The Buried Lede: Blanche Kills the Anti-Weaponization Fund

Before a single primary vote was counted Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a House panel something significant: the White House will NOT resurrect its proposed $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' compensation fund.

According to The Hill's live update coverage, Blanche confirmed this directly to Congress after the fund faced fierce backlash. That's $1.8 billion in proposed taxpayer money — gone. At least for now.

A White House abandoning a nearly $2 billion spending proposal mid-stream is a substantive policy shift.

South Dakota: Rhoden Under Pressure

The marquee competitive race Tuesday was South Dakota's Republican gubernatorial primary. According to The Hill, incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden is fighting for his political life — notable because he didn't even win the seat outright. He ascended to the governorship after Kristi Noem departed for Homeland Security.

Rhoden is the first incumbent in this seat to face an actual election. Tuesday's result is a test of whether appointed governors inherit the same political goodwill as elected ones. Based on how competitive this race got, the answer appears to be: not automatically.

Outgoing Rep. Dusty Johnson opted to run for governor rather than seek reelection to his House seat, according to The Hill — which means South Dakota's lone congressional seat is also an open contest. A solidly Republican state, so the general election outcome there is not in serious doubt.

Montana: Open Senate Seat, Real Stakes

Republican Sen. Steve Daines opted to retire from the Senate, according to The Hill, opening up a race in a red-leaning state. Former U.S. District Attorney Kurt Alme emerged as the Republican frontrunner heading into Tuesday.

This seat should stay red in November. But Montana has surprised before — it elected Democrat Jon Tester three times before he lost in 2024. Democrats will take a look at this race regardless.

Montana's 1st Congressional District is also open. Rep. Ryan Zinke — yes, the former Interior Secretary — is retiring, per The Hill. Democrats view the seat as competitive.

Iowa: Hinson vs. Carlin for Grassley's Senate Seat

Iowa's Senate race to replace outgoing Sen. Chuck Grassley had Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson leading challenger Jim Carlin, a former state legislator, heading into Tuesday, according to The Hill.

This race featured the establishment candidate and a more populist challenger splitting the GOP base. Hinson had the money and the infrastructure. Carlin had the base energy. Tuesday's primary settled which mattered more in a 2026 Iowa GOP primary.

The Iowa gubernatorial primary to replace outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds had Rep. Randy Feenstra as the Republican frontrunner, also per The Hill. Feenstra, in running for governor, vacated his 4th Congressional District seat — creating yet another open House race in a state already dealing with turnover.

New Mexico: Haaland vs. Bregman

New Mexico's Democratic gubernatorial primary to succeed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham featured former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland against Sam Bregman, a district attorney, according to The Hill.

Haaland is the bigger national name. Bregman is the local operator. New Mexico Democrats decided whether national profile or local roots matters more in an open-seat governor's race.

Sen. Ben Ray Luján faces only one primary challenger and zero Republican opposition in November, according to The Hill.

New Jersey: Booker Waits to Learn His Opponent

Sen. Cory Booker's November opponent was being decided Tuesday, with several Republicans competing for the nomination to face him, per The Hill. Booker remains among the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents on the map. New Jersey has been trending competitive.

The 12th Congressional District is also open — Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman retiring — which adds another contested seat to the New Jersey picture.

California: Newsom's Seat, Open for Business

California's top-two primary system means everyone — Democrats, Republicans, independents — votes on the same ballot, with the top two finishers advancing regardless of party, per 270toWin. The race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom drew a crowded field.

Nancy Pelosi's old 11th Congressional District is also open this cycle, one of six open California House seats, according to The Hill. In California's system, a Republican could theoretically make a general election runoff even in heavily Democratic districts if the Democratic vote splits badly enough.

What Happened Tuesday

Six states voted Tuesday. Multiple Senate and governor races remain unsettled. The House battlefield expanded with the addition of seats vacated by candidates running for higher office — Feenstra, Hinson, Zinke, Johnson. The Blanche anti-weaponization fund reversal is substantive policy news that landed on primary day.

South Dakota's competitive gubernatorial primary provides a real-world test of whether appointed incumbents are politically durable.