What to know about Tuesday’s primary elections in Maryland, Utah, New York

Voters in Maryland, Utah, and New York are heading to the polls on Tuesday for primary elections that will shape the upcoming U.S. midterm elections in November. These contests are critical for determining which candidates will represent their respective parties in the race for control of Congress.

South Carolina is also holding run-off elections, as several of its June 9 primary races did not yield a clear majority winner. The top two candidates from those contests will now face off to secure their party's nomination.

In Utah, a significant focus is on the Democratic primary for the 1st congressional district. This race is particularly noteworthy due to the impact of redistricting efforts, partly driven by President Trump's attempts to redraw state congressional maps to favor his party. However, Utah has seen a unique situation where voters approved an independent redistricting commission, which was later repealed by the state legislature. A subsequent lawsuit led to a court ruling mandating a map that keeps the populous Salt Lake County largely intact, creating the state's first Democratic-leaning district since 2021. Currently, all four of Utah's congressional districts are represented by Republicans.

The primaries are taking place less than five months before the general midterm elections, which are seen as a key indicator of the political landscape and the success of President Trump's agenda during his final two years in office. The outcomes of these state-level contests will set the stage for the national battle for congressional control.