Potentially significant changes in the American political landscape could signal major shifts for the US. At one end, a retiring justice provides an opening for the president to reshape the nation's highest court. At the other side, an unexpected political victory signals the president's opposition may be moving further to the left. CGTN's Jessica Stone explains.

U.S. President Donald Trump - now preparing to cement the conservative direction of the nation's highest court, the most influential body interpreting American law. Just one day after upholding Trump's travel ban, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement at the end of July.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "Hopefully we're going to pick somebody who will be as outstanding. So I just want to thank Justice Kennedy for the years of tremendous service."

While Kennedy sided with liberal justices on protecting the rights of minorities and those detained without charges at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, his replacement is unlikely to do so. Trump pledges to pick the next justice from a list of 25 known to hold narrow views on immigration, and the role of government in protecting the rights of minority groups and women. While Trump's party is shifting towards nationalism, isolationism and protectionism, there are signs the opposition party democrats are moving further to the left with the primary win of this 28-year-old political newcomer. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez toppled a 10 term incumbent who was poised to take over the party leadership in the House of Representatives.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ US CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE "I think that we can really fight for improved and expanded Medicare for all, pursuing of tuition free public colleges and trade schools. That we can make sure that we have a 15 dollar minimum wage. That we address what's going on at the border and making sure that we are standing up for human rights everywhere."

But the rest of Tuesday's primary night - belonged to Trump's Republican party, with wins in South Carolina, New York and Utah - where former presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be the party's candidate for U.S. Senator.

JESSICA STONE WASHINGTON "Trump's judicial nominee is expected to sail through Congress where Republicans hold the majority -- and be installed before the crucial midterm congressional elections. Installing another conservative justice on the US Supreme Court is an effort to put the political wind behind Republican candidates going into November. Jessica Stone, CGTN, Washington."