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May 17 (UPI) -- John Fetterman won Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday, while recovering from a stroke he suffered over the weekend. Fetterman, Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, secured the opportunity to run for Pennsylvania's senate seat in November, winning 59% of the vote, according to tallies by NBC News and The Washington Post.
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On Sunday, he announced that the had suffered a stroke "caused by a clot from my heart being in an A-fib rhythm for too long."
His challenger, Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb, issued a statement putting his support behind Fetterman.
"Out entire democracy is on the line in November," he said. "Democrats need to be unequivocally united in our defense of this democracy, and he will have my vote in November.
"I'll do everything I can to help Democrats win."
President Joe Biden praised Fetterman late Tuesday in a statement, saying he understands working class-Pennsylvanian families, while criticizing the Republican Party candidates.
"They have fought a malicious, chaotic primary campaign to be the most extreme," he said. "And they have shown the people their authentic selves -- that whoever emerges will be too dangerous, too craven and too extreme to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate."
The Republican race to replace retiring Sen. Pat Toomey was still too close to call with television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz -- running with an endorsement from Trump -- leading with 31.3% of the vote followed by ex-hedge fund chief David McCormick with 31.1%.
Kathy Barnette, a conservative commentator who's been criticized for making anti-gay and anti-Muslim remarks, was behind the two with 24.8% of the vote.
Pennsylvania is also holding a race to determine who would replace Gov. Tom Wolf, with Sen. Doug Mastriano, who was endorsed by Trump and promoted false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from the former president, projected to win the Republican primary with 44.4% of the vote.
Democrat Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania's attorney general, ran unopposed.
"I'm humbled and honored to be your Democratic nominee for governor of Pennsylvania," he tweeted. "No matter which dangerous extremist we're against this November, the stakes are too damn high for anything but victory.
The candidates who will face off to replace Republican Sen. Richard Burr in North Carolina were also decided Tuesday night as Rep. Ted Budd won the Republican nomination in North Carolina's Senate primary race with 58.6% of the vote while Cheri Beasley won the Democratic nomination, garnering 81.1% of the vote.
Budd received backing from former President Donald Trump heading into the primary and will square off against Beasley, the first Black woman to serve as a state Supreme Court chief justice, and would become the state's first Black senator.
Meanwhile, Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who has been the subject of a series of scandals but secured a Trump endorsement, conceded defeat to state Sen. Chuck Edwards.
In a tweet, he congratulated Edwards on securing the Republican nomination for North Carolina's 11 District, stating it was time for GOP backers in his region "to rally behind the Republican ticket to defeat the Democrats' nominee this November."
Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 2011, handily won his primary with 86.3% of the vote and will look to fend off a challenge from Democrat Charles Booker, who won the Democratic primary with 73.2% of the vote.
Democrats and Republicans in Kentucky are also vying for the open seat in the 3rd Congressional District to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth. The Republican field includes seven candidates and the Democratic two.
Voters are also casting ballots in Idaho and Oregon. Some analysts see Tuesday as one of the most important primary days ahead of the midterm elections.
In Oregon, GOP Rep. Kurt Schrader is being challenged in the state's 5th District by Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who is running with an endorsement from President Joe Biden.
Also, the state's newly created 6th District is open and has become one of the most-expensive Democratic primaries so far.
In Idaho, Republican Gov. Brad Little will seek re-election, securing 53.1% of the vote over Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin's 31.8%. She is a former state legislator and a major supporter of anti-abortion laws.
