Progressive Hopefuls and Establishment Forces Clash in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Carolina Primaries
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Tuesday’s primaries in six states spotlight the struggle between progressive and centrist Democrats in Wisconsin and Minnesota, while South Carolina’s GOP race underscores the ongoing grip of Trumpism and political dynasties.
Six states are holding primaries on Tuesday, with pivotal contests in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Carolina that highlight the deep divides and urgent stakes in American politics. In Wisconsin, the Democratic nomination for governor has become a battleground between state legislator Francesca Hong, a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America who champions working-class interests, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a centrist whose campaign is buoyed by establishment support. Both have secured endorsements from influential state figures, but the race took a decisive turn after progressive favorites Mandela Barnes and Sara Rodriguez were pressured out, narrowing the field and consolidating progressive momentum behind Hong.
"It's becoming very clear who the Democratic nominee is going to be," said Barnes after ending his campaign, signaling that grassroots energy is coalescing around Hong’s bold agenda for economic and racial justice.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, a hardline member of the House Freedom Caucus and a loyalist to President Trump, is set to cruise to the GOP nomination for Wisconsin governor unopposed, reflecting the far-right’s stranglehold on the state party and the lack of internal dissent.
In Minnesota, the open Senate seat has become a microcosm of the national Democratic struggle: centrist Rep. Angie Craig, backed by party elites, faces off against progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is supported by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The Republican field is led by former sportscaster Michele Tafoya, with other contenders including retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze and ex-basketball player Royce White, underscoring the GOP’s reliance on celebrity and military credentials over substantive policy.
South Carolina’s special primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham is a testament to the persistence of political dynasties and Trump’s corrosive influence. Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, was appointed to finish his term and now seeks a full term with Trump’s endorsement, facing nine other GOP candidates, including Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, and former Governor Mark Sanford. The race exposes the Republican Party’s ongoing embrace of nepotism and authoritarianism.
Other notable races include Wisconsin’s 3rd and 1st congressional districts, where Democrats are mounting serious challenges to entrenched Republican incumbents, and Alabama’s 2nd district, where gerrymandering has once again tilted the playing field in favor of the GOP.
These primaries are being closely watched for signs of whether the Democratic Party will embrace its progressive base or continue to cater to corporate centrists, and how deeply Trump’s reactionary politics continue to infect the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.