Today kicks off primary season and while President Donald Trump isn't on the ballot, he's

everywhere in the primaries. Across the country, Republican candidates are running toward him,

away from him and trying to redefine what MAGA even means in 2026. At the same time, Democrats are facing their

own identity questions as key races heat up in places like Georgia and Maine. So what are these

early contests really telling us about where both parties are headed and who's gaining the

advantage heading into the midterms.

Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt.

I'm Dana Taylor.

Today is Monday, March 2nd, 26.

To get a handle on all of it, I'm now joined by USA Today Chief Political Correspondent, Philip and Bailey.

Welcome back, Philip.

Hey, Dana.

How are you? I'm good. So give me the lay of the land here. What are the big races you're watching this year? And what's the

story of this primary season? Well, look, I think the big story here is that, you know,

President Trump, as his numbers are wobbling nationwide and his

popularity is beginning to wane. He's really worried about, and we saw this beginning really last

year, of Democrats taking back Congress. Now, this happens with every president in power, right?

Where the party that's out of power makes the referendum that the president isn't doing

what they're supposed to do. So you should give us

at least some reins in that. And that's the argument that I think Democrats are really going to lean

into, particularly with affordability being the lead issue here. We're already seeing, Dana, in some of

these special elections, both at the congressional and state legislative level, in areas that Donald

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