By 270toWin Staff - February 24, 2024, 10:48 AM ET
Overview
The South Carolina Republican primary is Saturday. Since 1980, with the exception of 2012, the winner of the Republican primary here has gone on to be the party's nominee. That year, Newt Gingrich finished ahead of Mitt Romney.
In a closely-watched election that could break either way, voters in New York's 3rd Congressional District will select a replacement for Republican George Santos who was expelled from the House on December 1.
There are also several state legislative special elections.
U.S. House Special Election
New York Congressional District 3
Republicans hold a narrow 219-212 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. House. Of the four vacancies, this is the only competitive one in terms of party control. As a result, the election has taken on national importance with almost $20 million in spending.
District 3 encompasses portions of the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, with a small portion extending into the New York City borough of Queens. It is the wealthiest district in New York and ranked fourth in that category nationwide. Santos won by a 54% to 46% margin in 2022.
Days after receiving blowback for voting against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-08) announced his retirement. He will leave Congress at the end of this term.
In his 4th term, Gallagher chairs the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Wisconsin's 8th congressional district is located in the northeast part of the state, and includes Green Bay. Gallagher faced no Democratic opposition in 2022, receiving 72% of the vote against a Libertarian and an independent candidate.
On Friday, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R, MT-02) made official what has long been expected by filing for the U.S. Senate race in Montana.
Separately, in a surprise announcement, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Ben Cardin, who is retiring.
Neither has an easy path, although the obstacles facing each are somewhat different.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), who chairs the House Energy Committee announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection this year.
After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided the time has come to serve the people of Eastern Washington in new ways. I will not be running for re-election to the People’s House.
McMorris Rodgers is in her 10th term representing Washington's 5th district, which includes Spokane and encompasses Eastern Washington from the Canadian border to Oregon. One of two Republicans in the ten-member House delegation, she won her final term by a 19% margin in 2022.
Republicans in Nevada and the U.S. Virgin Islands will caucus on Thursday. There are 30 total delegates up for grabs, 26 of them in Nevada.
Bookmark our aggregate delegate count map to keep track through the primary and caucus season as candidates accumulate delegates toward the 1,215 needed to win the Republican nomination.
Nevada
Overview
Donald Trump could not have asked for a better outcome from Tuesday's primary. Nikki Haley, his lone remaining major challenger, lost decisively to "None of These Candidates", a ballot option unique to Nevada.
Tuesday's contest carried no weight toward the nomination, as the Nevada GOP decided to continue its tradition of using a caucus to allocate delegates. For more background, refer to our Nevada primary overview.
Author Marianne Williamson has ended her bid for the Democratic nomination. This leaves Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) as the only well-known challenger to President Joe Biden.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (IN-05) has will run for reelection this year after all. The decision comes almost exactly a year after the two-term Republican became one of the first incumbents this cycle to announce her retirement.
As Fox News notes, "The announcement puts a damper on campaign plans of the nine Republicans who have filed to run for her seat. Spartz is barely meeting Indiana's filing deadline, which requires candidates to submit paperwork by [February 9]." However, it doesn't look like those other candidates are backing off; some have launched attacks on the incumbent.