Graham Platner, the progressive oyster farmer who toppled Maine’s political establishment even as a series of unsettling revelations about his past rattled his party, ran up large margins in the state’s biggest urban areas to secure the Democratic nomination for Senate on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
With more than half of Maine’s votes tallied, Mr. Platner was leading decisively in almost every township that had reported so far, though political observers continued to monitor the totals for signs of voter wariness or enthusiasm. Also on Tuesday, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina survived a Republican primary challenge, avoiding a potentially embarrassing runoff as he seeks a fifth term in office, while Nevada and North Dakota also held primary contests.
Mr. Platner, a combat veteran with a populist economic message, weathered a series of damaging reports about his personal life as he prepares to challenge Senator Susan Collins, a five-term Republican, in one of the most crucial Senate contests in the nation.
In a speech that took aim at Ms. Collins, Mr. Platner declared that his political movement would “take back our power” in November and subsequently enact a raft of legislation, including codifying abortion rights and passing a single-payer health care system known as Medicare for all.
Mr. Platner prevailed over Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in April but remained on the ballot. She did not appear impressed by Mr. Platner’s triumph. In a statement after the race was called, she did not mention Mr. Platner by name and did not commit to endorsing him.
“I am grateful to Maine people and incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together,” Ms. Mills said. “I will continue to fight with everything I have to improve the lives and livelihoods of Maine people.”
The stakes in Maine are so high because the seat is critical to control of the Senate next year. Democrats must flip at least four Republican-held seats to win a Senate majority, and Ms. Collins is the only Republican defending a seat in a state President Trump did not win in 2024.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, has outlined his likeliest four-state path to power through Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio. Democrats are also eager to compete in Texas and Iowa.
In South Carolina, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who has Mr. Trump’s endorsement, and Alan Wilson, the state attorney general, advanced in the Republican primary for governor. Representative Nancy Mace, who lags well behind, conceded defeat and endorsed Mr. Wilson in the runoff, which will take place in two weeks.
Here’s what else to know:
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Platner: The New York Times reported that women Mr. Platner had dated recounted him acting in disturbing ways, and reports detailed sexual messages he had sent to women outside his marriage. Some party members have struggled to reconcile his past behavior while others — particularly his progressive allies — have argued that Democrats must coalesce around him to defeat Ms. Collins.
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Maine governor: Ranked choice voting will decide both primaries for governor in Maine. For Republicans, Bobby Charles, who served in the second Bush administration, has a sizable lead over the rest of the field but is well short of 50 percent. Jonathan Bush, a cousin of one president and nephew of another, and Benjamin Midgley are splitting much of the remaining vote, although several other candidates remain in the race. The leading Democrats are Dr. Nirav Shah, who led Maine’s coronavirus pandemic response, and Hannah Pingree, a former State House speaker whose mother represents Maine in Congress.
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Nevada governor: Aaron Ford, the state’s attorney general, won the Democratic Party’s primary to challenge Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican who faced token opposition in his attempt for re-election.
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House contests: Republicans are nominating candidates they hope can flip seats in Maine and Nevada. Former Gov. Paul LePage of Maine ran unopposed in the Republican primary in the state’s Second District. Marty O’Donnell, a video game music composer who received Mr. Trump’s endorsement, won the Republican primary in Nevada’s Third District, where the party hopes to defeat the Democratic incumbent, Representative Susie Lee.
