Laxalt in Nevada, Mace in South Carolina among marquee races in Tuesday's primaries

Four states will hold primaries Tuesday, with the most-watched races in South Carolina and Nevada.

Nevada has three races of national interest, including the GOP Senate primary that pits Trump-endorsed former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt against Army veteran Sam Brown.

Laxalt, the grandson of former Nevada Gov. and Sen. Paul Laxalt, holds a double-digit lead going into Election Day, according to most polling.

The winner will likely face Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, considered among the most vulnerable Democrat senators this election cycle. 

Amid Democrat President Biden’s struggles with persistent inflation and historical data that projects midterm losses for his party, Republicans are optimistic about winning the House and perhaps the Senate. 

Another high-profile Nevada race is the GOP gubernatorial primary to challenge Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak. The primary includes Trump-backed Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, former Sen. Dean Heller and North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee. 

The GOP primary for secretary of state is also drawing a lot of attention, as six candidates vie for the seat of Republican Barbara Cegavske, who must retire because of term limits. 

Among the candidates is former state Assembly member Jim Marchant who has said he wouldn’t have certified President Biden’s two-point victory over then-President Trump in Nevada in 2020 had he been secretary of state. 

In South Carolina, the marquee race is the GOP primary in the state’s 1st Congressional District. Incumbent Rep. Nancy Mace is being targeted for defeat by Trump, of whom she was critical after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Trump is endorsing challenger Katie Arrington.

In addition, South Carolina GOP Rep. Tom Rice is facing a tough primary for a sixth term, after having been among 10 congressional Republicans who voted to impeach Trump over the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. He faces a challenge from six candidates including Trump-backed Russel Fry, in the state’s solidly Republican 7th Congressional District.

In Maine, Democrat Janet Mills, the state's first female governor, is seeking reelection and holds a slight lead in polls over presumptive Republican candidate Paul LePage, who previously served the maximum two consecutive terms as governor. Each is running unopposed Tuesday.

In North Dakota, Incumbent Republican Sen. John Hoeven is expected to win another term, as is the state's sole House member, Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong.