FACTBOX-Five U.S. midterm primaries to watch in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Idaho

Trump-backed Ted Budd wins U.S. congressman Ted Budd, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, defeated former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory in the Republican primary to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Richard Burr. Janice McGeachin Idaho Governor Brad Little is facing a Republican primary challenge from Janice McGeachin, who recently spoke at a political conference hosted by a white nationalist.

Voters in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Idaho and Kentucky hold nominating primaries on Tuesday in which voters will pick their parties' candidates for the U.S. Congress and other offices, helping to shape the field for the Nov. 8 midterm election.

Here is a look at several important contests. Trump-backed Ted Budd wins

U.S. congressman Ted Budd, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, defeated former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory in the Republican primary to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Richard Burr. Budd, who voted against certifying Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential election, had little statewide name recognition before Trump got behind him. Afterward, Budd rose in public opinion polls against McCrory, a fiscally conservative standard-bearer of the Tea Party era.

In the November election, Budd will face Democrat Cheri Beasley, a Black woman who formerly served as chief justice of the state Supreme Court. Analysts expect the race to be competitive. Mehmet Oz vs. David McCormick vs. Kathy Barnette

The battle for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Pennsylvania heated up in its final week. It features Mehmet Oz, a television wellness celebrity backed by Trump, running against David McCormick, a wealthy former hedge fund CEO. Adding to the complexity, conservative commentator Kathy Barnette put in a strong closing performance and the three candidates were virtually tied in a recent public opinion poll.

John Fetterman vs. Conor Lamb With incumbent Republican Senator Patrick Toomey retiring, Pennsylvania represents one of the best opportunities for Democrats to add to their razor-thin Senate majority, though President Joe Biden's low approval ratings could make that difficult.

Democratic voters will choose between John Fetterman, a progressive who has sought to burnish his working-class bona fides as lieutenant governor, and congressman Conor Lamb, a centrist who currently represents a suburban Pittsburgh district in the House of Representatives. State legislator Malcolm Kenyatta could also be a factor after challenging Fetterman's record on racial issues in a recent debate. Polls show Fetterman in the lead. Fetterman said on Sunday he had suffered a stroke but was on his "way to a full recovery." His campaign said on Tuesday he successfully had a pacemaker installed to address irregular heart rhythms that caused the stroke.

Madison Cawthorn vs. Chuck Edwards Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina has generated controversy since taking office in January 2021. He has been rebuked by his fellow Republicans for calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a thug and for saying he had witnessed cocaine use and been invited to orgies in Washington. He has drawn criticism over a naked video, has faced accusations of sexual harassment and has been stopped twice for carrying firearms into airports.

State Senator Chuck Edwards leads a field of seven Republican candidates looking to unseat him. The seat, based in the mountainous western part of the state, is considered safely Republican. Brad Little vs. Janice McGeachin

Idaho Governor Brad Little is facing a Republican primary challenge from Janice McGeachin, who recently spoke at a political conference hosted by a white nationalist. McGeachin, who is endorsed by Trump, has been dogging Little from the right as the state's lieutenant governor. She took the gubernatorial reins several times while Little was out of the state, issuing executive orders that banned pandemic-related mask mandates and ordering National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump's endorsement of McGeachin has perplexed political observers because Little is a staunch conservative who has not had public spats with Trump.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)