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Polling stations closed Tuesday night in South Carolina, one of several states where Republicans backed by President Trump sought to advance in November's general election.
Voters went to the polls in seven states to settle fierce intraparty fights, including closely watched races for the governor and the congress in which Trump involved. The democrats decided on their own primary.
[Four New York Democrats face challengers to their left]
Proximity to Trump has become a major test for Republican candidates this primary season. His approval was a coveted award and those who avoided the president fought to convince party loyalists to support them.
Trump traveled to South Carolina on the eve of Tuesday's primary to campaign for Governor Henry McMaster, who was hoping to defeat businessman John Warren in a second round. In New York, former MP Michael Grimm, who served a prison sentence for tax evasion, was trying to get his seat back from MP Dan Donovan, who is supported by Trump.
In Utah, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who has Trump's approval despite their troubled history, aimed to take a giant step back on the national stage. He began the day as a favorite to defeat state legislator, Mike Kennedy, in the GOP primary for the Senate.
In addition to these three states, Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi and Oklahoma held primaries or runs Tuesday.
The appearance of Trump in South Carolina, where he made meandering remarks at a Monday rally, was part of a push by the administration to persuade Carolina Republicans of the South to vote for McMaster. McMaster was one of Trump's early supporters who became governor last year when Nikki Haley left to be the UN ambassador.
Vice President Pence campaigned in the state on Saturday, two days before Trump's visit.
Meanwhile, national GOP groups have gathered in the 4th congressional district of South Carolina to help former lawmaker Lee Bright, one of the few Republicans to oppose the Revocation of the confederate flag of the State House. Rep. Trey Gowdy is vacant.
Up the Eastern Seaboard in New York, Trump urged Republicans not to "take risks" and choose Donovan on Grimm. Grimm, who is seeking redemption in his former district of Staten Island, compared his case to investigations of Trump and argued that he was the target of a political persecution, although he had finally pleaded guilty.
Romney's presence on the ballot marked another turning point in a political career played in different places – he served as governor of Massachusetts and ran for a seat in the US Senate before seeking the presidency twice – and with different relations with the president.
After looking for Trump's approval in 2012, Romney warned in March 2016 that "the prospects for a secure and prosperous future are greatly diminished" if Trump becomes the GOP's presidential candidate. As a Senate candidate, Romney has been less hostile toward the president, raising questions about the kind of senator that he will be winning in November, as that is widely anticipated.
Democrats also had a lot at stake on Tuesday, as party leaders sought to maintain a series of majority candidates in the House, where they needed 23 seats to win the majority in November.
In New York, a state that offers Democrats the opportunity to take seats, party strategists watched the Democratic primaries in the 1st, 11th, 19th, 21st and 24th arrondissements.
Several Democratic incumbents were also navigating the main challenges in New York. In the 9th district, the representative Yvette D. Clarke sought to overtake Adem Bunkeddeko, the son of the war refugees. In the 12th district of Manhattan, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney attempted to get elected by Liberal real estate leader Suraj Patel. In the 14th district, MP Joseph Crowley spent more than $ 1.5 million trying to fend off challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. And in the 16th district, the representative Eliot L. Engel spent more than $ 1.3 million against three other candidates.
In the 25th district, which remained empty since the death of Louise M. Slaughter on March 16, four Democrats were fighting to replace her; Joe Morelle, leader of the long-standing National Assembly, was the favorite on Tuesday.
A Democratic family feud was expected to come to an end in Colorado, where Jason Crow's lawyer and party favorite was seeking to defeat liberal challenger Levi Tillemann in the 6th district, a swing seat in the Denver suburbs. The winner will face Republican Rep. Mike Coffman, a moderate Republican trying to negotiate an immigration compromise that has expressed his frustration with Trump.
Colorado's 1st District featured a left-to-left drama, such as Rep. Diana DeGette faced her first real main challenge against Saira Rao. In the 5th district, there was confusion after Rep. Doug Lamborn was briefly ordered to leave the ballot and was recalled.
Democrats are trying to extend their 12-year-old detention on the Colorado Governor's Mansion with a primary that boils down largely to two candidates: Rep. Jared Polis and former state treasurer Cary Kennedy. Polis has supported universal health insurance; Kennedy is in the process of expanding Medicaid.
In the Republican primary of the state, the state treasurer, Walker Stapleton, cousin of the Bush family, was the favorite on Tuesday.
In Mississippi, two Republicans clashed to replace Rep. Gregg Harper in the conservative 3rd District District: local attorney Michael Guest, who received tacit support from the congressman, and former assistant governor Whit Hughes.
The Mississippi Democrats, meanwhile, were settling a second round for the chance to face Republican Senator Roger Wicker. In this fight, Democratic House leader David Baria confronted Howard Sherman.
In Oklahoma, Republicans are trying to restart after Democrats have gained ground in some local elections. Ten Republicans ran for the governor, including Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb and the former Mayor of Oklahoma City Mick Cornett. The Democratic race pitted Drew Edmondson, a former Attorney General and the last member of his state-wide elected party, to former Liberal lawmaker Connie Johnson.
The only House race in Oklahoma that the Democrats consider potentially competitive is the 5th District, led by Representative Steve Russell. Former congressman Kendra Horn presented impressive fundraising figures against five lesser-known Democrats.
Elsewhere in Oklahoma, five Republicans were competing to replace former Congressman Jim Bridenstine, who left the Dark Red 1st District to run NASA.
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