WASHINGTON >> Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive Squad, eked out a closer-than-expected Democratic primary victory Tuesday against a centrist challenger who questioned the incumbent’s support for the “defund the police” movement.

The evening went far smoother for another progressive, Becca Balint, who won the Democratic House primary in Vermont — positioning her to become the first woman representing the state in Congress.

A key race was unfolding in western Wisconsin, where Democratic Rep. Ron Kind’s retirement after 26 years in office opens up a seat in a district that has been trending Republican.

The GOP nominee vying to replace Kind is a former Navy SEAL who attended the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

— The Associated Press