IN PRIMARY ELECTION NEWS...

Jewish candidates win big in primaries across United States By Ron Kampeas
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (JTA) -- A slew of Jewish candidates got a pre-Rosh Hashanah blessing Tuesday in primaries across the United States.

Two Jews won their bids to become the Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate -- Ben Cardin in Maryland and Bernie Sanders in Vermont.

In other statewide races, Democrats Eliot Spitzer won his primary for governor in New York and Douglas Gansler won for attorney general in Maryland.

Jewish contenders also won a number of nominations for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives: Two Democratic nominations in Arizona, one Democratic nomination each in New Hampshire and Wisconsin and a Republican nomination in Minnesota. Full Story

SEE ALSO: Democrat could be 1st Muslim in Congress (MSNBC)
MINNEAPOLIS - A state lawmaker could become the first Muslim elected to Congress after edging out three rivals Tuesday for his district's Democratic nomination. Keith Ellison, 43, prevailed after overcoming questions about parking tickets, overdue taxes and his ties to the Nation of Islam. Because the district has long been dominated by Democrats, he will be a heavy favorite to win the Minneapolis-area seat in November.