Trump-backed candidates in Arizona, Michigan poised for big night in Tuesday's primaries

Tuesday night's primaries are shaping up to be a big night for former President Trump, whose candidates are leading in GOP primaries in Arizona and Michigan. 

In Michigan, Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon is ahead of her closest challenger, Kevin Rinke, by 14 points, according to the most recent RealClearPolitics.com polls average.

Republicans are hoping for a strong showing by Dixon, ahead of what could be a general election matchup between the former conservative media personality and incumbent Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, whose strict COVID-19 mandates made her unpopular with a considerable swath of voters. Her approval rating is now at 47%.

Trump endorsed Dixon last week, in what has been a messy GOP primary with candidates being disqualified. 

Arizona, Kansas, Missouri and Washington will also hold primaries Tuesday.

In Arizona, a proxy war has emerged between Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence, in the state's GOP gubernatorial primary to succeed establishment Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who is termed out.

Trump is backing former TV news reporter Kari Lake, with Pence endorsing real estate developer Karrin Taylor Robson. 

Lake leads Robson by nearly 9 points in the RealClearPolitics.com polling average for that race.

In the GOP Senate primary, Trump-backed venture capitalist Blake Masters has a solid, double-digit lead.

He has 36% of the likely vote, compared to his closest challenger, businessman Jim Lamon, with roughly 23%, followed by state Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a distant third with roughly 14% of the vote. 

Trump has rallied against Brnovich for what he considers his lack of support in investigating what Trump believes was widespread voter fraud in Arizona during the 2020 presidential election.

The marquee race Tuesday is perhaps Missouri's GOP Senate primary for the seat of retiring Sen. Roy Blunt, as the party tries to retake control of the upper chamber in November.

Former Gov. Eric Greitens was the frontrunner until he was hit with domestic-abuse allegations by his ex-wife in mid-June. Greitens has denied the allegations.

Since then, state Attorney General Eric Schmidt has pulled into the lead, with Greitens and Rep. Vicky Hartzler also polling in the top three.