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Josh Stein, the North Carolina attorney general, handily won the states Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, setting the stage for a matchup with a fiery Republican rival in a race that will be tightly contested and closely watched.

The race will probably be the most expensive in the country this year outside of the presidential election, as Democrats try to retain a governors office that they have held for all but four of the last 31 years, a rare Southern stronghold for the party.

Mr. Stein, 57, who was endorsed by Gov. Roy Cooper, a term-limited Democrat, easily defeated his four primary opponents, including Michael Morgan, a former North Carolina Supreme Court justice.

Now Mr. Stein, who has presented himself as a stable and experienced leader, will turn his attention to his opponent, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The attorney general has cast Mr. Robinson as an extreme figure distracted by culture war issues.

Mr. Stein has highlighted a number of statements that Mr. Robinson has come under heavy criticism for making in recent years, including that Christians are called to be led by men, not women, and that theres no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth.

Some politicians spark division, ignite hate and fan the flames of bigotry, Mr. Stein said in a campaign ad that showed clips of Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson has dismissed the criticism while doubling down on anti-L.G.B.T.Q. remarks and painting Mr. Stein as an extreme liberal.

Political science professors in North Carolina say that Mr. Stein will have an easy time portraying Mr. Robinson as a Trump-aligned Republican who would further roll back abortion rights. A big question is which candidate will benefit more from the huge influx of voters the state has seen over the last few years; many have settled in the suburbs and exurbs of Charlotte and Raleigh. President Biden won the counties that contain those cities in 2020 but lost many of the surrounding areas to Donald J. Trump.

A native of Chapel Hill who has degrees from Dartmouth and Harvard, Mr. Stein became the first Jewish person elected to statewide office in North Carolina in 2016 when he defeated Buck Newton, a Republican, to become attorney general. He previously served as a state senator.

His re-election victory in 2020, however, showed how slim his margins could be: He won by fewer than 14,000 votes that year, with 50.1 percent of the vote. Mr. Trump won the state in 2020 by 1.3 percentage points, and Mr. Cooper by more than 4 percentage points.

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Josh Stein Wins Democratic Primary for North Carolina Governor - The New York Times

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In summary

The Republican Party in California once embraced progressive electoral reforms, and championed taxes, gun control and abortion rights. As two races showed this week, it has a new role as a foil for Democrats. Thats not good for California not even for Democrats.

For election results and analysis of the 2024 primary in California,sign upfor CalMatters free daily newsletter WhatMatters.

The Republican Party established the citizens initiative, referendum and recall in California. It championed tax increases, gun control and expanded abortion rights. Earl Warren, a governor and chief justice of the United States, looked forward to welcoming 10,000 new immigrants every Monday as Californias chief executive.

The GOP now has a new role in the nations biggest state: a foil for Democrats.

Thats not good news for California. Its not even good news for Democrats, whose one-party rule grows ever more calcified and arrogant in the absence of meaningful debate. But its where we are.

Two races underscored that reality on Tuesday. In the campaigns for district attorney of Los Angeles and that to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate, early returns show that conservative candidates may have nosed their way into run-offs. If the results hold, they will have provided paths to victory for Democrats and in one case, a Democrat who is supremely vulnerable.

At the state level, Rep. Adam Schiff created the contest he wanted. He was more concerned about facing a challenger from his left in November, so he artfully advertised for Republican Steve Garvey, boosting the former baseball star without any political experience, message or ideas into the run-off.

Garvey has declined to state who he is supporting for president and responds to almost every question by insisting he will bring common sense and compassion to Washington. He was a better-than-average player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, but if Garvey belongs in the Senate, Willie Mays should be president.

All of which made him bait for Schiff.

Garvey now faces off against the man who brought him to the party. It cost Schiff millions to get Garvey this far, but the ballplayers free ride is over, and with it, any realistic chance of actually winning.

In Los Angeles, meanwhile, incumbent District Attorney George Gascn did not engineer his run-off as Schiff did, but he also got the one he wanted. For Gascn, the real political danger was posed by Democratic candidates just to his right. They threatened to isolate him on the left and sweep the broad center of a liberal electorate, leaving Gascn with a narrow band of progressives and an abysmal approval rating somewhere around 20%.

