Christine Hallquist and Two More Democratic Women Seal Historic Primary Victories

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THE NEW NORM
Christine Hallquist and Two More Democratic Women Seal Historic Primary Victories
While controversies quelled the runs of others and some rolled on despite them.
Gideon Resnick
08.14.18 11:53 PM ET


Democrats on Tuesday chose the first transgender gubernatorial nominee in history, the first Somali-American legislator, and a first-time candidate and National Teacher of the Year recipient who would be the first black Democrat elected to Congress in her state.

It was a sign of the continued strength of Democratic women in primaries, who by some estimates have a win rate of 46 percent in contests this cycle, including gubernatorial and congressional races.

Christine Hallquist passed the first major hurdle in her quest to become the nation’s first transgender governor on Tuesday, beating three primary challengers in Vermont, including a 14-year-old named Ethan Sonneborn. Running on a progressive platform that includes advocacy for a universal health care system and a $15 minimum wage, the former CEO of an electric company will face incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who has earned a positive reputation in the state for working alongside Democrats.

In Minnesota, a state that has been reliably blue but nearly tipped to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, Ilhan Omar, a Somali immigrant and state legislator, won the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which was previously held for over a decade by Keith Ellison (D-MN). Omar, a member of the Justice Democrats slate, the same group that backed New York Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is likely to be the second Muslim woman elected to Congress, alongside Michigan congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib. Tlaib recently campaigned in the district for Omar, and Ocasio-Cortez endorsed her as well.

As for Ellison, he won his primary for Minnesota attorney general, despite a late allegation of abuse from his ex-girlfriend over the weekend. Kate Monahan had accused Ellison of emotional and physical abuse, allegations Ellison denied.

Higher up on the ticket in Minnesota, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) won her primary to fill out the remainder of Sen. Al Franken’s (D-MN) term after Franken resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct. Smith defeated former Bush ethics lawyer Richard Painter, who ran hilarious and surreal ads featuring real dumpster fires. Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination late Tuesday night, beating out attorney general Lori Swanson, who has been dogged by recent scandal. On the Republican side, former governor Tim Pawlenty lost a comeback bid to Jeff Johnson, a county commissioner in the state.

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