In Tennessee, all eyes are on the 5th Congressional District Republican primary and the Senate Democratic primary, which promise to be highly contested races. Voters in the state will go to the polls on Thursday to cast their ballots in these crucial primaries.

The Republican primary in the 5th Congressional District features incumbent Rep. Andrew Ogles facing a tough challenge from Courtney Johnston, a Nashville Metro council member. Johnston has managed to raise more campaign funds than the freshman congressman, making this race particularly intriguing. Ogles enjoys the endorsements of former president and GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Ogles's time in Congress has been marked by frequent criticism of the Biden administration. He made headlines by filing articles of impeachment against President Biden and Vice President Harris last year. More recently, in response to Vice President Harris emerging as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, Ogles filed new articles of impeachment against her. However, Ogles hasn't been without controversy himself. He has faced scrutiny for misrepresentations about his background and has been the subject of an ongoing ethics complaint regarding his personal and campaign finances.

Johnston, whose political positions largely align with Ogles's, has secured the endorsements of former Senator Bob Corker and former Governor Bill Haslam. The winner of this Republican primary will go on to face Democrat Maryam Abolfazli in the general election in November.

Meanwhile, the Senate Democratic primary sees four candidates vying for the nomination. Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson has outperformed her competitors in fundraising. Johnson, a member of the "Tennessee Three" who faced backlash for supporting gun-control legislation following a school shooting, narrowly survived an expulsion vote by the state legislature. Other Democratic contenders include environmental activist Marquita Bradshaw, educator Civil Miller-Watkins, and Lola Denise Brown, chair of the membership committee of the NAACP in Nashville.

Incumbent Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn has a GOP primary challenger in Tres Wittum, a former state Senate policy analyst. However, Blackburn remains the favorite and is predicted to secure victory in Thursday's primary. The Cook Political Report's Senate race rankings indicate that the Tennessee Senate seat is strongly held by Republicans.

As the primaries unfold, attention is also shifting towards the upcoming presidential elections. Kamala Harris, who has the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, is poised to secure the presidential nomination in the coming months. Speculation is rife regarding her choice for a vice-presidential pick, with seven options being analyzed. On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump has selected Senator JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate, a decision that has sparked controversy over Vance's past comments.

The latest polls offer insights into public opinion on Harris potentially replacing President Biden and how she fares against Trump in a hypothetical match-up.

Thursday's primary elections in Tennessee are poised to shape the path forward for candidates seeking key congressional and Senate positions. The outcomes of these races will undoubtedly impact Tennessee's political landscape as the general election draws near.