In primaries, Lincoln wins in Arkansas, Whitman wins in California

In the latest test of the power of party establishments and anti-incumbent fervor, eleven states held primary races last night. In Arkansas, Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln narrowly defeated a challenge from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who had the support of organized labor. In California, two female former CEO’s won commanding victories. Former eBay CEO, Meg Whitman, took the Republican gubernatorial primary against Steve Poizner, the state’s insurance commissioner. Whitman will go on to challenge Jerry Brown, the current state attorney general and former governor. And in California’s Senate primary, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, Carly Fiorina won against former Congressman Tom Campbell. Fiorina will face Sen. Barbara Boxer in the fall. California has not sent a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1988.

For election results from Arkansas and California, Michael Hibblen from KUAR in Little Rock, Ark. reports. In California, Bruce Cain, a professor of political science at U.C. Berkeley, gives analysis.