From USA TODAY.

Primary season is here, and even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, his influence is shaping races across the country. Republican candidates are aligning with him — or testing his grip on the party — while Democrats face their own internal debates over identity, strategy and the path forward. What will the primaries reveal about both parties? And how will the results could shape the fight for control of Congress in 2026? USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey joins The Excerpt to share his analysis of the big races.

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