Primary elections are taking place in six U.S. states on Tuesday 鈥� Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Minnesota voters will settle a Democratic U.S. Senate primary between centrist U.S. Rep. and progressive Lt. Gov. . In the race for governor, Mike Lindell, known as the MyPillow Guy, leads a crowded Republican primary with President Donald Trump鈥檚 endorsement, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar faces minimal opposition for the Democratic nomination.
The Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor is another high-profile clash between the party鈥檚 establishment and progressive wings, as Francesca Hong tries to rise above establishment candidate David Crowley. In a Republican primary for U.S. House, Trump-backed candidate of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, is seeking to win Duffy鈥檚 former district.
And Republicans in South Carolina are casting ballots in a special primary election to replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on the state鈥檚 general election ballot. The crowded race has attracted top party members, including two congressmen and a former governor 鈥� but Trump has endorsed Graham鈥檚 sister, , a political unknown out the final months of her late brother’s current term.
Here’s the latest:
Trump鈥檚 immigration surge shapes Minnesota鈥檚 Democratic Senate primary
The in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area this year has added another schism in the primary between establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, which otherwise echoed many of the other left vs. center divides in the Democratic Party this year.
Flanagan has attacked Craig for voting for tighter enforcement soon after Trump returned to office last year. Craig later expressed regret for her decision after the Republican president sent a surge of immigration enforcement officers into Minneapolis.
Craig says her experience winning tough races in Minnesota and fighting in Washington makes her the best person to take on Trump over immigration.
Voter who backed Mark Sanford as governor picks Graham in Senate race
Former Gov. Mark Sanford has been angling for a political comeback.
But Scott Brown said the Senate wasn鈥檛 the right move for Sanford, who became the subject of political jokes in 2009 when he went missing for days.
Staffers said Sanford had been on the Appalachian Trail. But he was actually in Argentina with a woman he was having an affair with, and Sanford spent his remaining months in office apologizing to the state.
鈥淚 voted for him when he was governor. I might even vote for him as a governor again,鈥� Brown said when asked if Sanford had been a factor in the Senate primary. 鈥淚 hate it for him.鈥�
Frank Bohn felt more strongly about denying Sanford another chance at serving South Carolina.
鈥淗e was terrible as a governor, and he would be terrible as a senator,鈥� said Bohn, who 鈥� like Brown 鈥� voted for Sen. Darline Graham in Tuesday鈥檚 primary.
Voters split over heft of Trump鈥檚 endorsement in South Carolina Senate primary
President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Darline Graham鈥檚 candidacy even before she said she was running in South Carolina鈥檚 special GOP Senate primary. But voters who said they were voting for her seemed split over whether the president鈥檚 buy-in mattered.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the greatest president ever as far as I鈥檓 concerned,鈥� Frank Bohn said after casting his ballot early last week for Graham. 鈥淧resident Trump means a lot.鈥�
But for fellow early voter Scott Brown, who also said he was a Trump supporter, Graham鈥檚 debate performance won his support and meant more than the president鈥檚 endorsement.
鈥淚t never does,鈥� Brown said when asked if Trump鈥檚 endorsement swayed him toward Graham.
Sometimes, a Wisconsin voter says, you can鈥檛 鈥榲ote your heart鈥�
Standing in the afternoon heat outside the western Wisconsin fire hall where she鈥檇 voted, Sarah Atkins Hoggatt said she wished she could have voted for Hong.
鈥淚 embrace her ideology,鈥� she said, ticking off issues like reproductive rights and 鈥淢edicare for All.鈥� 鈥淚 would have wanted to vote for her.鈥�
But she also believes that Hong鈥檚 deeply progressive politics, combined with concerns among some voters with democratic socialist candidates, make a November victory much harder for her.
鈥淚 voted for someone who I think has a better chance鈥� to beat Tiffany, said Atkins Hoggatt, 61, who sells construction material and drain systems. She voted for Crowley.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 vote my heart,鈥� she said.
Democrat Rebecca Cooke looks for a rematch against Rep. Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin
A former Democratic fundraiser and small business owner is vying to face the Republican representative for a second time in a competitive Wisconsin congressional district.
Rebecca Cooke faces a primary challenge from former Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge. Berge has run an underdog, insurgent campaign against Cooke, who is more well-known and better financed.
Cooke narrowly lost to Van Orden in 2024. She also ran in 2022 but lost in the Democratic primary.
Van Orden is one of President Donald Trump鈥檚 biggest supporters but will face a tough reelection bid in the narrowly divided 3rd Congressional District and in a year where the president’s approval ratings are low in Wisconsin.
Personal connection, Lindsey Graham鈥檚 record helped sway voters toward Darline Graham
Frank Bohn said an interaction with Sen. Darline Graham in a parking lot was part of what tilted the scales in her favor in terms of his vote in South Carolina鈥檚 special Senate primary, when he cast his vote early last week in Horry County.
鈥淪he鈥檚 not a politician, but she was kin to probably one of the greatest senators ever,鈥� Bohn said, reflecting on his impression of the political newcomer and the service of her brother, the late
Sen. Lindsey Graham. 鈥淏eing not a politician, and just being able to follow the path of her brother 鈥� she could do no harm.鈥�
Susan Bohn said her husband鈥檚 recollection helped make up her mind to vote for Darline Graham, too.
鈥淚 was going to vote for somebody else, but I changed my mind,鈥� said Susan Bohn, who had been considering U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman.
Lindsey Graham鈥檚 Senate service helped tip one voter toward his sister
Debra Dowd said she was deciding between two candidates in the South Carolina Senate primary, U.S. Rep. Russell Fry and Sen. Darline Graham, but ended up going with the latter in part because she admired the late Sen. Lindsey Graham鈥檚 service.
