Key facts
- Graham Platner won the Democratic nomination for the Maine Senate race.
- Platner will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
- Platner faced scrutiny over past allegations and a Nazi-linked tattoo during his campaign.
- Jenny Honeycutt and Mark Smith advanced to a runoff for the South Carolina GOP's 1st Congressional District nomination.
- Rep. Nancy Mace lost the Republican primary for South Carolina governor.
- Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson will advance to a runoff for the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial nomination.
- Senator Lindsey Graham is projected to face pediatrician Annie Andrews in the South Carolina Senate race.
- Senator John Cornyn shared an interview profiling Libertarian candidate Ted Brown in Texas.
- Vote counting continues for California's primary elections, with key races for governor and Los Angeles mayor too close to call.
- Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt are headed to a runoff for Los Angeles mayor.
- Republican lawmakers are increasingly defying President Trump on various issues.
- President Trump is scheduled to appear on NBC's 'Meet the Press'.
Primary elections across the United States have yielded significant outcomes and ongoing contests, with Graham Platner securing the Democratic nomination for the Maine Senate race. Platner overcame personal scandals, including allegations of past inappropriate behavior and a Nazi-linked tattoo, to win the nomination. He is set to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville defended Platner, comparing support for him to historical alliances, while Rep. Brad Schneider criticized Platner's handling of his tattoo controversy. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the allegations against Platner are "hard to stomach" but stressed voters will decide, and Rep. Ro Khanna suggested Maine voters gave Platner a "chance at redemption."
In South Carolina, Jenny Honeycutt and Mark Smith will proceed to a runoff for the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District, aiming to succeed Rep. Nancy Mace, who lost her bid for governor. Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson are also headed to a runoff for the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial nomination. Senator Lindsey Graham is projected to face pediatrician Annie Andrews in the general election for his South Carolina Senate seat. In Texas, Senator John Cornyn amplified the Libertarian candidate Ted Brown, potentially drawing conservative votes from Republican Ken Paxton in a race against Democrat James Talarico.
California's primary elections are experiencing delays in vote counting, particularly for the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races. Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra are leading in the governor's race, while Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt are headed to a runoff for the Los Angeles mayoralty. Democrat Randy Villegas is projected to advance in California's 22nd congressional district, facing Republican incumbent David Valadao. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are demonstrating increasing defiance towards President Trump on issues such as Iran, an "anti-weaponization" fund, and a Ukraine aid bill, signaling potential shifts in party dynamics ahead of the midterm elections. President Trump is scheduled to appear on "Meet the Press" amidst falling approval ratings and tensions with Senate Republicans.