100 million of his own fortune into the race, making it the most expensive gubernatorial primary in Georgia history. The contest exposed a divide within the Georgia GOP, with Jones leaning heavily on his experience as lieutenant governor and support from Trump and Kemp, while Jackson cast himself as a political outsider capable of shaking up the status quo. The race grew increasingly bitter in its final weeks, with Jones repeatedly attacking Jackson\u2019s massive self-funding effort.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Trump suffered a setback in the governor\u2019s race, one of his endorsed candidates fared better elsewhere on the ballot. Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17647\">Mike Collins <\/a>(R-GA), who branded himself a \u201cMAGA warrior,\u201d won the Republican Senate runoff and will challenge Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in November. Still, Collins\u2019s victory was narrower than some Republicans expected, and Trump\u2019s late endorsement makes it difficult to gauge how much credit the president deserves for the outcome.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-janeese-lewis-george-shows-socialism-s-popularity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Janeese Lewis George shows socialism\u2019s popularity<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/district-of-columbia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1483\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>, Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George demonstrated the strength of the city\u2019s progressive wing, putting herself on the verge of becoming Washington\u2019s next mayor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the race had not been called as of Wednesday morning, Lewis George held a commanding lead over rival Kenyan McDuffie. Lewis George had captured 52.8% of the vote compared to McDuffie\u2019s 36.6%, while all other candidates remained below 10%, according to the <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/elections-2026\/district-of-columbia-primary-results-mayor\/\">Associated Press<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the heavily blue district, where former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"748\">Kamala Harris <\/a>won 92.5% of the vote in 2024, the Democratic nominee is widely expected to become the city\u2019s next mayor. Lewis George ran as a progressive reformer, akin to New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11802\">Zohran Mamdani, <\/a>and campaigned on aggressive action to address housing costs, affordability, and economic inequality. McDuffie, meanwhile, presented himself as a pragmatic centrist and ally of outgoing Mayor<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muriel-bowser\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2963\"> Muriel Bowser<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result suggests progressive candidates continue to have significant appeal in deep-blue urban strongholds, even as centrist Democrats remain competitive elsewhere around the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a separate election, Robert White won the Democratic primary for the district\u2019s delegate seat with 63.2% of the vote. White is poised to become the district\u2019s first new congressional delegate in more than three decades, succeeding longtime Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-trump-s-picks-advance-elsewhere\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trump\u2019s picks advance elsewhere<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all of Trump\u2019s preferred candidates struggled Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alabama\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1172\">Alabama<\/a>, Trump-endorsed Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) won his Senate runoff election with 55.8% of the vote after the <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/elections-2026\/alabama-primary-runoff-results-us-senate\/#GOP\">Associated Press <\/a><\/em>called the race. Trump backed Moore in January, but the endorsement was not enough to secure an outright primary victory in May. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall captured nearly a quarter of the vote, forcing the runoff and demonstrating some resistance within the Republican electorate. Moore also benefited from millions of dollars in outside spending from a pro-cryptocurrency super PAC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oklahoma\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"715\">Oklahoma<\/a>, Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/strength-of-trump-endorsement-survives-test-in-slew-of-gop-primary-races\/\" title=\"...s endorsement remains influential in numerous GOP primary ...s\">endorsed candidates advanced<\/a>, but unfinished business remained.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4610873\/kevin-hern-oklahoma-senate-primary\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4610873\/kevin-hern-oklahoma-senate-primary\/\">won the Republican Senate primary<\/a> and is expected to prevail in November in the deeply Republican state. Hern, who was endorsed by Trump, emerged from a crowded field seeking to replace Markwayne Mullin, who left the chamber earlier this year to become <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/homeland-security\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"19\">homeland security<\/a> secretary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Trump-backed pastor Jackson Lahmeyer advanced in his race but received fewer votes than state Rep. Mark Tedford, who earned 32.2% of the vote, while Lahmeyer received only 25.9%. The two will compete in a runoff election on Aug. 25.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-eric-swalwell-s-replacement-election-goes-to-runoff\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eric Swalwell\u2019s replacement election goes to runoff<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> state Sen. Aisha Wahab advanced Tuesday in the special election to replace former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/eric-swalwell\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2345\">Eric Swalwell<\/a> in California\u2019s 14th Congressional District.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under California election law, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright. Complete but unofficial results showed Wahab receiving 45,380 votes, or 42.4%, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, forcing a runoff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The special election was triggered after Swalwell resigned from Congress in April while launching a bid for governor. His departure came amid allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4527587\/eric-swalwell-resign-congress-sexual-misconduct-accusations\/\">Eric Swalwell to resign from Congress after sexual assault accusations<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I\u2019ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me,\u201d Swalwell said in a statement posted to X. \u201cHowever, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wahab\u2019s advancement sets up a closely watched runoff in a district that remains safely Democratic but has become a focal point in California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-biden-factor-democrats-success-on-election-night-had-one-thing-in-common\/\" title=\"The Biden factor: Democrats&#039; success on election night had one thing in common\">rapidly evolving political landscape<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Voters send mixed signals; outsiders rise, Trump-backed candidates face setbacks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2615080,"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\/2026\/06\/AP26153561879330-e1780974300762.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32321,81305,5894,9973],"class_list":["post-2615079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-results","tag-june-16","tag-politics","tag-primaries"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26153561879330-e1780974300762.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615079","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\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615079"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615083,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615079\/revisions\/2615083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}