We’re doing something a bit different today. Joining me is national politics reporter, Meg Kinnard, who’s been reporting for the AP for over 20 years. Meg is in South Carolina covering the GOP governor runoff tonight, but first, she’s here with us this morning to answer a few questions about today’s elections.
What do you think today’s races will tell us about where things are heading in the November midterms?
We will see a bit of how much sway President Donald Trump still has; he’s played a large role in South Carolina’s primary, and while he’s made picks in the other states, his influence there may be a bit muted given how deeply red this state is. I’ve talked to voters who like being in line with Trump’s picks — as well as plenty who say his endorsement doesn't matter to them.
What’s the race you find most interesting?
I’m watching to see how much influence New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has in the contests where he's aggressively endorsed candidates challenging Democrats supported by party leadership. Mamdani made a big splash when he won, but if his chosen picks have success — like Darializa Avila Chevalier, the 32-year-old he’s supporting against Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat — that can strengthen his status as a democratic socialist kingmaker. It can also risk deepening fractures in his own party.