WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Over three years have elapsed since supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn his election defeat. This incident is set to play a significant role in a series of congressional primaries scheduled for Tuesday.
The aftermath of the riot continues to shape the lives of two candidates vying for their parties' nominations for the U.S. House of Representatives. Democratic former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn of Maryland and West Virginia Republican Derrick Evans, who served prison time after pleading guilty to participating in the unrest, are both deeply linked to the events of that day.
These candidates are running in highly partisan districts not expected to be competitive in the November 5 general election, where Republicans will be defending a narrow House majority. The winners of these primaries are likely to assume office in Congress starting next year.
In Nebraska, moderate Republican Representative Don Bacon seeks re-election after taking risks by working in a bipartisan manner with Democrats, including voting to certify the results of the 2020 election.
Trump continues to falsely assert that his 2020 loss to Democratic President Joe Biden resulted from fraud. Dunn, 40, is among 22 Democrats running to succeed the retiring Representative John Sarbanes. He has led the field in fundraising and secured an endorsement from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Polling indicates a competitive race between him and Sarah Elfreth, a state senator.
Dunn gained national attention when he testified to Congress about the attack, describing how rioters taunted him with racial slurs during the riot as they sought to overturn the 2020 election results. In an interview with Reuters, Dunn stated that the events of January 6 changed his life and led him to enter politics.
In nearby West Virginia, Evans is challenging Republican incumbent Representative Carol Miller in a primary. Miller was among the 139 House Republicans who supported Trump's attempt to overturn his loss to Biden. Evans, a former teacher and state legislator, served three months in prison after pleading guilty to a felony charge related to illegally entering the Capitol on January 6.
Evans has branded Miller an "undocumented Democrat" after she voted earlier this year for a bill to avert a government shutdown. He has also advocated for completing Trump's border wall, implementing term limits for lawmakers, and possibly dismantling the U.S. Federal Reserve. Miller's office has highlighted her endorsements from figures such as Jim Jordan, a powerful conservative who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, and the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group.
In Nebraska, Bacon faces a challenge from Republican Dan Frei, who fully supports Trump's agenda for a possible second term. Unlike Evans' and Dunn's districts, where one party is highly favored to win the general election, Bacon's district is expected to be competitive in November.
The Democratic candidate in the general election will be Tony Vargas, a former teacher, school board member, and current state senator, who is running unopposed for that nomination.
In addition to the House races, voters in West Virginia will select candidates for governor. The options include Miller's son and the son of the state's senator Shelley Moore Capito, as well as Patrick Morrisey, the state's attorney general.
Maryland will also host a U.S. Senate primary, where Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is running against U.S. Representative and alcohol retailer David Trone for the Democratic nomination, while Larry Hogan, the state's former governor, is seeking the Republican nomination. Maryland has not elected a Republican senator since 1970, but Hogan was popular as governor, and polling suggests the general election could be competitive.