Instead, Gascn may luck into the opponent he most hoped for: former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, whose sizable war chest and slightly hysterical characterizations of Los Angeles as a city and county at the edge of chaos were enough to draw him close to 18% of the vote as of Wednesday morning, with about half of ballots counted.

Hochman, who ran two years ago as a Republican for attorney general, now faces the same problem that Garvey does: His electorate has enough Republicans to elbow him into a run-off but not nearly enough to secure him a victory unless he attracts Democratic support.

He has a better lane than Garvey. Hochman is an experienced prosecutor with a message, and he will temper some of his dystopian rhetoric now that he no longer has to worry about competition from the law-and-order right. And Gascn is vulnerable to any opponent with a pulse.

Still, Hochman must contend with the fact that hes a recently converted Republican in a part of the world that doesnt have much use for Republicans.

This is music for Democrats, of course, but not great for California. One-party rule narrows debate and alternatives. Whatever you think of Garvey, its discouraging that the ideas California Republicans once espoused now can be easily ignored by ruling Democrats.

This is the state that gave us Warren, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, Republicans who once connected with California priorities. They saw the value of environmental protection as president, Nixon created the EPA and celebrated the contributions of immigrants.

Those with long memories or access to history books will recall that conservatives in California once welcomed migrant labor, while Csar Chvez was among those advocating for tighter border controls, since those immigrants competed for jobs with members of his union.

Warren built roads and universities and was willing to raise taxes to invest in the states future. He championed universal health care and liked to say that his job required him to provide for 10,000 new Californians every week. He was elected three times once, in 1946, as the nominee of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

As for Reagan, the icon of modern conservatism, he raised taxes, supported gun control and expanded abortion rights as Californias governor.

But the Republican Party has slipped away from that history and positioned itself increasingly out of step with most Californians. This is a state that prizes its environment a state office building bears the slogan Bring me men to match my mountains values individual autonomy and hence abortion rights, and has a long history and relationship with Latin America.

As the party, particularly under the captive ownership of Donald Trump, has moved away from those positions, it has moved away from California.

No wonder that Trump loathes the state. Complaining in the wake of his 2016 victory against Hillary Clinton, the sore-winner alleged that millions and millions of peoplevoted illegally in California, denying him a victory here (thats a lie, of course). And he has since criticized the state for its efforts to safeguard illegal immigrants and combat climate change, among other things. His solution to wildfires was to argue that California should do a better job raking the forest.

Caught in the familiar tug between support for those policies and support for their partys de facto leader, state Republicans have mostly tried to bite their tongues, a la Garvey.

That keeps Trump off their backs, but it also makes them seem cowardly indeed, its evidence of actual cowardice. Today, there are almost twice as many Democrats and nearly as many independents in California as there are Republicans.

The party could find its way back. It could welcome immigrants, support abortion rights and join the effort to combat climate change (the states last Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a leader on climate policies). That would be good for the party, of course, and good for the state, too.

Until then, it will put up candidates like Steve Garvey and lose.

David & Dawn, Glendale

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California Republicans have been reduced to a foil for Democrats. That's not good for anyone - CalMatters

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State Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat who voted with Republicans on anti-LGBTQ+ bills, headed to likely primary runoff  Houston Public Media

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State Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat who voted with Republicans on anti-LGBTQ+ bills, headed to likely primary runoff - Houston Public Media

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DALLAS U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, will challenge Sen. Ted Cruz in November after defeating a crowded field of Democrats on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Allred easily prevailed over state Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio who was also vying for the nomination.

"I want every Texan to know, whether you're a Democrat, an independent or a Republican that I want you to be involved in this campaign and I want to serve you in the United States Senate," Allred said at his election night party.

Allred has been the favored candidate among national Democrats and led in fundraising across the field in both parties. While Gutierrez reported raising just over $1.3 million this cycle ahead of the primary, Allred reported raising over $21 million.

Cruz handedly won his partys primary Tuesday night against two uncompetitive candidates.

If no candidate gets a majority of votes in a primary race, the top two vote-getters will head to a May 28 primary runoff election. Whoever wins the runoff will be their partys nominee for that race in the Nov. 5 general election. There is also a May 4 local election, and subsequent June 15 runoff, during which some local governments, such as cities, school districts and water districts, hold a general election for their elected offices or special elections to fill vacancies.

