Voters across Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota cast ballots Tuesday in another day of primary elections in America, but much of the political world was focused on Maine鈥檚 high-stakes U.S. Senate contest.
The results in Maine’s marquee race weren’t in question even before voting was complete. Neither Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins nor Democratic challenger Graham Platner faced serious opposition for their party鈥檚 nomination. And yet Tuesday’s primary victory marked an especially significant moment for Platner, the embattled veteran and oyster farmer, who’s fighting to rebuild his credibility in a campaign rocked by controversy.
Elsewhere, President clout within his party was tested anew in states like South Carolina and Nevada, where he endorsed his favored candidates. Democrats hope to build momentum in Nevada, where they nominated state Attorney General Aaron Ford, in their broader push to reclaim key governor鈥檚 seats.
And in California, Republican Steve Hilton for California governor, The Associated Press determined on Tuesday, one week after the state鈥檚 primary. Hilton argues that the state needs new leadership after years of Democratic dominance, and he will face , a former state attorney general and Biden administration health secretary, in November.
Here’s the latest:
Tuesday鈥檚 takeaways: Platner鈥檚 big night, Clyburn carries on and Trump鈥檚 support gets mixed results
After another round of voting, here are some of the highlights from South Carolina, Nevada, North Dakota and, most of all, Maine.
鈻� .
Ford focuses on poverty, including his own in childhood
鈥淣evadans are feeling more pain at the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the businesses that are closing in front of our eyes,鈥� Ford said, blaming the dire image on Lombardo鈥檚 tenure.
鈥淚 know what its like to struggle. I got goosebumps when I said that,鈥� he said, speaking to his and his brother鈥檚 childhood. 鈥淚t was Medicaid that kept him and me healthy. It was food stamps that kept us fed. It was Section 8 housing that kept a roof over our heads.鈥�
鈥淭his is all about strengthening the working class,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淎nd we will once again be a state where you can afford to live your own version of the American Dream.鈥�
Aaron Ford speaks to supporters after winning Democratic primary for Nevada governor
鈥淭o God be the glory,鈥� Ford, the state attorney general, said as he opened his speech, before turning his attention to his new opponent, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.
鈥淭onight, my fellow Nevadans, tonight is the beginning of the end of this failed Lombardo-Trump economy,鈥� he said. 鈥淭onight we say: No m谩s.鈥�
鈥淭onight we offer a fresh start for Nevada,鈥� he told the cheering crowd.
Teresa Benitez-Thompson wins Democratic primary in Nevada鈥檚 2nd District
Benitez-Thompson, a former Assembly leader, faces an uphill battle even as Democrats see the seat as one they could possibly flip for the first time in years. Republicans outnumber Democrats by 70,000 in the district that covers Reno and rural northern Nevada.
The seat is open for the first time in 15 years after longtime Republican Rep. Mark Amodei announced his retirement.
Benitez-Thompson serves as chief of staff to Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is running for governor. She previously served in the Nevada Assembly for 12 years, including as the majority leader.
She has focused her campaign on the economy, aiming to restore tax dollars stripped from Nevada, developing artificial intelligence regulations to prevent job layoffs and building workforce housing.
PAC supporting Joe Lombardo urges voters to reelect the Republican
Better Nevada PAC spokesperson John Burke highlighted the governor鈥檚 record in expanding school choice and promoting job growth.
鈥淲e must re-elect him for another four-year term,鈥� he said in a statement.
Lombardo鈥檚 campaign declined to comment and referred inquiries to the political action committee.
Adriana Guzm谩n Fralick wins GOP nomination for Nevada attorney general
The attorney defeated perennial candidate Danny Tarkanian, the son of the legendary University of Nevada Las Vegas basketball coach.
Guzm谩n Fralick, who has experience serving on several state boards, promised to work with the Legislature to pass a state version of the SAVE Act that Trump has championed in Congress as a way to require voters to provide documents proving their citizenship.
