Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Sign up for Axios Pro Rata
Dive into the world of dealmakers across VC, PE and M&A with Axios Pro Rata. Delivered daily to your inbox by Dan Primack and Kia Kokalitcheva.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Want a daily digest of the top Nashville news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Nashville newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Columbus news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Columbus newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Dallas news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Dallas newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Austin news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Austin newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Atlanta news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Atlanta newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Philadelphia news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Philadelphia newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Chicago news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Chicago newsletter.
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
Want a daily digest of the top DC news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios DC newsletter.
Maine Gov. LePage is term limited and there are 4 Republicans running to replace him. Photo: Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
Five states have primary elections today, bringing the nationwide total of states that have held primaries this cycle to 21.
What to watch: Keep your eyes on governor's races in Maine, Nevada and South Carolina, as Democrats are competing to replace their state's Republican chief executive. Both sides have been pouring record amounts of money into gubernatorial races across the country.
Why it matters: There are 36 governor's races happening this cycle, and 26 of them will have the power to approve or reject new congressional maps that will be redrawn after the 2020 census.
Governor's races
Maine: The four GOP candidates running to replace Governor Paul LePage have all tried to present themselves as closely aligned with him. (One candidate has an ad featuring LePage's wife while another says he'll "put the gas pedal" to LePage's accomplishments.)
- But Republicans have reason to worry. Control of Maine's governor's mansion has consistently changed parties in every election since 1955. And EMILY's List invested $300,000 behind the leading Democratic female candidate, making it the biggest outside group contribution to the gubernatorial race.
Nevada: The state hasn't had a Democratic governor since 1999. The top two Democratic candidates, Christina Giunchigliani and Steve Sisolak, are within three points of each other and and the punches continue to fly. Sisolak accused his challenger of having "single-handedly protected perverts." EMILY's List intervened and put $2 million behind Giunchigliani.
- The other side: Whoever wins will likely face Republican Adam Laxalt, who supported President Trump in 2016 and is backed by conservatives like Sheldon Adelson and the Koch-aligned group Americans for Prosperity.
South Carolina: The incumbent Republican Governor Henry McMaster is running for his first full term (he replaced Nikki Haley when she joined the Trump administration.) He has the president's backing, which should help his chances, but with three Republican challengers he could end up in a runoff later this summer.
- The flip side: James Smith is the leading Democratic candidate. He's been a state lawmaker for about 20 years, is a veteran, and has former Vice President Joe Biden's support.
Go deeper: Tonight is the first time voters in Maine are using their new election system, where candidates are ranked by preference and votes are redistributed to each voter's next highest choice until a candidate exceeds 50% of the vote.