The primary season roared on Tuesday, delivering a cascade of results from Maine to South Carolina that will set the stage for some of the most consequential battles for control of the Senate and governor mansions. In Maine, all eyes were on Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine veteran who weathered a storm of personal scandals—from a controversial tattoo to explicit messages with women outside his marriage—to secure the nomination. Despite the controversies, Platner triumphed over Maine Governor Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in late April but remained on the ballot. Now, he faces a high-stakes November showdown against five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins, a race that could tip the Senate’s narrow balance of power. Collins, uncontested in her primary, is the only GOP senator representing a state won by Kamala Harris in 2024, making her a prime target for Democrats hungry to flip the chamber.
Down in South Carolina, Senator Lindsey Graham survived his most serious primary challenge in years, fending off hardline conservative Mark Lynch to secure the Republican ballot line. Graham, a close Trump ally, now heads to a general election against pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews, who won the Democratic nod. The race for governor in South Carolina, however, remains unsettled. After a crowded primary, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette—backed by Trump—will face Attorney General Alan Wilson in a runoff, after Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s bid collapsed. Mace, who angered Trump by joining Democrats to demand the release of Jeffrey Epstein files, managed just over 11% of the vote. The winner will take on Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson in November, as term-limited Governor Henry McMaster steps aside.
In Nevada, Governor Joe Lombardo appears poised to retain the Republican nomination, despite economic headwinds from a drop in Las Vegas tourism. He will likely face Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is battling a challenge from Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill. Meanwhile, in North Dakota, a Republican rift is playing out in the race for the state’s at-large House seat, where Trump-endorsed Representative Julie Fedorchak faces a rematch against Navy veteran Alex Balazs, who has the backing of the state GOP.
Maine’s use of ranked-choice voting means some races, including the governor’s race and the 2nd Congressional District, may not be decided for over a week. That district, vacated by moderate Democrat Jared Golden, is a key battleground, with former Republican Governor Paul LePage uncontested in his primary and poised to challenge the Democratic nominee in a region Trump has carried three times. As the dust settles, the stage is set for a November that could redefine the political landscape.
