Takeaways from the biggest primary day yet

Plus: Results roundup from NPR member stations [View this email online]( [NPR Politics]( May 18, 2022 Five states held primaries yesterday, and they once again tested former President Donald Trump’s influence on the Republican side – with mixed results. Read on for more takeaways from NPR's Domenico Montanaro -- as well as a roundup of reporting from member stations. --------------------------------------------------------------- Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Stephanie Keith/Getty Images The results are in -- well, most of them. Here’s some of what they tell us: 1. Waiting on Pennsylvania: [The key Senate race is too close to call]( with Trump-backed celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz ahead by about 2,000 votes over former hedge fund head David McCormick. The contest looks headed for an automatic recount, which would be bad news for Republicans. A recount would delay the start of what’s going to be a dramatic and expensive general election in what is Democrats’ top Senate pick-up opportunity. On Wednesday, Trump, who has repeatedly pushed baseless claims about election fraud, reportedly posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Oz "should declare victory. It makes it much harder for them to cheat with the ballots that they 'just happened to find.' " 2. Trump’s endorsements were a mixed bag: Oz struggled to the finish, but in North Carolina, Trump’s pick for the Senate, [Rep. Ted Budd, won handily](. In Idaho, [his firebrand choice for governor lost](. And his influence carried less weight down the ballot in North Carolina, as the controversial freshman [Rep. Madison Cawthorn was ousted](. 3. Cawthorn losing shows Republicans do have a line – don’t cross them: Scandal-tarred Cawthorn is far from the first controversial figure on the right. But he crossed his own Republican colleagues, accusing them of participating in cocaine and sex parties -- and that was apparently a step too far. 4. President Biden’s influence might be limited: If [the results in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District race hold]( Biden’s influence over voters in his own party might not go that far. A progressive candidate, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, is far ahead of longtime moderate Rep. Kurt Schrader, who has Biden’s backing. Lots of votes still have to be counted because of a printing error. — [Domenico Montanaro]( NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent [Read More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Results roundup from NPR member stations Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images North Carolina: After losing the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, former governor Pat McCrory says his political career is over — and asks what happened to the Republican Party. McCrory lost to Rep. Ted Budd by about 35 percentage points. He started the race leading the polls, with more name recognition after serving as governor from 2013 to 2017. But Donald Trump endorsed Budd last summer at the state GOP convention, with McCrory in the audience. “Now I have to do some real self-evaluation of where I belong. And not only me, it’s where these people belong in our party,” he said. — [Steve Harrison, WFAE in Charlotte]( Idaho: Redistricting resulted in new maps for all 35 of Idaho’s legislative districts based on the latest census data. And that jumbled up the math for many incumbent lawmakers and challengers alike. Democrats aren’t running in 57% of all legislative races this season, ceding an automatic majority to Republicans in the staunchly conservative state. -- [Boise State Public Radio]( Gov. Brad Little was able to fight off a challenge from his Trump-backed lieutenant governor, Janice McGeachin. She battled with Little over COVID-19 restrictions. — [Boise State Public Radio]( & NPR Oregon: Former Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek won the Democratic nominee for governor. If she wins in November, she will become the first openly lesbian governor. — [Dirk VanderHart, OPB]( -- [Arielle Retting]( NPR growth editor We go deep into communities every day to provide nuanced, reliable reporting on issues shaping American lives. That's only possible because of donations from people like you. Can you please chip in by donating to your local NPR Member station? [Donate now](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! 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