12-08-2026
Polls have closed in closely watched 2026 primary elections in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Carolina, with voters selecting nominees for November’s midterm elections. The contests highlight divisions within both parties, particularly the battle between progressive and more moderate Democrats.
In South Carolina, Sen. Darline Graham, a Republican appointed to complete the term of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, advanced to a runoff for the GOP nomination, according to the Associated Press. She will face Rep. Ralph Norman. Darline Graham was endorsed by President Donald Trump and is seeking a full term in the Senate.
Minnesota Democrats delivered another victory to the party’s progressive wing. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig, a centrist Democrat, for the nomination to an open Senate seat. In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Trump-backed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell lost to state House Speaker Lisa DeMuth. DeMuth will face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who won her party’s nomination, in the general election.
Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary is also described as a test of the party’s leftward shift. Democratic socialist Francesca Hong is the frontrunner, while Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has the endorsement of retiring Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
The article also reports that former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin defeated longtime Rep. John Larson for the Democratic nomination in Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District. The results are presented as part of a broader series of primary contests that could shape party leadership and November’s general-election matchups. The story remains developing and may be updated.
Entities: 2026 midterm primary elections, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
12-08-2026
Darline Graham, the sister of the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, advanced to a Republican runoff for the state’s U.S. Senate seat, according to media projections. She will face U.S. Representative Ralph Norman in the August 25 runoff. Because South Carolina is strongly Republican, the eventual Republican nominee is widely favored to win the November general election against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who had more than $3 million in her campaign fund at the beginning of July.
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to complete her brother’s Senate term through early January after his unexpected death from a heart ailment. President Donald Trump endorsed her campaign for a full six-year term, describing it as a “fabulous tribute” to Lindsey Graham. Critics, however, argued that her campaign relied on her family name and Trump’s backing rather than an established political record. Graham, who had never previously held public office, responded that the Senate seat was not being handed to her and that she understood she needed to earn voters’ support.
Ten candidates competed in the Republican primary, with no candidate receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. With 80 percent of ballots counted, the Associated Press placed Graham first with 32.6 percent and Norman second with slightly more than 24 percent. Other candidates included Representatives Russell Fry and former Governor Mark Sanford, as well as businessman Mark Lynch.
The result has raised questions about Trump’s influence in South Carolina Republican politics. Lynch and other critics argued that voters may be seeking an alternative to a family-based succession. Former Representative Nancy Mace said Trump’s endorsement could secure a runoff spot but might no longer be enough to win. The article also discusses a Republican congressional primary in Alabama, where redistricting could help the party flip a Democratic-held House seat and strengthen its narrow congressional majorities ahead of the November midterm elections.
Entities: Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham, Donald Trump, Ralph Norman, Annie Andrews • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
12-08-2026
South Carolina Republicans voted on Aug 11 to select their nominee for the US Senate seat formerly held by Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly from a heart ailment in July. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to serve as interim senator until early January, and President Donald Trump endorsed her for a full six-year term. Darline Graham has never held public office, prompting criticism that her candidacy relies largely on her family name and Trump’s backing rather than an independent political record. Critics have described the contest as an attempted “coronation.”
Ten Republicans competed in the primary. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two will compete in an Aug 25 runoff. Her principal challengers include US Representatives Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford and businessman Mark Lynch. Lynch, who previously finished second to Lindsey Graham in a June primary, argues that many Republicans are angry about Darline Graham’s elevation and want a different candidate. Although Darline Graham is expected to reach the runoff, Republican figures questioned whether Trump’s endorsement would be enough to secure victory.
The eventual Republican nominee is strongly favoured to win the November general election against Democrat Annie Andrews, a paediatrician who had raised more than US$3 million by early July.
The article also discusses a Republican primary in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Republicans hope to win the Democratic-held seat after a redrawn map increased their advantage. The race could affect Republican efforts to retain their narrow House majority and support Trump’s legislative agenda. The redistricting followed a Supreme Court decision that weakened the Voting Rights Act and allowed Alabama to use a map eliminating one of two districts with a Black-majority or near-majority electorate. The Republican nominee will face incumbent Democrat Shomari Figures in November.
Entities: Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham, Donald Trump, Henry McMaster, South Carolina Republican Senate primary • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
12-08-2026
Voting concluded in closely watched primary elections across the Upper Midwest, with results expected to indicate both the strength of progressive ideas among Democratic voters and the continued influence of President Donald Trump within the Republican Party. In Wisconsin, Democratic socialist Francesca Hong and moderate Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley were locked in an unusually close gubernatorial primary. With 80% of votes counted, Crowley led by only a few hundred votes. The winner will face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany in November. Hong’s campaign has emphasized left-wing policies, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pausing data-center development for a year, and increasing taxes on billionaires and corporations. However, she faced criticism over old social-media posts about Thanksgiving, which she later said had been misunderstood and walked back. The contest comes as polling shows liberal Democrats increasingly favor progressive positions on taxation, abortion access, and universal healthcare. In Wisconsin’s competitive third Congressional District, Democrats selected Rebecca Cooke to challenge Trump-aligned Republican Derrick Van Orden. Cooke has previously run for the seat and has received financial and organizational backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In Minnesota, Republicans were testing whether Trump’s endorsement could propel former MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell to the nomination. Lindell, a prominent Trump ally who promotes the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen, faced state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Kendall Qualls. The race was complicated by the withdrawal of Chris Madel, who criticized national Republicans’ immigration policies after an Immigration deportation campaign in Minneapolis resulted in two deaths. Minnesota Democrats were choosing between progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and more moderate Representative Angie Craig for the Senate nomination. The winner will contest the seat being vacated by retiring Senator Tina Smith. The primaries therefore offered a broad test of ideological direction, candidate electability, and the continuing political reach of Trump in a competitive region.
Entities: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Midwest primary elections, Francesca Hong, David Crowley • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: analyze
