Super Tuesday is right around the corner and there are several House races to keep an eye out for.
More than a dozen states are holding presidential nominating contests on Tuesday as well, a critical milestone in the 2024 race, where President Biden and former President Trump look to continue their winning streaks — and take a step closer to a potential rematch in November.
Alabama
Alabama adopted a new congressional map last year after the Supreme Court refused to reinstate the Republican-drawn congressional map, which likely would have diluted the power of Black voters.
A panel of federal judges approved the new map in October, maintaining the state’s one existing majority-Black district and nearly adding another, which boosts Democrats’ changes of flipping a seat.
Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) and Barry Moore (R-Ala.) are going head-to-head in the state’s 1st Congressional District next Tuesday, after the map was redrawn.
Carl represents Alabama’s 1st District and Moore currently represents the old 2nd District, which became the almost Black-majority district.
Part of Moore’s district, including his home county, has moved into the 1st District, Rollcall reported.
Democrat Tom Holmes, a retired state government worker, is running for the opposing nomination.
In the state’s newly redrawn 2nd District, more than 10 candidates have thrown their names in to capitalize on Moore’s former seat. With so many candidates, it’s unlikely that one person will become the nominee, which means an April 16 runoff is likely.
Arkansas
Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) is running for reelection in Arkansas’ 3rd District — and is looking to earn his eighth term in office, but faces a challenge from state Sen. Clint Penzo.
Penzo posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he entered the race against Womack after the incumbent voted against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during his bid for speakership.
“Congressman Womack’s third vote against @Jim_Jordan for speaker was the catalyst that got me in the race,” the state senator wrote.
Womack and 24 other Republicans blocked Jordan’s third attempt from securing the speaker gavel in October after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted in a historical vote.
California
Unlike most states, California doesn’t use party primaries to decide who gets to run in the general election.
Instead, the Golden State uses a “top-two” primary, where all candidates running for the same office are listed together on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election.
While California has a highly anticipated Senate race, there are several House primaries worth keeping an eye out for.
The state’s 30th district will be wide open after Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced his run for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) seat. A slew of Democrats have entered the race to replace Schiff.
Another notable House election is the race to replace Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) who is also running for Feinstein’s seat. Despite its slight Democratic lean, Porter’s 47th District has been eyed by GOP candidates.
Scott Baugh, a former minority leader in the state Assembly, lost to Porter by three points in 2022. Among other candidates, Baugh is running this year to earn the Orange County seat.
As one of the largest states in the U.S., California also has key races in the 16th, 20th, 22nd, 32nd, 40th, 45th and 49th congressional districts. 1
North Carolina
Rep. Kathy Manning, D-N.C., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
North Carolina also has a several key House races to watch after Republicans in the state completely redrew its congressional map last year in a move that could flip multiple House seats in the GOP’s favor.