Overview
- Early voting began Monday and campaigns are in last-minute turnout drives with party primaries set to pick nominees for an open Senate seat and other statewide races.
- The Democratic nomination is a close contest between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig, and recent debates sharpened contrasts over fraud response and immigration policy.
- Craig holds a large cash advantage with more than $3.5 million on hand while Flanagan has secured major progressive endorsements from Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and outgoing Sen. Tina Smith.
- On the Republican side Michele Tafoya, Adam Schwarze and Royce White lead a divided field that has centered its messaging on fighting fraud and tightening border policy, with Tafoya emerging as a clear money leader.
- Turnout patterns will likely determine tight races because older voters have favored Craig and higher turnout among younger, Sanders-aligned voters would boost Flanagan; the open primary rule requires voters to select one party column for their ballot to count.