The Nevada version would require all of the state鈥檚 ballots to be counted on Election Day, end universal mail ballots and eliminate automatic voter registration. There has been no evidence of widespread fraud in Nevada elections, and the state Legislature is unlikely to pass such a bill if Democrats remain in control.
Guzm谩n Fralick also promised to prosecute people who abuse children to the fullest extent of the law and to help victims of domestic violence.
Campaign manager calls Aaron Ford鈥檚 Nevada primary win a 鈥榤andate鈥�
Zo毛 Kleinfeld highlighted Ford鈥檚 record as attorney general and his work to lower costs for working families.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to win this general election by building a multiracial working-class coalition united around the promise of a better future for Nevada鈥檚 working families,鈥� she said in a statement.
Ford will take on Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in the fall.
Nicole Cannizzaro wins Democratic nomination for Nevada attorney general
She beat out state Treasurer Zach Conine for a spot on the November ballot.
Cannizzaro will go up against Republican Danny Tarkanian or Adriana Guzm谩n Fralick.
Marty O鈥橠onnell wins GOP primary in Nevada鈥檚 3rd District
O鈥橠onnell goes on to the general election in the state鈥檚 most competitive district, one considered crucial for Democrats鈥� hope of retaking the U.S. House.
O鈥橠onnell鈥檚 win marks another victory for Trump, who has seen his endorsed candidates win primaries across the country.
O鈥橠onnell, a composer, will go up against Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, who has held the seat since 2019.
Nevada鈥檚 3rd District is the state鈥檚 most competitive because of its narrow Democratic registration advantage and high number of nonpartisan voters. It has a history of razor-thin margins in elections that frequently draw a lot of out-of-state spending. In 2024, both Lee and Trump narrowly won the district.
O鈥橠onnell ran for the seat in 2024 and lost in the primary. This time, he defeated Jeff Gunter, a former U.S. ambassador.
O鈥橠onnell campaigned on regulating and investing in artificial intelligence, building upon Trump鈥檚 border security policies and reducing the national debt.
Aaron Ford wins the Democratic primary for Nevada governor
He will challenge Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in what is expected to be one of the nation鈥檚 most competitive governor鈥檚 races this fall.
Ford defeated Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill after focusing his primary campaign squarely on Lombardo, even refusing to participate in a primary debate.
Ford has served as the state鈥檚 attorney general since 2019, often teaming up with other Democratic attorneys general in filing lawsuits against the Trump administration. He has challenged Trump鈥檚 tariffs and funding cuts to higher education. He鈥檚 also gone after social media companies, accusing them of intentionally making their platforms addictive for children.
Ford would be the state鈥檚 first Black governor if elected in November.
Lombardo, a former sheriff, has spent his first term focused on jobs, education and public safety while walking a policy tightrope with the Democratic-majority Legislature.
Nevada Democrat wants next state attorney general to combat Trump 鈥榗orruption鈥�
鈥淭rump鈥檚 gotten away with so much,鈥� Austin Wand of Las Vegas said. 鈥淒emocrats are really motivated to get out and vote.鈥�
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine are competing for the party鈥檚 nomination for the post. Wand said he wished they weren鈥檛 both running because he likes them both.
The Republican primary for Maine governor will be decided by ranked choice voting
No candidate won the majority of votes Tuesday, so the race will go to a ranked runoff.
Republicans were choosing between former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Bobby Charles; healthcare executive Jonathan Bush; former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason; University of Maine System trustee Owen McCarthy; former Paris, Maine, selectman Robert Wessels; and businessmen David Jones and Ben Midgley.
Maine uses in some races. The ranked votes come into play when no candidate breaks 50% of the total vote, and the counting frequently takes several days.
Platner supporter: 鈥楧o I care more about texts that he sent or the war in Iran?鈥�
鈥淧retty clearly the latter,鈥� said Elizabeth Massie, who stood in the emptying room where the candidate just spoke.
