Voting in eight states Tuesday went a long way toward framing the debate that will determine which party controls Congress after the November midterm elections.

Both parties found reason to cheer. Here are five takeaways from 2018’s busiest primary night:

1.) California Republicans Have Life
Many political observers anticipated an all-Democrat gubernatorial race in the fall after Tuesday’s unusual “jungle primary” in the Golden State. Under the system, every candidate runs together in the primary, with the top two — regardless of party — squaring off in the second round.

Many thought the favorite, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, would face fellow Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa in the second round.

Instead, Republican businessman John Cox edged out the former Los Angeles mayor for second place. Cox noted that Newsom had expressed his desire to face him in the fall.

“Be careful, Mr. Newsom. Be careful what you wish for,” he told supporters.

Cox will be the decided underdog in heavily Democratic California. But his presence on the ballot at the top of the ticket could prove crucial to Republicans in close down-ballot races looking for a strong turnout.

Cox figures to run an aggressive campaign targeting the state’s high taxes, particularly a recently passed $52 billion gas tax hike. He poked Newsom for trying to make the race a referendum on President Donald Trump.

“It wasn’t Donald Trump who made California the highest-taxed state in the country. It was Gavin Newsom and the Democrats,” he said.

2.) The Liberal Assault on Devin Nunes Falls Flat
Money poured in from all across the country to the campaign of Andrew Jan, a prosecutor hoping to knock off Republican Rep. Devin Nunes.

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Nunes, the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has become a lightning rod because of his strong defense of Trump and his determination to get to the bottom of the Spygate scandal. The attention had led some analysts to speculate that Nunes might be vulnerable.

But on Tuesday, against five opponents, Nunes cruised to a first-place finish. With about half the votes counted, he had 57.5 percent of the vote.

3.) Opposing Trump Remains Risky for Many Republicans
Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) two of the president’s harshest GOP critics, are slinking into retirement rather than face primary voters this year.

A demonstration of this trend was on display in Alabama, where Rep. Martha Roby got less than 40 percent of the vote and will have to face a runoff.

In 2016, Roby pulled her endorsement of Trump following the release of the “Access Hollywood tape” showing Trump making lewd comments about women when he thought the camera was off on the set of the show. That drew a write-in campaign that claimed 10 percent of the vote. That, combined with the Democrat in the race, held her to less than 50 percent of the vote.

Republican voters apparently have not forgotten. Roby on Tuesday won 39 percent of the vote and will square off against Bobby Bright, the man she unseated in 2010. Bright, a former mayor of Montgomery, was a Democrat during that race but has since switched parties.

4.) Dems Get the Candidates They Want in New Jersey
The Democratic Establishment got the three candidates insiders wanted in congressional primaries, setting the table for what should — on paper, at least — give them the best shot to flip three Republican seats in the fall.

The candidates all beat more liberal opponents who party leaders feared would be out of step with their swing districts.

In the 2nd District, state Sen. Jack Van Drew beat progressive teacher Tanzie Youngblood. Van Drew has an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and stands a good chance to win the seat of retiring Republican Frank LoBiondo.

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In the 11th District, former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor Mike Sherrill defeated family advocate Tamara Harris. He brings an attractive résumé to the race to replace retiring Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen.

In the 7th District, Tom Malinowski, who served as assistant secretary of state under Barack Obama, won the Democratic primary and will try to take out vulnerable Republican incumbent Leonard Lance.

5.) Kristi Noem Continues Her Ascent in Republican Circles
The four-term congresswoman was expected to have a tough fight for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota. Instead, Noem handily defeated Attorney General Marty Jackley, 56 percent to 44 percent.

In so doing, she broke the streak of Republican members of Congress who have struggled in statewide primaries this years. A pair of Indiana representatives earlier this year lost to businessman Mike Braun in the race for the Hoosier State’s Senate primary. And in Idaho, Rep. Raúl Labrador lost the GOP gubernatorial primary to Lt. Gov. Brad Little.

Noem likely will be the favorite to win the general election, and if she does, could be one of her party’s highest-profile governors.

PoliZette senior writer Brendan Kirby can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter.