PRIME-ARY PERSPECTIVE: COLORADO, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, OKLAHOMA, and UTAH PLUS RUNOFFS IN MISSISSIPPI and SOUTH CAROLINA PRIME-ARY Perspectives is a series that will give you an overview of the most noteworthy results from each state's primary election, focusing on congressional districts that are likely to be most competitive in November, as well as those that will have new representation in 2019 because of retirements. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions! COLORADO Colorado holds a PVI score of +1 and features two races that are well worth watching. The gubernatorial race should be a tight race and the 6th district race features a seat that the Democrats hope to win back in November. GUBERNATORIAL With incumbent Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper term-limited out, the Colorado governor race is open. Colorado tends to elect Democratic governors and this race is viewed as a lean democrat by the Cook Political Report. Walker Stapleton (R) Colorado state treasurer Walker Stapleton has won the Republican primary with 47% of the vote. Stapleton defeated former state Rep. Vic Mitchell, Doug Robinson, a first-time candidate and nephew of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; and businessman Greg Lopez. Stapleton has closely aligned himself with President. Trump's tax and immigration policies. Stapleton promises to keep energy jobs in the state and lower taxes. Jared Polis (D) Democrat Rep. Jared Polis has won the primary election to run for Colorado governor in November. Polis won with 44% of the vote and has represented Colorado's 2nd district since 2009. Polis beat out Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, former state Sen. Michael Johnston, and former state treasurer Cary Kennedy. Polis promises to protect Colorado residents from efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and pledges to secure free pre-K and full-day public kindergarten for Colorado students. CO-06 The 6th district of Colorado stretches from Brighton to Littleton and through demographically diverse Aurora and is divided almost evenly among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters. In the 2016 election, the district voted for Hilary Clinton with 50% of the vote. This district has a PVI Score + 2 and is considered a "Toss-Up" by the Cook Political Report. Incumbent Rep. Coffman ran unopposed. Coffman has defeated a has defeated a string of Democratic challengers over five election cycles, starting in 2008. In 2016 he won with 51% of the vote, but he will face a stiff challenge from Crow this election especially given the current political environment. Jason Crow (D) Jason Crow, a former army ranger and current lawyer won the democratic election with 67.5% of the vote defeating former Obama Energy Department official Levi Tilleman. Crow plans to tackle education inequality, work for universal and affordable health care, and fight to reduce gun violence in the country. This seat that is seen as key in the Democrats hopes of winning the House back. MARYLAND This traditionally Democratic state will feature a competitive gubernatorial race in November, as well as an open Congressional seat that is being vacated by Rep. John Delaney, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. GUBERNATORIAL The incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan ran unopposed in the primary, and will officially be representing the Republican Party in his bid for reelection. Hogan won his 2014 race by 4 points in a drastically different political climate, however Secretary Clinton won Maryland by 27 points in the 2016 Presidential Election. With that being said, the Cook Political Report still ranks this race as "Likely Republican" due to Hogan's popularity. Ben Jealous (D) Ben Jealous won the Democratic primary last night with 39.9% of the vote, besting 8 other candidates. Jealous has previously served as the President and CEO of the NAACP, where was voted into his role at the age of 35, making him the youngest person to hold that position the organization's 109-year history. He is running on a progressive platform, and will be a candidate to keep an eye on in state that is gradually becoming more liberal. MD-06 This western Maryland district is considered "Safe Democratic." It has a PVI of D+6. Its current representative, John Delaney, was first elected in 2012 and is leaving to pursue higher office. David Trone (D) David Trone defeated Aruna Miller last night by a margin of 40.4% to 30.6%, respectfully. Trone is a businessman and entrepreneur, who gained a small fortune from co-founding Total Wine and More - an alcoholic beverage retail giant. He has strong support from the ACLU, and has been vocal in his advocacy to keep people out of prison for minor offences. He unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic primary in 2016, and hopes to replace Rep. Delaney - who is leaving his seat to challenge for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020. Amie Hoever (R) Amie Hoever