A liberal fight for a Utah House seat, a Kennedy family member and governor known to feud with the White House highlight a flurry of summertime elections this week.

But the story to follow amid June 23's four state primaries might be the power of endorsement − either from President Donald Trump or New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as votes will reveal if these high-profile backers continue to make the difference during crowded primary contests.

"Both parties will test the power of endorsements," says John McGlennon, professor of government at the College of William & Mary.

Here are the state races happening June 23 and a few key races to watch.

Maryland: House, governor primary

New York: House, governor primary

South Carolina: House, governor primary runoff

Utah: House primary

South Dakota has a municipal general runoff on June 23.

One of the most highly-watched districts this primary day is New York's District 12, where Jack Schlossberg − a social media personality and Kennedy heir − is running for office.

Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy and the grandson of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and is known for his sometimes outlandish social media posts. Despite Schlossberg's national attention, most current polls show either New York Assemblymembers Alex Bores or Micah Lasher as frontrunners.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani did not endorse Schlossberg, however his endorsements in other races, for the 7th, 10th, and 13th Districts, will be ones to watch, according to McGlennon. His endorsements are for progressive candidates challenging incumbent Democrats. In the 10th, he supported Brad Lander over Rep. Dan Goldman, and in the 13th, he supported Darializa Avila Chevalier over Rep. Adriano Espaillat.

"His ability to transfer his support to other socialist candidates will be tested," McGlennon says.

This is the first primary in which a redrawn congressional map in Utah is in effect. The map, effective in November 2025, recast the state's 1st District, which represents Salt Lake City, toward Democrats. Republicans promised to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

But the court ruled in February that Republican counter plans violated a Utah referendum prohibiting gerrymandering, solidifying the single district centered on the increasingly liberal Salt Lake City. Keeping the city in one district almost certainly will send a Democrat to the House in what has been a "spirited primary," McGlennon says.

A frontrunner is Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams, who represented the 4th District from 2019 to 2021.

"(McAdams) now must defend his credentials against a field of challengers who say he was not liberal enough," McGlennon says.

In Maryland's gubernatorial primary, the spotlight will be on incumbent Democrat Gov. Wes Moore, who is seeking reelection. Moore has traded barbs with Trump over issues such as election security, a Potomac River sewage spill and Moore's missing invitation to an annual meeting of governors.

Moore defeated Republican Dan Cox in 2022, and Cox is in the running again this year for the GOP nomination. Cox was endorsed by Trump in the previous election, but has yet to receive the president's backing.

Also running in the GOP primary is Ed Hale, who switched parties from the Democrats last summer, saying the move was intended to boost chances of his beating Moore.

"Moore is less concerned about that than helping one of his potential GOP opponents win the Republican primary," McGlennon says. "He wants to face Dan Cox, whom he crushed in 2022. Whoever wins the GOP primary has little chance against Moore, but the governor would like a wide margin as he explores the possibility of a Presidential run in 2028."

Go deeper: A look inside USA TODAY’s exclusive interview with Gov. Wes Moore

Two House races in Maryland's 5th and 6th Districts are also races to watch, McGlennon notes.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, longtime Democratic leader in the House, is retiring, opening a seat in the fifth. A crowded slate of Democrats are vying for the nomination in a state that does not require a runoff, he says.

"A candidate who draws as little as 20 percent of the vote could emerge as the winner in a district which will almost certainly elect the Democratic nominee in November," McGlennon says. "Hoyer, who is white, has faced increasingly tough primaries as his district has increasingly become more heavily comprised of minority voters."

Hoyer has endorsed Adrian Boafo, a former aid to the incumbent, who faces Rushern Baker, a former county executive, and Harry Dunn, a U.S. Capitol Police Officer during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at Congress, in the primary race.

In the 6th District, former Rep. David Trone runs for a seat he gave up in 2024 to run unsuccessfully for the Senate.

"Though not as heavily Democratic as the 5th, this district is likely to be a safe one for the eventual winner," McGlennon says.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elections today: June 23 primary races to watch in Utah, NY, Maryland