Primary contests across several states see high voter turnout and candidate pushes
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Primary elections were held Tuesday in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Vermont and special races in South Carolina and Alabama, with candidates urging voters amid record absentee ballot submissions.
Tuesday’s primary elections took place in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Vermont, while special elections were held in South Carolina and Alabama. Minnesota officials reported a record 206,196 absentee and mail ballots received ahead of the deadline, the highest for a non-presidential election year.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders used social media to encourage Minnesotans to vote for Peggy Flanagan in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary. > "Please, if you haven't already voted, go vote. Vote for Peggy Flanagan for the United States Senate," Warren said. > "Dark money groups are spending $20 million to defeat Peggy Flanagan… This election is about the people vs. the money," Sanders wrote.
Former Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod commented on the Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary, suggesting that a more moderate candidate might improve progressive prospects if a far-left contender were eliminated.
In the Republican Senate primary in Minnesota, former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya said voters are ready for a change, citing concerns about leadership and alleged fraud in state programs.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, campaigning for governor of Minnesota, highlighted an anti-fraud agenda that would include a statewide audit and a database to block payments to convicted fraudsters.
In South Carolina, a crowded Republican field competes for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Lindsey Graham, with Darline Graham, his sister, emphasizing affordability issues and distancing herself from claims that the seat was handed to her.
Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary featured state representative Francesca Hong, who called for party unity and outlined proposals such as a $20 minimum wage and a moratorium on new AI data centers.
Alabama held special primaries in four congressional districts after the Supreme Court’s recent decision altered the state’s district maps. Candidates are running for seats that will take effect in 2027.