WINNERS
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman
Fetterman was the clearest winner of the night — from his hospital bed.
Election denialism
Another of the more emphatic results of the night was notched up by state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who became the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee in Pennsylvania.
Mastriano has trafficked in false claims of fraud in the 2020 election and came to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, though he has said he did not enter the Capitol itself.
After the election, but before the insurrection, Mastriano had pushed for an alternate slate of electors to be appointed by the state legislature in Pennsylvania — a move that would likely have overturned the election result in the state had it been successful.
Progressive Democrats
There are some results still to come but Tuesday was shaping up to be a solid night for the left of the Democratic Party.
In addition to Fetterman’s victory, an even more left-wing candidate, Summer Lee, was holding onto a lead, albeit a minuscule one, against the more centrist Steve Irwin in a House primary in Pennsylvania’s 12th district.
Sen. Thom Tillis and GOP House leadership
Controversial Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) was defeated in his primary by state Sen. Chuck Edwards (R), despite having been endorsed by Trump.
MIXED
Former President Trump
Tuesday was a mixed night at best for Trump.
Cawthorn’s defeat was one blow.
Democratic general election hopes
Most Democratic insiders believed Barnette, with her history of inflammatory statements and scant political experience, would be the easiest candidate to defeat in November.
On the other hand, Democrats believe Mastriano’s wide victory in the gubernatorial race gives them a real opening there.
Losers
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.)
The 26-year-old congressman’s defeat was one of the biggest headlines of the night.
Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.)
Just four years ago, Lamb was a rising star in the Democratic Party.
Kathy Barnette
Barnette looked like the woman of the moment in the final stretch of the GOP Pennsylvania Senate primary.
In the end, she didn’t come particularly close.
Clarity
Tuesday’s results — and the lack of results in some places — made it tougher than normal to draw clear lessons.
Trump’s endorsement mattered some places — but not in others.
An ultra-MAGA approach was Mastriano’s ticket to victory — but not enough for Barnette.
Ultimately, the night was a reminder that candidates, and the dynamics of each individual race, can matter as much as the big national trends.