Establishment wins in Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries, South Carolina runoff
Primary elections in Wisconsin and Minnesota saw establishment-backed candidates prevail, while South Carolina will hold a runoff after no candidate secured a majority.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Primary elections across six US states on Tuesday delivered a series of wins for establishment-backed candidates, with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party suffering setbacks in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In South Carolina, a special Senate primary is heading to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority.
In Wisconsin, Democratic socialist Francesca Hong lost her bid for the gubernatorial nomination to the more moderate David Crowley. Hong, who had made controversial statements including calling for Thanksgiving to be cancelled, was seen as too far left for a swing state. Crowley's victory was welcomed by establishment Democrats who feared a progressive candidate would hurt the party's chances in November.
In Minnesota, the Senate race pitted moderate Congresswoman Angie Craig against progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. Craig emerged victorious, giving the party's centrist wing a boost. On the Republican side, election denier Mike Lindell, known for his role in amplifying false claims about the 2020 election, lost his gubernatorial primary, another win for the establishment.
South Carolina's special primary to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham saw his sister, Darlene Graham, lead the field with the endorsement of President Trump. However, she failed to secure the majority needed to avoid a runoff, which will now take place in the coming weeks.
The results reflect a broader struggle within both parties between insurgent populists and the established leadership. While progressives have scored victories in other races, such as Abdul El-Sayed's win in Michigan's Senate primary, the outcomes in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Carolina suggest that establishment candidates still hold significant sway in key battleground states.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 3 channels | |||
| Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan. | Reported by BBC News | Reported by Channel 4 | |
| Only on one channel | |||
| A candidate described as Lindsey Graham's sister advanced in the South Carolina primary but will face a runoff. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| A special primary is being held in South Carolina to find a long-term replacement for the late Senator Lindsey Graham. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Darlene Graham has President Trump's endorsement. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Democratic primary turnout in Michigan exceeded the 2020 record. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Democrats believed Trump's low approval ratings gave them momentum. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News |
| El-Sayed would be the first Muslim senator in the US if he wins in November. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| El-Sayed's campaign is linked to Hassan Paika, a left-wing activist banned from the UK. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News |
| Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist candidate, lost the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Hassan Paika was banned from the UK due to comments on Gaza. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Mike Lindell, a Republican candidate for governor in Minnesota, lost his primary. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Minnesota's Senate race is between moderate Angie Craig and progressive Peggy Flanagan. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| President Trump's approval ratings are at the lowest point of his second term, in the low 30s. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Primary elections were held in six US states: Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Republicans are uneasy about the war in Iran and would prefer to fight the midterms on other issues. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Michigan Democratic Senate primary features a left-wing candidate and a centrist candidate, with Israel-Palestine as a central dividing line. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Michigan Senate primary is the most expensive Democratic primary in US history. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Minnesota Senate race between Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan was reported as one of the most expensive in US history, with campaigns spending tens of millions of dollars. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Minnesota Senate race is one of the most expensive in US history. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided a comprehensive roundup of the primaries, focusing on the establishment vs progressive divide. It covered all three states and highlighted the significance of the results for both parties. The channel also included analysis from correspondents on the ground, giving context to the races.
- “it's been a big day for primary elections, taking place across six different US states, Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin.”
- “In Wisconsin, Democratic socialist Francesca Hong is going up against the more moderate candidate David Crowley to secure the Democratic nomination for governor.”
- “And then we also saw Lindsey Graham's or the late Lindsey Graham's sister sort of succeed in her primary battle but now because of the way that her South Carolina run for Senate race works, we'll now see that go to a runoff.”
Channel 4 focused exclusively on the Michigan Democratic Senate primary, where progressive Abdul El-Sayed defeated establishment candidate Haley Stevens. The channel did not report on the Wisconsin, Minnesota, or South Carolina races, instead dedicating its coverage to the ideological battle within the Democratic Party over issues such as Gaza and healthcare.
- “This is a high-profile victory for the progressive wing of the Democrats, Matt.”
- “An insurgent outsider has beaten a centrist congresswoman whose campaign received tens of millions from pro-Israel groups.”
Sky News also concentrated on the Michigan primary, profiling Abdul El-Sayed as a left-wing outsider who won the Democratic Senate nomination. The channel highlighted the divisions within the Democratic Party and the potential for El-Sayed to become the first Muslim senator, but did not cover the other primaries.
- “Abdul El-Sayed is the left-wing poster boy chosen by Democrats to run for the Senate in Michigan.”
- “He's progressive, a candidate who took on the party establishment and won.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.