| Advertisement |
June 7 (UPI) -- For the first time in history, Iowa will have an all-female race for governor in November as multiple states held primary elections Tuesday night. Incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear are set to face off in November's general election, according to projections by CNN and NBC.
Advertisement
Reynolds was elevated to governor after she served as lieutenant governor under then-Gov. Terry Branstad, who resigned to serve as U.S. ambassador to China under former President Donald Trump and was then elected to a full term in 2018. She also delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address.
DeJear placed second in the race for Iowa secretary of state in 2018.
Longtime GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley was also projected to win the Republican primary for one of the state's two U.S. Senate seats.
Former Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer was initially expected to coast to the party's nomination but drew a tougher campaign and was projected to lose to Navy Adm. Mike Franken, who outspent her in the final weeks.
In addition to Iowa, six states including California, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota staged Democratic and Republican primaries on Tuesday for races that will be on the ballot in November, as the GOP strives to take control of Congress.
In South Dakota, incumbent Republican Gov. Kristy Noem, a strong ally of former President Donald Trump, was projected to advance to the general election, where she will face state House Democratic leader Jamie Smith.
Incumbent Republican Sen. John Thune was also projected to face a challenge from Democrat Brian Bengs.
In Mississippi incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Palazzo was projected to head to a runoff election to hold onto his seat, leading the pack of seven candidates but failing to secure the majority needed to secure the nomination.
He will be forced into a one-on-one race June 28 to determine who will take part in the November general election.