鈥淚 just think her brother did a wonderful job for all the time he鈥檚 been in the Senate, so I went for her,鈥� Dowd said after casting her ballot for the late senator鈥檚 sister in Conway during early voting last week.
It wasn鈥檛 all about Lindsey Graham鈥檚 service, though. Dowd said she considered President Donald Trump鈥檚 endorsement of Darline Graham, as well as her performance earlier this month, in which the candidate voiced strong support for the president鈥檚 agenda.
鈥淲atching the debate, I liked her answers,鈥� Dowd said. 鈥淗er debate performance was really good.鈥�
Special GOP primary to replace late Sen. Lindsey Graham is taking place just a month after his death
The longtime had been seeking a fifth term when a month ago, and the campaign to pick a new GOP nominee has been a whirlwind.
State law sets out the timeline that officials must follow for a special election when a seat becomes vacant. Candidates had about two weeks to file for the contest, then two weeks to campaign.
Graham鈥檚 sister was swiftly appointed to serve out the remaining months of his current term. In a move that surprised many political watchers in the state, Darline Graham also launched a primary bid, something she said came at the urging of President Donald Trump, with whom her late brother had been closely aligned.
Preliminary medical findings note Lindsey Graham died from an aortic tear.
Voter says Fry’s experience won his vote in the South Carolina Senate primary
After casting his ballot during early voting in Conway last week, George Mitford said he picked U.S. Rep. Russell Fry in the special Senate GOP primary because he favored the two-term congressman鈥檚 experience over current Sen. Darline Graham, appointed last month to serve the rest of her late brother鈥檚 current term.
鈥淚 just thought he鈥檇 probably had more experience in this than she would have had,鈥� Mitford said, adding that he had supported Sen. Lindsey Graham鈥檚 tenure in the Senate.
鈥淚鈥檓 a conservative and a Republican, and I just think he was the best choice,鈥� said Mitford, who lives in Fry鈥檚 district along South Carolina鈥檚 northern coastal area.
Vermont Democrats pick a challenger to long-serving Republican Gov. Phil Scott
The Democratic primary features a race between economist Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards, a former child advocacy organization CEO.
Richards, 40, grew up in Newbury, Vermont, and has received endorsements from former Vermont governors Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin. She previously worked for former Gov. Peter Shumlin and on former President Barack Obama鈥檚 2008 campaign.
Janoo, 38, was born on a farm in Strafford, Vermont. She began her career working with the United Nations and international development organizations.
Scott, who has served five terms and is one term away from becoming the state鈥檚 longest-serving governor, is running unopposed.
Vermont is one of two states, along with neighboring New Hampshire, that hold a gubernatorial election every two years.
Incumbent plans fight to retain redrawn US House seat in Alabama
Republicans redrew Alabama鈥檚 2nd Congressional District after the U.S. Supreme Court severely earlier this year.
The redraw added a Republican-leaning seat to the state鈥檚 congressional map by shifting the boundaries of one represented by a Black Democrat.
The seat is now held by Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, who was unopposed in his primary and has said he plans to aggressively defend the seat.
Six Republicans are competing in the special congressional primary for the chance to challenge Figures in November.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has placed Figures on its list of 鈥渇rontline鈥� candidates for extra support in what they consider the most pivotal districts. The National Republican Congressional Committee has similarly put the district on its list of targets for 2026.
鈥楽he feels like one of us,鈥� Hong supporter says
In the Wisconsin governor鈥檚 race, software engineer Cody Chandler said he didn鈥檛 worry about electability when he cast his ballot for Hong.
鈥淚n the past I鈥檇 think about who could win,鈥� said Chandler. 鈥淏ut this time I鈥檓 voting for who I want to win.鈥�
He鈥檚 thrilled by Hong and the progressive movement around her.
鈥淪he鈥檚 probably the most exciting candidate I鈥檝e seen,鈥� said Chandler, 35, who voted in the town of Hudson. He sees himself as a progressive, someone inspired a decade ago by Sen. Bernie Sanders, and volunteered for Hong鈥檚 campaign.
鈥淪he seems to be like a real working-class person. Sure, she stumbles over her words sometimes 鈥� but so do I,鈥� he said, laughing. 鈥淪he feels like one of us.鈥�
In Wisconsin, a Republican votes Democratic 鈥� and for the candidate she thinks can win
Linda Biles believes Hong鈥檚 politics will frighten voters like her 鈥� a Republican in a largely rural area who votes Democratic because she dislikes Trump and politicians who back him.
鈥淚 think just the word 鈥榮ocialism鈥� is turning off Republicans,鈥� said Biles, a 71-year-old retired home economics teacher, after casting her ballot in the western Wisconsin town of Hudson. 鈥淚t scares them away.鈥�
Crowley, she said, was an obvious choice: 鈥淗e鈥檚 got more of a chance of beating Tiffany,鈥� she said.
A former NFL broadcaster votes for herself in Minnesota
Michele Tafoya is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
She strode into a suburban Minneapolis church with a phalanx of reporters and photographers watching. She checked in with poll workers, filled out her ballot and fed it into the counter.
鈥淗ow are you?鈥� she asked the top election official on site.
鈥淚鈥檒l be glad when you鈥檙e done,鈥� the stressed-out official responded with a laugh.
In the parking lot out front, she argued that this will be the year voters end a 20-year losing streak for Republicans running statewide in Minnesota. Voters, she said, are fed up after widespread reports of fraud in public assistance programs.
鈥淢innesotans are ready. We鈥檝e had a crisis of leadership here,鈥� Tafoya said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen what career politicians have done in this state. They鈥檝e brought us to a place of national embarrassment, and this state is ready for change.鈥�
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