In Texas, voters can only vote in one partys primary and runoff or in a third partys convention. During the November general election, voters can cast their ballot for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. The candidate with the most votes wins, and there are no runoffs in state elections.

Election Day for the local election is May 4. You must register or update your voter registration by April 4 to participate. Applications to vote by mail must be received by the early voting clerk in your county not postmarked by April 23. Early voting is scheduled for April 22-30. (For any local runoffs on June 15, the last day to register or update your voter registration is May 16. Applications to vote by mail must be received by the early voting clerk in your county not postmarked by June 4. Early voting is scheduled for June 3-11.)

Election Day for the primary runoffs is May 28. You must register or update your voter registration by April 29 to participate. Applications to vote by mail must be received by the early voting clerk in your county not postmarked by May 17. Early voting is scheduled for May 20-24.

Election Day for the general election is Nov. 5. You must register or update your voter registration by Oct. 7 to participate. Applications to vote by mail must be received by the early voting clerk in your county not postmarked by Oct. 25. Early voting is scheduled for Oct. 21 to Nov. 1.

Yes, we noticed, too. Texas is one of just eight states that require primary candidates to win more than 50% of the vote before advancing to the general election. This adds runoff elections to the states election calendar. The long ballots Texas voters face, which include partisan elections for judges, stem from the states historic mistrust of government and desire to let Texans have a say at every level of government.

A lot is on the line for Senate Democrats, who are worried their fragile majority is at risk this November. Democratic senators in conservative states are up for reelection, including Sens. John Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is not seeking reelection, opening an easy pickup for Republicans in the deeply conservative state. Democrats can lose only one Senate seat and still keep power.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sees potential pick-up opportunities in Texas and Florida. The group has invested in on-the-ground communications and research staff in the two states and claims Cruzs high profile makes him uniquely vulnerable.

But Cruzs backers have warned that his unpopularity on the left is not a weakness. Cruz maintains some of the highest approval ratings among Texas Republicans of any statewide official, ahead of Texas senior senator, John Cornyn.

Cruz is also not taking anything for granted after his near loss to former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke in 2018. ORourkes explosive profile and prodigious fundraising caught many Republicans by surprise and was the closest Democrats have come to winning statewide office in 24 years.

Allred, who would be Texas first ever Black U.S. senator if elected in November, was ebullient at his election party in Dallas and thanked Gutierrez for running a "classy" campaign that stuck to the issues. He said it was contrast to Cruz, whom he described as a "me-guy."

Referencing his experience as a civil rights lawyer, Allred evoked Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his speech Tuesday night.

"So I have to talk about Dr. King," Allred said. "He said that the ultimate measure of a leader isn't where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, where they stand in the most challenging moments. We know where Ted Cruz stands when those moments come. When 30 million Texans are freezing in the dark. He decided to go to Cancun. When our democracy was under attack, he was hiding in the supply closet."

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, praised Allred in a statement Tuesday.

A 4th generation Texan and working-class kid who made it to the NFL and Congress, Colin Allred has proven he can take on and win tough fights," Peters said. "In November, Texans are going to elect a Senator who will put delivering results for the people of Texas over politics - that is Colin Allred."

But it remains to be seen if Democrats are able to recreate ORourkes near-success six years ago. Allred has taken a different tone in his campaign, unafraid to attack Cruz directly. He has also focused on his bipartisan accomplishments in Congress. Unlike ORourke, Allred served in the majority during his time in Congress as his party passed major legislation on climate change, infrastructure and gun safety.

Gutierrez has been the fiercest voice in the state Legislature for gun control and law enforcement accountability after the Robb Elementary School shooting left 19 students and two teachers dead. Uvalde, the city where the shooting took place, is located in his district. He cast himself as an underdog candidate to Allreds formidable fundraising and backing by national Democrats.

Gutierrez stood by family members of victims from the shooting as he conceded the race, saying they were the reason he ran for U.S. Senate. He vowed to continue fighting for gun safety and "so many things that are broken on this state." He said he'd told Allred while conceding that "we need an assault weapons ban in the country."

