What to watch in midterm primaries and runoffs in Alabama, Georgia, D.C. and more

By — Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press By — Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press Jesse Bedayn, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-to-watch-in-midterm-primaries-and-runoffs-in-alabama-georgia-d-c-and-more Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter What to watch in midterm primaries and runoffs in Alabama, Georgia, D.C. and more Politics Jun 16, 2026 10:28 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — An endorsement from President Donald Trump is worth a lot in Republican primaries. But is it worth more than $100 million in Georgia? Can it propel a congressman past an insurgent outsider in Alabama? Can it transform a candidate into a front-runner in Oklahoma? Trump has been at the center of this year's midterm campaigns, and his influence will be tested in different ways Tuesday as four states and the District of Columbia hold primaries. READ MORE: 5 takeaways from the latest midterm primaries, with Platner's win and mixed results for Trump support Among Democrats, the primaries will hinge on longstanding divides between progressives and moderates as the party tries to chart the best path forward to November. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Here are a few things to watch as voters go to the polls in Alabama, California, the District of Columbia, Georgia and Oklahoma. How much is a Trump endorsement worth? Nothing is certain in politics, but a "complete and total endorsement" from Trump is about the surest path possible to winning a Republican primary. READ MORE: FBI searches office of Ohio group that supports voter registration efforts Rick Jackson is testing that truism in his bid for Georgia governor. The healthcare tycoon, who faces Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a runoff, has provided most of the $100 million-plus that his campaign has spent to convince Republican primary voters to overlook Trump's advice. Trump endorsed Jones more than a year ago and reiterated his support last week, praising Jones' "Courage and Wisdom" in a social media post. Rarely has the power of Trump's endorsement been tested against such a lopsided spending disparity. Jones finished first with 38% and Jackson second with 33% in the May 19 primary. Now the election to lead one of the nation's preeminent battleground states will be decided by the voters who didn't back either of them. Meanwhile, Oklahoma's Republican primary for governor will test Trump's endorsement in a different way. There, the president weighed in late, throwing his support two weeks ago to former state Sen. Mike Mazzei among a crowded field without a clear front-runner. The race will go to a runoff if no candidate gets a majority. READ MORE: Nevada is set to have one of nation's premier races for governor as Democrats seek to reclaim seat Trump is used to getting his way, but earlier this month his ch