Primary elections are taking place in six U.S. states on Tuesday — Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Sen. Darline Graham advanced to a runoff in South Carolina's special Republican primary to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Senate. The first-time candidate will face U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who also emerged from a 10-way field in Tuesday's primary. The winner of the Aug. 25 runoff is expected to claim the U.S. Senate seat over the Democratic nominee.
Minnesota voters will settle a moderate-vs.-progressive Democratic U.S. Senate primary between centrist U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. In the race for governor, Mike Lindell, known as the MyPillow Guy, leads a crowded Republican primary with President Donald Trump's endorsement, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar secured the Democratic nomination with minimal opposition.
And the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor is another high-profile clash between the party's establishment and progressive wings, as democratic socialist Francesca Hong tries to rise above establishment candidate David Crowley. In a Republican primary for U.S. House, Trump-backed candidate Michael Alfonso, the 26-year-old son-in-law of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, is seeking to win Duffy's former district.
Here's the latest:
Even in a loss, Sanford can’t stop talking about national debt
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s run for U.S. Senate ended with a loss for a man who almost never used to lose in South Carolina.
Sanford jumped at the opportunity to run for U.S. Senate in the state’s two-week special Republican primary since he had plenty of money remaining in his campaign account and a burning need to tell everyone the U.S. is drowning in debt.
His concession speech Tuesday was another campaign speech. He talked about how the U.S. will spend more national debt interest than defense this year and Social Security and Medicare are less than a decade away from bankruptcy.
“We are on an unsustainable course, and no civilization across the pages of time has been able to outrun math,” Sanford said.
The former governor had a blast getting back on the campaign trial. He spent most of his election night talking to his sons and supporters and drinking a few beers.
Darline Graham addresses grief and victory
“This is a very emotional night, because I’m usually standing here celebrating with Lindsey,” said the sister of the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, after she secured a place in the Republican runoff to replace him.
Darline Graham was subdued for a victory party, as she thanked God, her family and President Donald Trump.
“His steadfast and his complete and total endorsement means so much to me,” she said of the president. “He knows that I will stand with him, and fight for his agenda, just like Lindsey did.”
Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya wins Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota
Tafoya, a newcomer to politics, defeated Adam Schwarze, a Marine veteran and Navy SEAL who had the official backing of the state Republican committee, and Royce White, who had an existing profile as a prior candidate, conservative commentator and a brief professional basketball career.
Tafoya will face an uphill battle in Minnesota, where Democrats have a two-decade streak of winning top offices. But Republicans think Tafoya, who is known outside of politics and doesn’t have a controversial voting record, is well-positioned to pull off an upset victory.
President Donald Trump did not make an endorsement in the primary.
The Democratic candidate for South Carolina Senate is already on defense
Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews spoke to WIS News 10 after both Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman notched the top two spots in the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.
Andrews, who was elected in her party’s June primary, batted away attacks from Norman’s election night speech before pitching her vision in an uphill race to win the red state.
“Unfortunately for Ralph, I guess, I am not a socialist, I am not a democratic socialist, I’m a mom and a pediatrician,” said Andrews. “I’m running, as I said, to address our affordability crisis and our broken healthcare system.”
Rep. Shomari Figures says Alabama voters have a clear choice in 2nd District
Figures will face Republican nominee Rhett Marques in November. Republicans redrew the district to be more Republican-leaning after the U.S. Supreme Court’s redistricting decision. Both parties have promised an aggressive fight for the seat.
“The people of Alabama deserve a congressman who will work for them, not against them,” Figures said. The congressman said he has worked to support hospitals, infrastructure, law enforcement and Alabama families.
“The choice in this race is simple; I have worked for the people of Alabama because that is who we should be working for. My opponent would be just another rubber stamp on the same policies that are making life more expensive for the people right here in Alabama,” Figures said.
Figures noted Marques has been criticized for supporting a gas tax increase while serving in the Alabama Legislature. Marques has said the increase was to fund road construction and he has voted to cut other taxes such as the state grocery tax.
Marques urges Republicans to unite to flip Democrat-held Alabama district
“The stakes in November could not be higher,” state Rep. Rhett Marques said after winning the GOP nomination in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. “If you want more money in your pockets, safe streets for your kids to play on, strong communities, and our Christian values to be preserved for our kids and their kids, I’d be proud to earn your vote. With your help, common sense will conquer craziness in November.”
Marques will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. Republicans redrew the district to be more Republican-leaning.
Marques was endorsed by President Donald Trump and defeated five other Republicans in the special congressional primary.
Areas to watch in Wisconsin
Two counties to watch in Tuesday’s Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor are the leading contenders’ home counties: Milwaukee and Dane.
