Polls closed Tuesday in six states, with closely watched Democratic primaries unfolding in Wisconsin and Minnesota and a ten-candidate Republican special primary in South Carolina to choose a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to CBS News.
Primaries close in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Carolina as Democratic factions clash and South Carolina race heads to runoff
Polls closed Tuesday in six states, with closely watched Democratic primaries unfolding in Wisconsin and Minnesota and a ten-candidate Republican special primary in South Carolina to choose a successor to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to CBS News.
In South Carolina, CBS News projected that no candidate secured a majority of the vote in the Republican special primary, sending the contest to a runoff later this month between Darline Graham — the late senator's sister, who was appointed to fill his seat — and a second candidate yet to be determined. Graham, a four-term senator, had won the GOP nomination in June before his sudden death last month. Darline Graham was sworn into office and subsequently announced a campaign for a full term, reportedly with encouragement from President Trump. Despite the president's backing, nine other Republicans entered the race, including Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch, who had lost the June primary to the late senator.
In Wisconsin, the Democratic primary for governor became a contest between state lawmaker and former chef Francesca Hong, described by CBS News as a democratic socialist, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, characterised as a moderate backed by outgoing Gov. Tony Evers. The race underwent several shifts: Crowley initially dropped out and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who subsequently withdrew after discovering her campaign held less money than previously believed. Crowley then re-entered the race as a centrist. On July 30, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes — who had won the 2022 Senate primary and later lost to Sen. Ron Johnson by one point — withdrew, indicating it was 'becoming very clear who the Democratic nominee is going to be,' pointing to Hong, according to CBS News. On the Republican side, Rep. Tom Tiffany was described as all but certain to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination.
In Minnesota, the Democratic Senate primary featured a contest between progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and centrist Rep. Angie Craig, with incumbent Sen. Tina Smith not seeking reelection. CBS News projected that Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, running for governor, easily won the Democratic primary to succeed Gov. Tim Walz, who is also not seeking reelection. On the Republican side of the Senate race, former sportscaster Michele Tafoya was considered the frontrunner against retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze and former professional basketball player Royce White, who was the 2024 GOP candidate. Major contenders for the Republican gubernatorial nomination included MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, and businessman Kendall Qualls.
- The NBC News source provides no substantive reporting on the primary races; all race details derive solely from CBS News.
- Final vote tallies and winners in Wisconsin and Minnesota have not been established by either source.
- The identity of the second South Carolina runoff candidate has not been determined.
- The full results from the other three of the six states in which polls closed Tuesday are not reported in any supplied source.
- No response or comment from the campaigns of Francesca Hong, David Crowley, Peggy Flanagan, Angie Craig, or the South Carolina Republican candidates is included.
- The circumstances and details of Lindsey Graham's death are not elaborated upon in the supplied sources.
- NBC News — original — by NBC News
- CBS News — by Caroline Linton