in major races. The races include key congressional primaries in
Arizona, Missouri, Michigan and Washington. While voters in Kansas
are deciding on the future of abortion policy in their state, our
political correspondent Lisa Desjardin breaks down what to watch
for tonight.
Lisa. There's a lot to look at, and we're going to be here late tonight,
looking at it, So so let's start with the big picture. What could
this these votes today? Tell us about the midterms in November. Do
you think there are two important trends were watching for tonight?
One is the power of Trump, but not just for Trump's sake. What That
could mean for Democrats in terms of the candidates that they're
going up against, especially for control of the U. S senate. The
other is whose base has more energy, and that's where the abortion
issue comes in. For Trump One race that we want to highlight right
now is in May.
Zuri. There is a very hot Senate race on the Republican side in Missouri.
Let's look at the four candidates there. You can see two current
members of Congress there in the middle Former governor Eric Crichton's
We've talked about before on this program and then the attorney general
Eric Schmidt, now
President. Trump has just made an endorsement in the past day or
so in this race, and here's what he wrote. Some of our viewers may
be familiar with this that he put out, he said. He is endorsing Eric.
There are two Erickson this race. We know President Trump likes to
pick winners. He might be hedging his bets there. But, you know,
it's significant to this C could be one that Democrats think they
can win and it could be an important seat that helps Democrats keep
or lose control of the U. S. Senate. One thing to note turnout in
Missouri too.
Today, Judy. It's light. It's mixed. But across the state, the secretary
of state actually said, it's terrible, different case in Kansas,
turn out there.
Nearing or breaking records. And why, Because abortion is on the
ballot there. As we heard in our report last night voters there are
voting on whether or not the state of Kansas should be able to change
abortion law and add more restrictions. We are going to be watching
that very closely to see if either side is more energized than the
other By that vote in Kansas, a lot of interest, apparently at least
those reports about turnout.
So we know. Former President Trump has talked a lot about his endorsements.
We've been watching that. But you've also seen in your reporting
that what What's happening today is a test for those candidates who
have opposed former President Trump. How so this day more than any
other on this election calendar is a test for those Republicans who
voted to impeach Trump. Many of our viewers might remember 10 House
Republicans voted to impeach Trump. Well, a number of them for our
retiring. There aren't many on the ballot at one time today, three
of
Of those 10 Republicans are up in primary challenges. Look at who
those are some of our viewers member familiar with Peter Meyer, Dan
Newhouse in Washington and Jaime Herrera Butler there in Washington
state. So all of these candidates professional and future careers
are on the line here because they opposed President Trump and voted
to impeach him. He tweeted out today, calling them impeachment slime.
It's notable here because we know the Republican Party is routinely
been tested and those behind the scenes who told me that
They believe perhaps President Trump deserves to be impeached. But
voted? Yes, we'll see a message in whether these three candidates
survive tonight.
So a lot to watch as you've just been discussing Lisa, But if you
had to pick one state one place where we're going to see some key
questions answered. What would it be one and it's Arizona. It's got
everything it has sent its up races up and down the ballot, in fact,
in the two top races for governor and for U S Senate on the Republican
side,
President Trump has endorsed one candidate, his vice president. Pence
has endorsed a different candidate. So you have that test. But we're
also watching it because there are a number of election deniers in
position to win primary races tonight, including for the secretary
of State's office, a leading candidate there. That is a four year
seat for secretary of State of Arizona, which is a state which could
be decisive in there and we looked at some stats overall about where
election deniers are in terms of this primary season. This comes
from the blog Fivethirtyeight.
It, Which you know, does a lot of data driven analysis they looked
at who has been winning in these not primary fights. And they say
there's 120 Republicans so far for key offices, meaning Governor
Lieutenant Governor Attorney General Congress Senate 120 that fully
deny the 2020 results. That's a very large portion of all the Republican
nominees.
Who have even been talking about the election. It's about half of
those, so this isn't a fluke. It's not just one candidate here or
there. This is a big part of who Republicans are putting on the ballot,
something that is important for us to keep an eye on. And finally
we can't let you get away. Lisa without asking you about the Congress
Senate's in session this week, You watched the Congress very closely
give us an update on where things stand got my video feed on right
now the Senate chamber where they are preparing to pass within the
next few hours, the pact act that veterans bill that would
Greatly expand coverage, especially for victims of toxic exposures,
including Burn pits. Very big deal finally looks like it will be
getting final passage tonight. Let's look at a couple other things
that we're watching this week, the inflation Reduction Act. That's
that Schumer mansion very large compromise bill. The plan still is
to try and start that Thursday, but and Sunday
They don't have Kirsten cinema onboard yet, so we will be watching
that and then a vote on NATO expansion. That's something that's going
to pass easily in the Senate. However, you need 100 senators to do
things quickly. They don't have all 100. So we're watching the timing
on that NATO expansion something the world is watching as well expected
this week. We just don't know when we know there's been covid and
some other issues that kept there has been. And why are these senators
all masking at this point? I don't know. Good question. Lisa Desjardin.
Yeah. Following it all. Thank you.
Mm hmm. And you can keep following tonight's elections with up to