Milwaukee County is the state’s most populous and has supported more moderate candidates in past Democratic presidential primaries. Bernie Sanders trounced Hillary Clinton statewide in 2016, and the only place where Clinton led Sanders, albeit narrowly with about 52% of the vote, was Milwaukee County. The county gave 58% of the vote to Joe Biden in 2020.
Milwaukee County is the home turf of Democratic candidate David Crowley, who has served six years as Milwaukee County Executive.
Dane County is Wisconsin’s second-most populous and is home to the heavily Democratic city Madison. It’s also home to Democratic state Rep. Francesca Hong. Dane delivered the most votes of any county to Sanders in both his Wisconsin presidential primary runs. In 2020, although he lost every county to Biden, he posted his highest vote share in Dane.
Trump says Darline Graham called to thank him for Senate endorsement
At Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump told reporters that he would be “going to call her right now” after arriving from a trip to Ohio.
The interim South Carolina senator advanced on Tuesday to an Aug. 25 runoff.
Trump said “I think so” when asked if he would campaign for the sister of the late Lindsey Graham, among his top Senate allies.
Of the others in the special primary, Trump said he liked them, too: “I mean, they’re all Trumpers.”
Minnesota Democrats nominate Sen. Amy Klobuchar for governor
The moderate Democrat who ran for president in 2020 defeated six lesser-known rivals for the nomination.
Klobuchar is looking to replace two-term Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who ended his reelection campaign earlier this year amid public backlash to a fraud scandal that engulfed state government.
Klobuchar will have the upper hand in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican to a statewide office in 20 years. But Republicans hope voters will be disillusioned enough with Democrats to end the party’s unified control of the state’s top offices.
The GOP’s gubernatorial primary is a three-way race between MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who was endorsed by Trump, state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is supported by many elected officials in the state, and businessman Kendall Qualls, who has the state party’s endorsement.
US Rep. Tom Tiffany wins Republican primary for governor in swing state Wisconsin
Tiffany overcame nominal opposition in his victory as he attempts to flip control of the governor’s office, with President Donald Trump’s backing.
Tiffany is a former state lawmaker who was elected to Congress in 2020. He is one of the most conservative members of Congress and a staunch Trump ally.
He defeated 27-year-old Andy Manske in the primary.
Tiffany will now face whomever emerges from the chaotic race for the Democratic nomination that has seen two prominent candidates drop out since mid-July amid the rise of insurgent democratic socialist Francesca Hong. The race will be closely watched in swing state Wisconsin as Democrats try to regain full control of the Legislature and retain the governor’s office.
‘Looks like we did it’: US Rep. Ralph Norman speaks to supporter after making runoff
Norman, who will face Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, in a Republican runoff for U.S. Senate, thanked a lively bunch of supporters as he narrowly beat out his closest competition to secure the second slot.
“We’ve got to all coalesce, come together, because we have got some socialist Democrats we have got to defeat,” he said, before noting how sudden the campaign was after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death.
“He’s a fixture. We thought he would be here,” he said.
Rhett Marques wins Alabama GOP primary for redrawn House district Republicans hope to flip
He will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures in November.
The district is one of several across the South that leaned Democratic but were reshaped in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upending redistricting law.
President Donald Trump endorsed Marques in the special congressional primary, as did U.S. Sen. Katie Britt.
Marques is the owner of a tire and automotive service who has served in the Alabama Legislature since 2018.
Figures, who was elected in 2024, maintains that the new district is winnable for him. Both parties have made the district a priority for the fall.
The new district is in the state’s southeastern corner and includes the city of Montgomery. Its Black voting-age population dropped from 48% to 40%, making it more challenging for Democrats.
US Rep. Ralph Norman advances to runoff for US Senate Republican nomination in South Carolina
Norman moved forward Tuesday in a 10-way, whirlwind special election set into motion after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death last month.
A wealthy real estate developer, Norman has long been a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the chamber’s most conservative members. He came into the special Senate primary already well-known to voters across the state, having run an unsuccessful campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year.
Sen. Darline Graham also advanced to the runoff. The late senator’s sister was appointed to serve the remaining months of his current term, then entered the race with an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
The winner of the Aug. 25 runoff will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election. No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades.
Alabama voter wants to see Democratic congressman retain seat
Stephanie Jefferson, 52, of Montgomery said the Republicans’ redrawing of the 2nd Congressional District held by Rep. Shomari Figures was intended “to knock out the Democrats.”
She wants him to win reelection in November and said shifting Figures’ district to make it more GOP-leaning “was nothing about the average working family.”
Jefferson said she has considered herself a Republican in the past but is bothered that all the party’s ads leading up to the special primary election were about support by and for Trump.
“Which tells you they don’t care about me,” she said.
Polls have closed in Minnesota and Wisconsin
In-person Election Day voting has ended in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Comparable past elections can offer clues about when to expect the first vote results and how long the vote count might take.
