How to follow Tuesday’s primary elections

CNN
—

It’s primary election day in Wyoming and Alaska.

Both states have key primary elections Tuesday that will test the fate of two of former President Donald Trump’s biggest critics.

Here’s everything you need to know:

in the Wyoming, Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the House inquiry on Jan. 6, faces several Republican challengers, including attorney Harriet Hageman, who has backed Trump. Cheney was one of Trump’s harshest critics and was ousted from her Republican leadership post in the House of Representatives last year after months of publicly repudiating Trump’s lie that he won the 2020 presidential election.

A University of Wyoming poll released last week found Cheney trailing Hageman by 29 points. But one question looming over the Republican primary is how many Democrats and independents will switch parties and vote for Cheney, which even her supporters recognize is their only chance to remain competitive.

The Cowboy State also holds a gubernatorial primary.

In the meantime, Alaska will also hold a special election to fill the state seat in the Grand House of Representatives, which has been vacant since Rep. Don Young’s death in March. Three candidates, including former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, will be on the ballot, with the winner being determined by a leaderboard vote.

Also running is Republican Nick Begich III — who won support from the Alaska Republican Party in April and is the product of a powerful Alaskan political family as the grandson of the eponymous Democratic congressman who disappeared on a flight in 1972 and the nephew of former Democratic Senator Mark Begich — and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola.

Independent candidate Al Gross previously ran but withdrew from the race.

There is also a regular top 4 primary for the same seat and a gubernatorial primary.

Additionally, Alaskan Sen. Lisa Murkowski will be the only senator who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial this year. Trump backed Kelly Tshibaka, the former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, in the primary. However, due to Alaska’s top-four primary system — in which all candidates cast the same ballot and the top four candidates advance to the general election — it’s likely that both Tshibaka and Murkowski will be on the ballot in November.

You can follow the results on CNN.com and with our live updates. CNN’s Decision Office will monitor the results and make forecasts accordingly.

CNN provides readers with numerous election-related resources: