As the political landscape heats up ahead of the general elections, key states held primary elections on Tuesday, paving the way for crucial contests that could influence power dynamics in Congress and discussions in Washington.

Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, successfully overcame a primary challenge from a more centrist Democrat, Don Samuels, who previously served on the Minneapolis City Council. While her district is expected to remain solidly Democratic, Omar’s victory is noteworthy given that two other members of the progressive “Squad” faced significant losses due to strong opposition from pro-Israel factions.

In Wisconsin, the Senate race took shape on Tuesday, with Senator Tammy Baldwin securing her Democratic primary victory as she vies for a third term in office. Businessman Eric Hovde emerged triumphantly in the Republican contest, setting the stage for the upcoming general election.

Here are YSL News’s main takeaways from the primaries held on Tuesday.

Omar Wins Primary Amid Squad Defeats

Omar’s success concludes a series of primaries which have seen the members of the Squad targeted with substantial financial backing from pro-Israel organizations amidst ongoing tensions regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Progressives faced significant setbacks this election cycle as Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) lost their primary elections, largely due to millions in campaign spending from the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Both Bowman and Bush have been vocal critics of the Israeli government, prompting increased investment in their races from pro-Israel groups.

Omar has also voiced strong opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza and was one of the first politicians to advocate for a ceasefire, though AIPAC chose to stay out of her race.

This time, Omar was in a much stronger position compared to the previous year’s primary when Samuels narrowly lost by less than 2,500 votes. In this election, Omar benefited from a significant fundraising edge and the endorsement from the state’s Democratic Party.

Wisconsin Senate Contest Takes Shape

Eric Hovde has claimed the Republican nomination for the Senate seat in Wisconsin, initiating one of the most fiercely contested races nationwide.

Hovde’s nomination was anticipated, gaining support from former President Donald Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. After announcing his candidacy in February, he quickly received backing from the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm.

He is set to face Baldwin in the general election scheduled for November. With many Democratic incumbents up for re-election in tight races, Democrats find themselves primarily on the defensive this cycle. Notable senators like Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), John Tester (D-Mont.), and Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.) are also in competitive battles to retain their positions.

Democrats Target Wisconsin House Race

Rebecca Cooke, a small business owner, will challenge freshman Representative Derrick Van Orden, a Republican, in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District after defeating State Representative Katrina Shankland in the primary.

With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House, Democrats only need to gain a few seats to reclaim control in 2025. While many of the most competitive races are in California and New York, Democrats hope to unseat Republicans in states like Wisconsin. According to the non-partisan Cook Political Report, Van Orden’s race is rated as “lean Republican” as he seeks another term.