鈥淎s a woman who believes women who say they鈥檝e been violated, I was concerned about those attacks, and I am concerned about his past,鈥� said Massie, sporting a big campaign pin stamped with Platner鈥檚 name. 鈥淚 think what鈥檚 so refreshing about Graham is that accountability, is the fact that he apologizes.鈥�
鈥淗ave we ever heard our president be accountable for anything?鈥� she said.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills doesn鈥檛 mention Platner鈥檚 win in statement on campaign
Mills suspended her own Senate campaign weeks ago, clearing a path to the nomination for Platner.
She released a statement Tuesday night about 鈥渢he outcome of the Maine Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.鈥�
In it, Mills said she is 鈥済rateful to Maine people and incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.鈥�
Collins campaign promotes her independence after Platner win
The veteran Republican senator鈥檚 campaign said she is a proven bipartisan leader. The statement used Collins鈥� work on the paycheck protection program as an example.
鈥淗er ability to work across the aisle is what allowed her to pass this important program, as is the case with many of her other legislative accomplishments,鈥� Collins spokesperson Shawn Roderick said in a statement.
The statement came after a speech in which Platner characterized Collins as loyal to Trump.
Collins 鈥渨ill run on her own record of delivering results for Maine,鈥� Roderick said.
Trump congratulates Sen. Lindsey Graham on primary victory
That was on Truth Social, where Trump celebrated Graham鈥檚 鈥淏IG WIN tonight鈥� in a field 鈥渙f very capable candidates.鈥�
Trump had endorsed Graham early in the race, and the South Carolina senator paid the compliments back in his victory speech.
Directly addressing Trump to the cameras, Graham said 鈥淚鈥檓 going to be your strongest ally in the United States Senate鈥� and then added that Trump is on track to be one of the 鈥渕ost consequential presidents in American history.鈥�
Democrats start to rally behind Platner, while Republicans tout Collins
Senate Democratic leaders said they鈥檙e confident in Platner鈥檚 ability to defeat Collins in November.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement that Collins 鈥渉as never been more vulnerable鈥� and 鈥淢aine voters will elect Graham Platner.鈥�
On the Republican side, Senate Leadership Fund executive director Alex Latcham released a statement calling Platner 鈥渁 dangerous deviant鈥� and saying Collins 鈥渉as demonstrated strong character, steady leadership, and unmatched effectiveness.鈥�
Polls are closing in Nevada
In-person Election Day voting is scheduled to conclude at 7 p.m. PT, which is 10 p.m. ET, but state law requires polls to stay open until all voters in line by poll closing time have cast their ballots.
Comparable primaries from past elections can about when to expect the first vote results and how long the vote count might take.
In the 2024 state primaries, the AP first reported results at 11:04 p.m. ET. This was more than an hour after the scheduled poll closing time, but the state doesn鈥檛 release any votes until it confirms that voting has concluded in every county. The last vote update of the night was at 11:55 p.m. ET in the Republican primary, with about 94% of total votes counted, and at 2:28 a.m. ET in the Democratic primary, with about 85% of total votes counted.
Platner makes big promises in victory speech
He said he would work to pass Medicare for all and codify Roe v. Wade into law.
Platner has run a progressive campaign focusing heavily on affordability issues. Tuesday he also outlined other priorities that included stopping prescription drug price gouging and stopping foreign wars.
鈥淭ogether, we will win back this Senate seat,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd together, we鈥檙e going to take back our power.鈥�
Maine鈥檚 2nd District Democratic primary will be decided by ranked choice voting
No candidate won the majority of votes Tuesday, so the race will go to a ranked runoff.
Democrats were choosing between former Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, former U.S. Senate candidate Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud. The Republicans鈥� presumptive nominee is former .
Maine uses in some races. The ranked votes come into play when no candidate breaks 50% of the total vote, and the counting frequently takes several days.
Incumbent 2nd District Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection.
The Democratic primary for Maine governor will be decided by ranked choice voting
No candidate won the majority of votes Tuesday, so the race will go to a ranked runoff.
Democrats were choosing between Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson; former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Hannah Pingree; energy executive Angus King III; and former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nirav Shah.
Maine uses in some races. The ranked votes come into play when no candidate breaks 50% of the total vote, and the counting frequently takes several days.
