5 ads that define Tuesday’s primaries

Voters are heading the polls in multiple states to decide the nominees in statewide races and key congressional districts. 

Here are five ads that define Tuesday’s primaries: 

1. Irvin pushes back

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin has tried to push back against Democratic intrusions into the GOP gubernatorial primary in Illinois. Democrats have spent millions trying to knock down Irvin and elevate far-right candidates in hopes of boosting a candidate who’s easier to beat in November. 

Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association have launched TV ads against Irvin and bolstering other candidates, such as state Sen. Darren Bailey, who has former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the race and has surged in recent polls.

In one 30-second spot, Irvin called out Democratic meddling, with Irvin saying, “Governor Pritzker’s afraid that I’ll beat him, too. That’s why Pritzker is trying to hijack the Republican primary because a combat veteran, tough-on-crime prosecutor, back-the-blue mayor like Richard Irvin is Pritzker’s worst nightmare and our best chance to take back our state.”

2. Democrats meddle in Colorado GOP primaries

A Democratic outside group known as Democratic Colorado has also inserted itself in the GOP Senate primary, launching multiple TV ads ahead of the GOP contest. One spot paints state Rep. Ron Hanks as “too conservative for Colorado,” a message that could help Hanks among Republican voters. 

Hanks is competing against construction company owner Joe O’Dea in the primary to take on Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

3. Davis looks to fend off Miller

GOP Rep. Rodney Davis is facing fellow GOP Rep. Mary Miller in Illinois 15th District, after redistricting forced them into the same district. Miller has Trump’s endorsement in the race, but that hasn’t stopped Davis from arguing that he’s aligned with Trump. 

“President Trump trusted Davis to lead his re-election campaign in Illinois because he’s a rock solid champion for our conservative values,” a narrator says in the spot, referring to Davis serving as Trump’s honorary campaign co-chair.

4. Guest faces a runoff challenge

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

GOP Rep. Michael Guest was forced into a primary runoff earlier this month after failing to get 50% of the primary vote against former Navy pilot Michael Cassidy. Cassidy has taken issue with Guest’s vote to support an independent investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

A recent spot raises questions about Cassidy’s character and calls him a “carpetbagger.” 

5. Pro-Israel group plays in Illinois

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Democratic Majority for Israel PAC has played in multiple Democratic primaries, including the incumbent v. incumbent race where Democratic Reps. Marie Newman and Sean Casten are facing off in Illinois’ 6th District. 

The group’s TV ad against Newman highlights the ethics investigation into whether Newman offered a potential primary challenger a federal job in exchange for not running. A Newman spokesperson said the ethics complaint against her was “politically motivated.”