Connecticut primary: Jahana Hayes moves one step closer to becoming state's first black Democrat in Congress
The governor's race is considered wide open, with Republicans not having held the office since 2010
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Your support makes all the difference.The biggest race in Connecticut was supposed to be the governor's race - but an ex-teacher has stolen the headlines by moving one step closer to becoming the state's first black Democrat in Congress.
In western Connecticut's 5th congressional district, Ex-Teacher of Year Jahana Hayes has won Democrat nod for the Connecticut House seat left by Democrat Representative Elizabeth Esty is not seeking re-election to the House.
Businessman Ned Lamont has defeated Bridgeport major, and ex-convict, Joe Ganim. Mr Lamont's victory comes 12 years after he defeated US Senator Joe Lieberman in a Democratic showdown, only to lose the general election when Mr Lieberman ran as an independent. That race was seen as part of a national referendum on the Iraq War.
However, Republicans believe they have a good chance of winning the governor's seat back after losing control in 2010. Control of the narrowly divided General Assembly is also in play, especially the state Senate, now equally split between Democrats and Republicans.
For the GOP, it was David Stemerman, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the party's endorsed candidate; Tim Herbst; Madison businessman Bob Stefanowski; and Westport tech entrepreneur and former US Navy officer Steve Obsitnik. Mr Stefanowski eventually won through.
Small-business owner Matthew Corey has won the Republican nomination for US Senate in Connecticut and will face an uphill battle against Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.
In Tuesday's primary the Manchester Republican defeated Dominic Rapini, a national accounts manager for Apple computers.
Mr Corey is a US Navy veteran and owner of a Hartford pub and a window-washing business. As of the end of July, Mr Corey had raised about $31,000 in campaign funds compared with nearly $13.5 million for Mr Murphy.
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Connecticut has closed primaries - meaning the only people who can vote in its Democratic and Republican primaries are those who are registered with that party. Polls close at 8pm
On the Democratic ballot, voters will have the option of choosing between Mayor Joe Ganim and businessman Ned Lamont. Mr Ganim was Mayor of Bridgeport from 1991 to 2003, when he resigned after being convicted on corruption charges. He then launched a remarkable political comeback after serving seven years of a nine-year prison sentence, becoming Bridgeport's mayor once again in 2015.
Although Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has won the endorsement of the state's Republican party, he still has to fend off a number of other business leaders for the nomination.
State representative Ilhan Omar is hoping to make history in Minnesota.
Vermont, where polls close at 7 p.m., has a competitive gubernatorial race ahead. Four Democratic candidates and two Republican candidates are vying for the Vermont governor seat. On the Republican side, incumbent Gov. Phil Scott is looking to secure his party's nomination once again.
Through a loophole in Vermont's laws, 14-year-old Ethan Sonneborn is running for the office as a Democrat. Vermont's Constitution doesn't have an age requirement, it just requires candidates to have lived in the state for four years.
"I think Vermonters should take me seriously because I have practical progressive ideas, and I happen to be 14, not the other way around," the 14-year-old said in a recent gubernatorial forum. "I think that my message and my platform transcend age."
Here is a piece on a candidate in Wisconsin, who has had to tell local media he is - in fact - not dead and is has been campaigning hard.
In Minnesota's very competitive 2nd District in the suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul, incumbent Republican Representative Jason Lewis is facing a slew of controversy over comments he made on a radio show he hosted prior to serving in Congress, including complaining that women could no longer be called “sluts” and equating gay marriage to rape.
"I believe Wisconsin is ready for a black governor," said gubernatorial candidate Mahlon Mitchell according to Vox.
Democrat Mr Mitchell, a black firefighter union president, is vying to take on Republican Scott Walker in the governor's race.
Democrat Randy Bryce, ironworker and union organizer vying for Paul Ryan's seat in Wisconsin shares photo encouraging people to make it to the polls before they close at 9pm local time.
One of the four Democrats standing in Vermont's governor race is Christine Hallquist, who would be America's first transgender governor.
Ms Hallquist was the first CEO to transition while in her job, according to political action committee the Victory Fund.
States such as Wisconsin and Minnesota helped drive Donald Trump's 2016 election win two years ago. The results of today's primaries will be a good marker for how the Democrats will fair in November's midterm elections.
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