New York, South Carolina, Maryland, Utah hold primary elections

by · UPI

June 23 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has backed off his endorsement in the Republican primary for South Carolina governor while voters in New York, Maryland and Utah head to the polls Tuesday.

Trump gave his "Complete and Total Endorsement" to South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette ahead of the state's primary earlier this month. No candidate in the race reached 50% of the vote, pushing the race to a runoff on Tuesday between Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Rather than continuing his support for Evette, Trump told voters that they "can't go wrong" with either candidate.

Evette finished less than two percentage points ahead of Wilson in the Republican primary but neither candidate cracked 30% of the vote, let alone 50%. While Trump endorsed Evette, the other candidates who ran in the primary, Reps. Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, have endorsed Wilson. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., also gave Wilson his endorsement on Friday.

"I've proudly stood with President Trump from the very beginning, defended him when others would not, and fought alongside him against the radical left," Wilson said in a news release after Trump posted his support on social media. "I am deeply honored to have his support because he understands I am focused on making South Carolina more affordable for families and profitable for businesses."

Evette's campaign has highlighted her receiving Trump's endorsement.

As the weight of Trump's endorsement is measured in South Carolina, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's endorsements in New York also come into focus on Tuesday. Mamdani has endorsed three progressive candidates in competitive Democratic primary races.

In New York District 10, Mamdani has given former city comptroller Brad Lander his endorsement against incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have also endorsed Lander.

Lander said he was drawn to challenge Goldman as Goldman has called for increasing U.S. support for Israel. Their differing views on support for Israel have been a key issue in the race. Goldman and Lander are both Jewish.

In New York District 7, Mamdani is endorsing state lawmaker Claire Valdez to succeed outgoing Rep. Nydia Velázquez. Velázquez is endorsing Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

In New York District 13, Mamdani is endorsing Darializa Avila Chevalier against incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Chevalier was a field organizer for Mamdani.

Mamdani has not endorsed a candidate in District 12. State lawmakers Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway, President John F. Kennedy's grandson Jack Schlossberg, attorney Laura Dunn and health researcher Nina Schwalbe are running for the seat.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed Schlossberg and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed Lasher.

Artificial intelligence has been a central topic in the District 12 race. The Leading the Future super PAC, funded by the heads of OpenAI and venture capital firms supporting the AI industry, has funneled more than $10 million to a super PAC that is opposing Bores' campaign. Bores has been supportive of establishing regulations on AI.

In Maryland, Democrats are set to choose a candidate to replace longtime congressman Rep. Steny Hoyer.

Among the candidates running to succeed Hoyer is former police officer Harry Dunn. Dunn was on the scene defending the U.S. Capitol from attacks by pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6, 2021. He is also a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking to stop the Trump administration from establishing an "anti-weaponization fund" to pay rioters for being "targeted" by the Department of Justice.

Hoyer's former field director Adrian Boafo is also running for Hoyer's seat. He has received Hoyer's endorsement. Attorney Wala Blegay and healthcare CEO Quincy Bareebe are also on the ballot to succeed Hoyer.

Utah's new congressional map has created an opportunity for Democrats to capture a congressional seat in a firmly blue district. Utah's new District 1, largely made up of Salt Lake City, went to Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The three leading candidates for the seat are state Sen. Nate Blouin, former Rep. Ben McAdams and Utah Democratic convention winner Liban Mohamed.

This week in Washington

President Donald Trump presents a Medal of Honor to Tom Ripley on behalf of his father, John W. Ripley, during a Medal of Honor award ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo

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