In Minnesota’s 2024 state primary, The Associated Press first reported results at 9:08 p.m. ET, or eight minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 1:28 a.m. ET, with more than 99% of total votes counted.
In Wisconsin’s 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 9:09 p.m. ET, or nine minutes after polls closed. About 91% of the vote had been counted by midnight ET. The last vote update of the night was at 2:59 a.m. ET with 99.8% of total votes counted.
See live results in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
No cheers when Graham’s advancement apparent — just media setting up for live shots
Election night watch parties are usually all about crowd reaction when the news of race calls ripples across a ballroom or restaurant crowd.
As news spread of the AP race call that Sen. Darline Graham would advance to a special Senate GOP primary runoff in two weeks, reporters started scrambling for television live hits.
Graham is nearby watching results with family and campaign staffers. She’s said she expected to be in a runoff and has been treating Tuesday’s primary as just the first iteration of the election balloting.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont wins Democratic primary
Lamont defeated state Rep. Josh Elliott as the governor seeks his third term in office.
Lamont, 71, ran a largely comfortable campaign against Elliott, who is 41 and ran to the governor’s political left.
Lamont will face Republican state Sen. Ryan Fazio in the general election in November. Fazio has promised that if elected he would work to lower taxes and assist the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.
Connecticut hasn’t had a Republican governor since Jodi Rell left office in early 2011.
Darline Graham advances to special GOP Senate primary runoff to replace late brother Lindsey Graham
Darline Graham moved forward in the 10-way contest Tuesday despite her being a political unknown, having been close to her brother’s political orbit but never a candidate herself.
South Carolina spun up a compressed timeline for the special election, with just a one-week filing period, then two weeks until the primary.
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to serve out the remaining months of her late brother’s current term. She swiftly notched an endorsement from President Donald Trump, her brother’s congressional ally who encouraged her to enter the race for the nomination to serve a full term.
The winner of the Aug. 25 runoff will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election. No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades.
Polls have closed in Alabama and Connecticut
In-person Election Day voting has ended in Alabama and Connecticut. Comparable past elections can offer clues about when to expect the first vote results and how long the vote count might take.
In Alabama’s state primary on May 19, The Associated Press first reported results at 8:28 p.m. ET, or 28 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 12:54 a.m. ET, with more than 99.9% of total votes counted.
In the 2024 general election in Connecticut, the AP first reported results at 8:12 p.m. ET, or 12 minutes after polls closed. The vote count reached the halfway mark at 12:25 a.m. ET. By 2:06 p.m. ET the day after Election Day, about 90% of the total vote had been counted.
See live results in Alabama and Connecticut.
Graham’s primary night setup reflects focus on anticipated runoff
Nothing is official from Tuesday’s special South Carolina GOP Senate primary, but Sen. Darline Graham has been saying for several days she’s looking forward to an anticipated runoff.
That was reflected in the interim senator’s election night setup. Dozens of reporters gathered in a Columbia studio space, while Graham and supporters gathered nearby in what had been her late brother’s reelection campaign headquarters.
“I expect to be in a runoff in two weeks,” Graham told reporters earlier Tuesday after voting in Lexington. “I feel confident that I will win.”
Other candidates including U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and former Gov. Mark Sanford were having election watch parties. U.S. Rep. Russell Fry didn’t have a formal event planned.
Darline Graham’s election night event is all press
She may be meeting with supporters elsewhere, but the election night event where members of the media were allowed is a small room set up only with a podium, simple backdrop and lots of television cameras.
The space, in the same Columbia strip mall that had housed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s campaign office, is a studio of sorts with photos of various South Carolina notables and politicos on the wall.
One of those is Jaime Harrison, the former Democratic National Committee chairman whose 2020 challenge to Lindsey Graham prompted a record-breaking fundraising race.
Polls have closed in South Carolina and Vermont
In-person Election Day voting has ended in South Carolina and Vermont. Comparable past elections can offer clues about when to expect the first vote results and how long the vote count might take.
In South Carolina’s June 9 primary election, The Associated Press first reported results at 7:22 p.m. ET, or 22 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 12:19 a.m. ET, with more than 99% of total votes counted.
In Vermont’s 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 7:18 p.m. ET, or 18 minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 11:45 p.m. ET with about 87% of total votes counted.
See live results in South Carolina and Vermont.
Sanford’s no-frills victory party is no surprise
Three of his plywood signs with “Sanford 4 Senate” spray-painted on them in black joined a handful of regular campaign signs at the Kickin’ Chicken in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Mark Sanford didn’t rent out the venue. His party was crammed into a back corner. There was no open bar or hors d’oeuvres. Many customers eating nearby had no idea what was going on.
Sanford is famously frugal. He wore suits until they got holes and slept on a futon in his U.S. House office in Washington.
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