On May 17, several states including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Idaho, Kentucky and Oregon held their state primary elections. States held marquee elections under large tents outside. 

In Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano won the Republican primary for governor;  the highly contested Senate Republican primary remains unknown, with very tight margins. Mastriano surfaced as a denier of the 2020 presidential election results and walked in the Capitol insurrection on Jan 6, 2021. Former President Donald Trump endorsed his campaign this week, greatly increasing his numbers in the polls. Pennsylvania Republicans play a critical role in the future of Roe v. Wade as it approaches state legislatures. If the Supreme Court overturns the case, Pennsylvania’s governor may determine whether the bill restricting abortion rights becomes law. Governor John Fetterman led a progressive Senate campaign earning the support of grassroots voters and an online donor base through selling clothing merchandise. 

On Tuesday night, State Senator Chuck Edwards won the Republican primary in North Carolina. Representative Ted Budd won the Republican nomination for an open Senate seat and ran against Democrat Cheri Beasley, a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. 

Democratic strength in Pennsylvania has weakened since the Obama administration. Numbers continue to roll in from the polls as the 2022 primaries approach.