Primary elections Tuesday solidified key matchups for November, with the most contentious contests in Wisconsin and Minnesota exposing deep ideological divisions inside the Democratic Party.
In Wisconsin, the Democratic primary for governor saw a tight battle between democratic socialist Francesca Hong and moderate David Crowley, with the race too close to call after a large majority of votes were counted, the candidates separated by less than one percentage point.
Hong, a state representative, faced scrutiny from mainstream Democrats over past statements, including a retracted call to "cancel Thanksgiving." The concern: whether her progressive positions could cost the party a swing state that President Trump carried in 2024 by less than one point.
Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, ran on broader statewide appeal, contrasting with Hong's strength among younger voters and college-educated precincts concentrated around Madison.
On the Republican side, Rep. Tom Tiffany was all but certain to claim the GOP nomination.
In Minnesota, the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Tina Smith became a proxy fight between the party's wings. Progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan faced centrist Rep. Angie Craig for the nomination.
The Republican field for that seat included former sportscaster Michele Tafoya, retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze and former professional basketball player Royce White. Tafoya entered the night as the frontrunner among GOP contenders.
In the Minnesota governor's race, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar easily won her party's primary to succeed Gov. Tim Walz, who is not seeking reelection. Republicans had a three-way contest among MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Kendall Qualls.
In South Carolina, Trump endorsed Darline Graham, but his backing did not clear the field. Prominent challengers included Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Gov. Mark Sanford and businessman Mark Lynch. CBS News projected no candidate secured a majority, sending the race to a runoff later this month, with Graham expected to face a second candidate yet to be determined.
Wisconsin is one of only two states with one Republican and one Democratic U.S. senator, a split that underscores how hard both parties will fight for it in November.