Platner turns his ire to Collins
鈥淪usan Collins,鈥� said Platner, which prompted immediate boos from the audience, 鈥淪he has become just as spineless and corrupt as the establishment she now serves.鈥�
Platner launched into a diatribe against the senator he鈥檒l now be facing in the general election, saying she鈥檚 鈥済etting rich while we鈥檙e getting screwed,鈥� and attacking her for voting alongside Trump and to put conservative judges on the U.S. Supreme Court.
鈥淪usan Collins has never met a war she didn鈥檛 like, she鈥檚 been supporting endless wars since I was a teenager, and I know, I had to fight in two of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou and your friends profited, and my friends died.鈥�
Platner nods to his personal journey in victory speech
鈥淚f you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change,鈥� said Platner to a cheering, campaign sign wielding crowd. 鈥淎nd the reason I believe that is because I have lived it.鈥�
鈥淓very day I wake up and I try to be a little bit better and a little bit kinder than I was the day before,鈥� said Platner.
He thanked his supporters and promised to fight for them.
In a rising voice, Platner declared 鈥淚 will be the champion for your dreams as if they were my own!鈥�
Platner tells supporters that 鈥榩eople can change鈥� and Collins can be defeated
Platner told cheering supporters that they have built a formidable political movement that can defeat the longtime Republican senator.
鈥淎nd when we finally defeat Susan Collins,鈥� Platner said, 鈥渢hat will be because of you, too.鈥�
Platner鈥檚 campaign has been rocked by a series of controversies over the last several months. Tuesday, he said he can 鈥渂e a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator鈥� and stand up to billionaires and corporations.
鈥淚 will fight for you,鈥� Platner said.
Platner thanks Gov. Janet Mills in victory speech
The Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine has taken the stage at his election night watch party and thanked his supporters and opponent Mills.
鈥淚t is an honor, and I will not let you down,鈥� Platner told the crowd. 鈥淯ntil recently I thought that harbormaster would be the height of my political career.鈥�
Sen. Lindsey Graham says he wants to return to the US Senate to help Trump
鈥淧resident Trump,鈥� said Graham in a victory speech after winning the Republican nomination in South Carolina. 鈥淚鈥檓 coming back to the Senate in 鈥�27. I鈥檓 going to win in November and I鈥檓 going to help you change this world and change this country.鈥�
After thanking a slew of people for his primary victory, he said he鈥檚 going to repay them by 鈥渉elping President Trump put as many conservative judges on the Court as we can.鈥�
Graham Platner wins Maine Democratic primary, will face GOP Sen. Susan Collins
It鈥檚 a high-stakes Senate campaign that pits the veteran Collins, the only Republican senator from New England, against a progressive with no experience in high office. Platner, a brash political newcomer who has energized crowds, has faced a that the GOP will focus on throughout the campaign.
An oyster farmer and former chair of the planning board in the small town of Sullivan, Platner has drawn hundreds of people to rallies around the state.
He was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who campaigned with him in the run-up to the primary. He has said he plans to focus on economic issues such as housing and healthcare.
Platner鈥檚 mom tells Maine crowd her son represents 鈥榬eal change鈥�
The mother of the Maine Senate candidate told those gathered at his election night watch party that she鈥檚 proud of her son and hopeful for a big win.
鈥淕raham has always been very passionate about serving others and making life better for the people around him,鈥� Leslie Harlow said at the event in the small town of Blue Hill.
Harlow, who has been a fixture at Platner鈥檚 campaign events, told the cheering crowd that her son has been a dedicated worker since his younger days as a blueberry raker and supermarket grocery bagger. She said he鈥檒l bring that dedication to the Senate.
Trump calls South Carolina鈥檚 Evette, says he鈥檒l help her in coming gubernatorial runoff
The president called Evette as she advanced to a runoff to congratulate her.
A person with knowledge of Evette鈥檚 primary night activities but not authorized to publicly speak about them said Trump also told his chosen pick in the governor鈥檚 race he would lend his support over the next two weeks.
