Heart of the Primaries: Democrats, Special May 15 Results Edition

[Heart of the Primaries newsletter] In this special post-primary edition: Progressive Change Campaign Committee candidate beats DCCC candidate in Nebraska's 2nd, Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor upset, and Democratic socialists defeat two long-sitting Pennsylvania House incumbents. Here are the results of the May 15 primaries so far... Eastman beats DCCC-backed Ashford Nonprofit executive Kara Eastman beat former Rep. Brad Ashford by a 51-49 in [Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District]( Democratic primary. Election returns throughout the night showed a very close race, and it appeared likely that the final margin might be close enough to enable Ashford to ask for a [recount](. However, final unofficial returns have Eastman winning by just over 1,000 votes. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee supported Eastman, who ran on a platform that included tuition-free college and universal health care. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) backed Ashford, and had added him to its “Red to Blue” list. [Sabato’s Crystal Ball]( managing editor Kyle Kondik [tweeted]( Wednesday morning that they were changing the rating on the general election race in this district from Toss-up to Leans R after Eastman’s victory. “Basically the NRCC got what it wanted and the DCCC didn't,” Kondik said. Wild beats progressive Edwards and conservative Morganelli in PA-07 primary Former Allentown Solicitor Susan Wild beat Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli and Pastor Greg Edwards to win the [Democratic primary]( in Pennsylvania’s 7th District. Wild won roughly 33 percent of the vote, while Morganelli took about 30 percent and Edwards received nearly 26 percent. The three candidates represented different wings of the Democratic Party. Wild fit into the mainline Democratic Party and was backed by EMILY’s List. Morganelli was more conservative and opposed abortion and sanctuary jurisdictions. Edwards was a progressive endorsed by Bernie Sanders. The Allentown-based seat was formerly represented by Charlie Dent (R). Hillary Clinton carried the area making up the new District by 1.1 percentage points in 2016, making it a possible Democratic pickup in November. Scanlon wins in crowded PA-5 Democratic field Attorney Mary Gay Scanlon defeated nine other Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District [primary](. Scanlon won 28 percent of the vote, while former Philadelphia deputy mayor for labor Rich Lazer finished second with 16 percent. Scanlon had endorsements form state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky and former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-affiliated Middle Class PAC spent $500,000 on ads late in the campaign boosting Lazer. The newly-drawn 5th District is cobbled together from pieces of the old 1st, 2nd, and 7th districts. Hillary Clinton won the new district by 28 percentage points in 2016. Clinton won the old District by just two points. Scanlon faces Republican Pearl Kim, who ran unopposed in the [Republican primary](, in the general. Fetterman upsets Stack in lieutenant governor race Braddock Mayor [John Fetterman]( (D) upset incumbent [Mike Stack]( (D) in Pennsylvania’s [Democratic lieutenant governor primary](. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Fetterman had 37.4 percent, with Nina Ahmad (D) at 23.8 percent, Kathi Cozzone (D) at 18.6 percent and Stack at 16.6 percent. Stack faced allegations he had mistreated staff and misappropriated taxpayer funds. Fetterman joins Gov. Tom Wolf (D) as his running mate in the November general election against the ticket of Scott Wagner (R) and Jeff Bartos (R). Should Wolf win re-election, Fetterman will succeed Stack as lieutenant governor. Progressives and moderates clash in Oregon state legislative primaries Progressives won two of their three major matchups against moderates in Oregon’s state legislative [Democratic primaries](. Oregon State Senate President Peter Courtney survived a primary challenge from Joyce Judy, who said Courtney used his power to stymie progressive legislation. Shamia Fagan defeated state Sen. Rod Monroe, who faced criticism his positions on housing policy. In the state House race to replace Deborah Boone, progressive Tiffiny Mitchell beat moderate Tim Josi. Democratic socialists defeat two members of a Pittsburgh political dynasty Pennsylvania state Reps. Dom and Paul Costas, a pair of distant cousins from a major Pittsburgh political family, both [lost their primaries]( to members of the Democratic Socialists of America. Sara Innamorato defeated Dom Costa by nearly 30 percentage points. Summer Lee beat Paul Costa by nearly 40 percentage points. Dom Costa was first elected in 2008. Paul Costa was elected in 1998. Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club supported Innamorato and Lee. Go to [Geek Prank]( and try the online Windows XP simulator, play with the classic Minesweeper and Tetris games or listen to some music. UP NEXT May 22 statewide primaries in Arkansas, Georgia, and Kentucky, plus primary runoffs in Texas. Stories to watch include... - Georgia's [gubernatorial primary](, where Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans have differed on state tax cuts, gun policy, and in-state tuition scholarships. The general election will be a test case for how Democrats could position themselves to win Republican-leaning states. - Six candidates jostle for the nomination to take on potentially vulnerable Republican incumbent Andy Barr in [Kentucky's 6th](. - The result of the DCCC's first involvement in the 2018 cycle in the runoff primary in [Texas’ 7th](. The DCCC has since taken sides other primaries from [California]( to [Colorado](. 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