Elections & Democracy
Democratic primaries split left and centrist wins
US Democratic primaries produced split results Wednesday, with left-wing candidate Peggy Flanagan winning the party's nomination for a Minnesota Senate seat while centrist David Crowley narrowly won the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin.
US media reported that Flanagan defeated moderate rival Angie Craig 59-39 percent in Minnesota. Flanagan is running to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith and had support from Smith, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Craig later posted that she offered Flanagan her “wholehearted support” for the November election.
In Wisconsin, CNN, CBS and NBC projected that Crowley defeated left-wing opponent Francesca Hong 39.8 percent to 39.4 percent. Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, is set to face Republican Tom Tiffany.
The contests were being watched as a test of the Democratic Party's direction before the November midterms, when Democrats will try to take control of Congress from Republicans.
Republicans also faced a party-loyalty test in South Carolina. Senator Darline Graham, who had President Donald Trump's endorsement, advanced to a special primary runoff for the seat she was appointed to after the death of her brother Lindsey Graham. She will face congressman Ralph Norman after no candidate reached 50 percent of the vote.
Update
Peggy Flanagan's reported margin over Angie Craig was 59-39 percent.
Angie Craig publicly offered Flanagan her support for the November election after losing.
South Carolina Republican Senator Darline Graham advanced to a special primary runoff because no candidate reached 50 percent, with Ralph Norman projected second.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 August 2026 at 11:31:43 UTC.
Update
US media projected that Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic nomination for a Minnesota Senate seat.
US media reports put Flanagan's vote share at 59 percent against Angie Craig.
CNN, CBS and NBC projected David Crowley narrowly won the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin by 39.8 percent to 39.4 percent.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 August 2026 at 10:30:22 UTC.
Update
Polls closed in Minnesota and Wisconsin at 9:00 pm eastern Tuesday.
With roughly 85 percent of ballots counted in South Carolina, Darline Graham advanced to a Republican runoff with 33 percent of the vote.
Ralph Norman was projected to finish second in South Carolina with 24 percent of the vote.
Trump held a telephone rally for Darline Graham on Monday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 12 August 2026 at 01:23:29 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The election figures are reported vote shares and media projections, not official certified results.
Source
AFP news report published on .