Trump endorsed Evette less than two weeks before Tuesday鈥檚 votes in South Carolina鈥檚 five-way GOP gubernatorial primary. He is also a close supporter of current Gov. Henry McMaster.
鈥� By Meg Kinnard
Alan Wilson advances to GOP runoff for South Carolina governor
Wilson moved forward despite not securing Trump鈥檚 endorsement in a race in which the top contenders vied for the president鈥檚 support.
Wilson has served as the state鈥檚 attorney general since 2011, taking actions to support Trump鈥檚 political and personal moves. In 2024, Wilson traveled to New York as he stood trial in a hush money case.
He is the son of longtime U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.
Pamela Evette advances to GOP runoff for South Carolina governor
Evette鈥檚 achievement came about a week after securing Trump鈥檚 backing.
The Ohio native has for eight years served as lieutenant governor to current Gov. Henry McMaster, who is term-limited and was among Trump鈥檚 earliest supporters in his first presidential campaign.
All polls have closed in North Dakota
In-person Election Day voting concluded in North Dakota at 9 p.m. ET. Some polls located in Central time closed an hour earlier, at 8 p.m. ET.
Comparable primaries from past elections can about when to expect the first vote results and how long the vote count might take.
In the 2024 state primary, the AP first reported results at 9 p.m. ET, just as the last polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 11:56 p.m. ET, with about 99% of total votes counted.
Lindsey Graham wins South Carolina GOP primary as he seeks 5th Senate term
The key Trump ally defeated challengers including businessman Mark Lynch, who said Graham wasn鈥檛 conservative enough for the state.
Trump early on endorsed Graham, his , despite their on-again-off-again relationship.
In announcing he would seek a fifth term in the Senate, Graham also secured the state鈥檚 leading Republicans, Sen. and Gov. , to .
No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades, and Republicans in recent history typically take statewide seats by double-digit margins. When he last ran in 2020, Graham defeated his Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison, by .
Lindsey Graham鈥檚 ability to navigate Trump stood out for one of his primary supporters
A number of Republican challengers are vying against Graham, but one voter said he鈥檚 not worried about arguments the incumbent isn鈥檛 conservative enough.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 perfectly fine,鈥� said Jimmy Hunt, a Spartanburg businessman, as he watched returns come in at Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette鈥檚 election night headquarters in Greenville.
鈥淗e navigates pretty well with President Trump,鈥� Hunt said. He鈥檚 kind of always on the edge of being in trouble, but that鈥檚 a tough game 鈥� really tough.鈥�
Jermaine Johnson wins Democratic primary for South Carolina governor
The state lawmaker who has represented a district in the Columbia area for three terms defeated businessman Billy Webster and attorney Mullins McLeod.
Seen as a rising star in the state party, Johnson was tapped to give this year鈥檚 Democratic response to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster鈥檚 state of the state address.
The winner of the November general election will succeed McMaster, who has been in office since Nikki Haley left her term early to join the first Trump administration.
Democrats have not won a general election for governor in South Carolina since 1998, and Republicans have controlled all statewide elected offices for more than a decade.
Annie Andrews wins Democratic primary for US Senate in South Carolina
The Charleston pediatrician secured the nomination in her campaign to keep Republican U.S. from a fifth term.
Andrews, who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in 2022, has challenged what she鈥檚 characterized as Graham鈥檚 waffling positions over the course of his political career.
No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades, and Republicans in recent history typically take statewide seats by double-digit margins.
When he last ran in 2020, Graham defeated his Democratic opponent, Jaime Harrison, by .
Supporters filling up Platner watch party in Maine
Platner is holding his event at Blue Hill YMCA in the town of Blue Hill, about 30 miles from his hometown of Sullivan. Supporters were gathering to hear a speech from Platner, which is expected after results come in.
Platner is expected to win the primary because his main competition, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, suspended her campaign weeks ago. The winner will face longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
The mood at his event is high, with the crowd expecting a victory and beginning to assemble in front of a podium where Platner will speak.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
