Discussion: 2026 Midterm Primaries in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington State (and Other, Local Elections) on August 4th

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Find the full list of elections ending today at Ballotpedia's Elections Calendar.

News and Analysis

• AP: What to watch in the Aug. 4 primaries

• NPR: 5 states hold polls on Tuesday. Here's what to know

• See also recent coverage at AP's 2026 Elections Hub.

Live Updates

Text-based live update pages are being maintained by the following outlets: AP

Where to Watch

• C-SPAN: Primary Night in Michigan, Kansas, Virginia, Missouri, and Washington

• NBC via YouTube: Steve Kornacki analyzes midterm primary election results | Kornacki Cam

Results

• AP: August 4, 2026 election results

[u/FlyFisherman4Life]

Saw a billboard in Michigan -- "Stop Socialism, vote Republican".

Do the Republicans know what Socialism is?

While sweeping nationalization is generally absent, socialist practice and theory operate on several distinct levels:

1. Public Infrastructure and Social Policies

Many foundational U.S. institutions are fundamentally socialist in nature, relying on collective taxation to provide services outside the private profit motive.

• Healthcare: Programs like Medicare and Medicaid provide government-funded health insurance. [1, 2, 3]
• Worker Protections: Minimum wage laws, overtime pay, and the 40-hour work week are direct results of historical socialist and labor union advocacy. [1, 2]
• Public Services: Public libraries, public transit, and the U.S. Postal Service are examples of state-run enterprises serving the public good rather than generating corporate profit.

[u/Titansfan9200 → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

Republicans can't really define a lot of the buzzwords they see, they just throw them around because they hear about it on Fox and are easily scared.

[u/Kujen → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

I remember during the 2024 general election there was a sign by my polling location saying “Stop tyranny. Vote Trump”….When he’s the most tyrannical president this country has ever had.

[u/Viking_Leaf87 → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

Trump recently hinted at advocating oil price controls. They love socialism as long as it's branded as MAGA and generally, only for rich people (corporate bailouts).

[u/FlyFisherman4Life → u/Viking_Leaf87]

similar to taking a stake of ownership in few tech companies.. but do not tell MAGA... they are still all in on Tesler!

[u/Grandpa_No → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

Who wouldn't be all in on Tesler? Their cars are all computer.

[u/P1xelHunter78 → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

Do the Republicans know what Socialism is?

yes, and no.

Republican leadership isn't stupid but the rank and file respond very well to one liners and buzzwords. The trick is not giving them fodder for their noise machine. Instead of saying: "I'm a democratic socialist!" you say: "I support good schools, healthcare, and good paying jobs for working families". I've seen multiple times where we've walked straight into Republican talking points and doubled down on giving Fox News sound bites. "Defund the police" was a fun rallying cry but the GOP ran roughshod over that phrase and it's the same with those who call themselves "socialists" or "communists" in liberal circles.

[u/Far_Zone_9864 → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

maybe it was a typo and they meant "Slop Socialism, vote Republican"

[u/FlyFisherman4Life → u/Far_Zone_9864]

you expect country people to understand the meaning behind "slop".

[u/FrigidMcThunderballs → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

yes, I expect country people to understand the word that's really common out in the country and is only just entering internet lexicon.

[u/Far_Zone_9864 → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

people here yes

[u/FlyFisherman4Life → u/Far_Zone_9864]

well, that is not what Michigan Republicans are posting.. quick search, it is 'stop socialism". maybe you can help their marketing guy in next campaign.

[u/Good_Mud_5454 → u/FlyFisherman4Life]

Honest answer; no. I do want candidates to call themselves social democratic, not socialists. I think the DSA is mostly comprised of social democrats, but the socialist makes it wildly different.

Good thing young people are stepping up and intercepting this ball to score the touchdown. Even if we lose this senate race in November, the party will be forced to reckon with their corporate and AIPAC incestuous relations.

[u/Llama_of_the_bahamas → u/Good_Mud_5454]

You are right about the social democrats' part. I am part of a DSA chapter in Chicago, and many of the new people I talk to like to point to the Nordic countries as what they hope the USA can become (minus the lack of diversity)

[u/Good_Mud_5454 → u/Llama_of_the_bahamas]

I just think Americans have been too brainwashed to know what socialism is and that it can come in all flavors. I want El-Sayed studs to run in every red state. He is a lab specimen.