Senate: Post-Primary Bottom Lines (MI, MO, WA)

The following Bottom Lines have been updated following this week's primaries in Michigan, Missouri and Washington.

Republicans had hoped to give Democrat U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who is seeking a fourth term in November, a competitive race, but failed to recruit a first-tier candidate. Apart from her first Senate race, which she won with just 49 percent, Stabenow has won re-election with relative ease, taking 57 percent in 2006 and 59 percent in 2012. She will face national security consultant and veteran John James in the general election. James won the GOP nomination August 7, defeating economist and businessman Sandy Pensler, 55 percent to 45 percent. While GOP strategists have long argued that Stabenow is vulnerable, James has a long way to go before this race is considered competitive. Stabenow starts the general election with a significant financial advantage, posting nearly $6.3 million cash on hand in the pre-primary report to $898.997 for James. The contest is in the Likely Democrat column.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill won this seat in 2006, a very good year for