Early takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries as Democrats try to defend California and make Iowa inroads

WASHINGTON (AP) — The contours of one of this year’s premier U.S. Senate races took shape Tuesday night in Iowa, while Democrats chose a nominee for a U.S. House race in New Jersey that could decide who controls the chamber after November’s elections.

But much of the focus is on California, home to Hollywood but not a governor’s race packing much star power. It’s a somewhat different story in Los Angeles, where a reality television personality is running for mayor as the city prepares to host the Olympics.

Here are some early takeaways from primary elections in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.

Democrats side with establishment-backed candidate in Iowa

Democrats stunned by how President Donald Trump has remade American politics have spent the past decade debating which type of candidate is best positioned to energize voters and help the party win elections, not moral victories.

Iowa marked the latest stop in this sometimes agonizing conversation. The party’s establishment supported Josh Turek, a state representative who presented a compelling personal biography that included competing for the U.S. in four Paralympics. State Sen. Zach Wahls, meanwhile, offered himself as a more disruptive player, expressly refusing to back Chuck Schumer as Democratic leader if he were elected.

Democratic voters united behind Turek, who will face Republican Ashley Hinson in the fall.

At this point of the pri...