What to know about Tuesday’s primaries in California, New Jersey, Montana

Voters in six U.S. states, including California, New Jersey, and Montana, are participating in primary elections to determine candidates for the November midterm elections. These primaries will set the stage for races that could decide control of Congress, with Democrats aiming to win majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Key contests include Iowa's open Senate seat, where Democrats hope to flip a Republican-held position, and New Jersey's 7th congressional district, where an incumbent Republican faces potential challenges. Montana's Senate race is also notable due to the incumbent's unexpected withdrawal, clearing the path for a Trump-endorsed Republican. The outcomes of these primaries will shape the political landscape for the remainder of President Trump's term.

Tuesday's primaries feature key races in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota. In California, a crowded gubernatorial primary is underway to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, with Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer among the notable candidates. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a challenge from reality TV personality Spencer Pratt in a race that could signal dissatisfaction with liberal governance. Democrats are looking to gain ground in Iowa's gubernatorial and Senate races, with Rob Sand running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor. In New Jersey's 7th congressional district, Republican Tom Kean Jr.'s unexplained absence is a concern for his party's slim House majority. Democrats are also pinning hopes on independent candidates in Montana and South Dakota to challenge Republican Senate incumbents.

Voters in California are participating in a primary election to determine the top two candidates for governor. Additionally, primaries are being held in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota, and New Mexico. The article also discusses the phenomenon of presidential libraries in the United States, comparing them to historical monuments and highlighting the upcoming opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, described as a large and costly complex.

The chair of the California Democratic Party, Rusty Hicks, is advocating for a change to the state's "open primary" system. He argues that the current "free-for-all" format, where the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party, risks allowing a Republican to win the governorship despite Democrats' significant registration advantage. Hicks fears a scenario where a crowded Democratic field splits the vote, enabling two Republicans to secure the top two spots. He believes this system is prone to quirky outcomes and wants a new structure considered for voters as early as this November. The concern stems from the potential for a Republican to win a statewide office in California, a state considered a Democratic stronghold.