dominated the Republican primary field, winning 68% of the vote and easily beating her three opponents who combined for an underwhelming 32% of the vote. Hoever is national security expert who served as Deputy Under Secretary of the Army under President Reagan, and whose career has focused on nuclear, chemical, and biological threats and deterrent policy to combat them. Since her retirement from government, However has worked in government consulting, and is running a platform to improve ground transportation infrastructure, combat the opioid epidemic, and apply free market principles to the healthcare industry. MISSISSIPPI (RUNOFF) Mississippi will have an interesting election in November, at least partly because the state's two U.S. Senate seats will both be on the ballot, thanks to the retirement of longtime Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS). Republicans will look to head-off a result similar to that of Alabama's special Senate election last year, when Democratic Sen. Doug Jones was able to seize the opportunity in a deep red state because of a deeply flawed opponent. There is no primary election for Cochran's Senate seat, and the candidates will battle for election in November. It had one congressional race go to runoff. MS-03 This Safe Republican seat is open in November because of the retirement of five-term congressman Gregg Harper (R). Harper currently represents Jackson, Mississippi, and won his last election with 66% of the vote. Although Michael Evans, a poultry farmer, won the Democratic primary by 38 points, he is unlikely to win in November. Michael Guest (R) Michael Guest and White Hughes competed in a runoff for the Republican nomination for Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District after both came up short of the 50% threshold needed to advance in the Mississippi's primary system. Guest came into the runoff the clear favorite after winning 45% of the vote in the primary, and shocked nobody when he received just over 65% of the vote Tuesday night, sealing his victory and launching him into the general election for retiring Rep. Gregg Harper's seat. Guest has spent his career working as a prosecutor in Mississippi, was an early supporter of then-candidate Trump, and has received the endorsement of Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. Expect him to easily win the general election in November in a district that went Republican by over 30 points in 2016. NEW YORK New York has a number of very competitive House races this year, as well as Senate and gubernatorial races that will likely generate headlines. Additionally, yesterday produced the first defeat of a sitting Democratic congressman this cycle, joining two Republicans that have already fallen to challengers. SENATE Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) ran unopposed in this year's Democratic primary, and she will be heavily favored to win reelection in November. Gillibrand was elected in 2012 and won over 72% of the vote. Cook Political Report has this race rated as "Safe Democratic." Gillibrand will face Chele Farley in November. Farley is a partner in a private equity firm and also ran unopposed in her primary. NY-01 This eastern Long Island Congressional district is rated as "Likely Republican" by Cook Political Report. It has a PVI of R+5. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R) was first elected in 2014 when he defeated Rep. Tim Bishop (D). Perry Gershon (D) Perry Gershon came out of a crowded Democratic primary to win the opportunity to face Rep. Zeldin in November. Gershon, who campaigned as a progressive, was registered to vote in Manhattan before using his family's second residence in East Hampton to register within the 1st District. NY-11 NY-11 encompasses all of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. The District is rated "Lean Republican" and has a PVI of R+3. The District featured a nasty Republican primary last night with former Representative (and convicted felon) Michael Grimm attempting to win back his seat from Rep. Dan Donovan. Donovan was able to beat back the challenge and will be faced with a tough Democratic candidate in November. Max Rose (D) Max Rose, the former Chief of Staff for Brightpoint Health - a nonprofit healthcare organization - emphasized his military bona fides in his campaign. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Afghanistan, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. During the campaign, he emphasized healthcare and gun violence issues. NY-14 This Safe Democratic District was featured the first defeat of a sitting Democratic Representative this cycle. Rep. Joe Crowley, the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, was first elected in 1998. For the last seven cycles, Crowley had run unopposed. Even though he had a significant monetary advantage, his Democratic primary opponent focused on grassroots outreach and criticized Crowley as being too removed from his district - a message that was reinforced when Crowley failed to show up for a debate.