"I stopped crying about elections a long time ago. You wont see crying over that spilled milk. Weve got a fight thats still yet to go in this state. Were going to make sure we do that," Gutierrez said.

Before joining Congress in 2019, Allred was a civil rights attorney and former NFL linebacker for the Tennessee Titans. He has often alluded to his personal story in his runs for office. He has strong personal ties to Dallas, where he grew up and his mother was a public school teacher. Allred grew up without his father and was the first member of Congress to take paternity leave when his son was born in 2019.

Allred defeated U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions for his House seat in 2018. It was a considerable upset, taking down a long-serving Republican who had chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2012, one of their most successful cycles in a generation. (Sessions returned to the House in 2021, after running in a different district)

Allred attributed his success to his close community ties and bridge-building ability. He proudly touts his endorsements from the AFL-CIO labor union and the pro-business U.S. Chamber of Commerce. More than 70% of bills hes cosponsored have been bipartisan.

That approach has opened him to criticism, particularly from Gutierrez who cast himself as the progressive alternative. During a Texas AFL-CIO debate in January, Gutierrez said the dual endorsements amounted to being for the wolf and the sheep too.

Gutierrez also attacked Allred, saying he was bending toward Republicans with recent votes. Allred voted for a Republican-led resolution condemning the Biden administration for its handling of the border. Gutierrez said Allred was throwing Democrats under the bus for political expediency.

Listen, Ill be honest with you: That was a tough vote for me, Allred responded at the time. It was a vote that I saw as being about whether we stood for the status quo or not.

Allred was among 14 Democrats who voted for the resolution.

Allred is still a loyal Democratic member. He voted with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time in his two terms where Democrats were in the majority.

For his part, Cruz is a different opponent from six years ago when he was widely considered to be unpopular within his own party ranks. He has since amassed greater influence and power within the Senate.

Cruz is now the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee and has built relationships across the aisle on a host of issues that may not grab national headlines, from international trade infrastructure to the states semiconductor industry. Cruz was ranked the 16th most effective Republican senator during the 2021-2023 session by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia.

Cruz is increasingly highlighting that side of his work to counter Allreds self-characterization as a bipartisan lawmaker.

In Texas, Republicans and Democrats can and do work together and they work together very well, Cruz said at an event hosted by the U.S. Hispanic Business Council in Laredo last month.

After he won his primary, Cruz said in a statement that his race was "about building bridges, fighting for our cadets, expanding highways, creating jobs, and protecting the state that we cherish so deeply. Never before has it been more important to unify and fight against the radical left who threaten to change what makes this state great."

Still, Cruz is as much conservative celebrity as a policy maker and holds back no punches when going after President Joe Biden or his administration. Cruz hosts a thrice weekly protest where he often derides Biden as corrupt and lambastes Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as neglecting his duties.

He played a central role in the efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. He filed an objection in the Senate to Arizonas election results on Jan. 6, 2021, calling for a 10-day emergency audit. Cruz also offered to represent former President Donald Trump in the Texas-led lawsuit to reverse multiple states election results. He still voted against certifying Arizonas election results after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Cruzs optics persistently overcast his policy work. Voters are still slow to forget Cruzs trip to Cancun during Texas devastating 2021 winter storm (Cruz later expressed regret for the trip).

And he has never shied from sharing his ambitions for higher office. Though he declined to challenge Trump in a 2024 presidential run, Cruz has repeatedly said he would love to run again in 2028.

At Allred's victory party Tuesday, former state Sen. Wendy Davis, who challenged Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2014 gubernatorial election, praised Allred as a "quiet" and "strong" candidate who convinced voters to his side one by one.

Colin does not shy away from a fight. And Colin knows that we need a fighter in our corner in Texas and we need it now," Davis said. "I have no doubt. He's the person to take on Ted Cruz and win. And he's going to do that because people are tired of the Ted Cruz brand.

Disclosure: US Chamber of Commerce has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today.

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Colin Allred will face Ted Cruz in Texas this November - The Texas Tribune

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Fox News Politics: Rise of the 'uncommitted' Democrat  Fox News

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Fox News Politics: Rise of the 'uncommitted' Democrat - Fox News

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