INTERVIEW – JOSH KRAUSHAAR – political editor for National Journal @HotlineJosh – previewed Tuesday’s primaries in AZ, FL and OK.
- Voters in Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma will go to the polls in primary elections Tuesday to select candidates in closely-watched Senate and gubernatorial races
- In Arizona, Republicans will decide who will be the winner of one of the most bruising primaries this election season, as candidates fight to get the party’s nod to replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake. In the race, two-term Rep. Martha McSally has emerged as the frontrunner as she fends off challenges from the right in the forms of former state Sen. Kelli Ward and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But whoever wins the primary will face a tough Democratic challenge as Democrats eye the state as one that can be flipped in November.
- In Florida, five Democratic candidates are vying for Florida GOP Gov. Rick Scott’s seat in Tuesday’s primary. However, the crowded Democratic race arguably has been overshadowed by the Republican primary where Rep. Ron DeSantis is wielding a Trump endorsement against Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Still, FOX News rates the race for the open seat a “toss up” in November, as Democrats eye a potential pickup.
- In Oklahoma, the race for the GOP nomination in the race for governor could hinge on the state’s geography and the candidates’ allegiance to President Trump. Longtime Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Gateway Mortgage Company founder Kevin Stitt have touted their conservative credentials as they seek to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Mary Fallin. Cornett has come under fire from Stitt, who attacked the former mayor in one ad as not being supportive enough of Trump or his immigration policies.
