Graham and Andrews secure South Carolina Senate primary victories
Graham and Andrews win South Carolina Senate primaries, setting up general election matchup.
Event / Politics
US Primary Elections June 2026
Primary elections held across multiple US states in June 2026, including the Maine Democratic Senate primary won by Graham Platner and the Republican primary won by Susan Collins.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 10 Jun, 00:06 UTC
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What happened
President Trump endorses Lindsey Graham for Senate primary
President Donald Trump gave Sen. Lindsey Graham his complete and total endorsement for the South Carolina Republican Senate primary. Trump initially endorsed Graham in April and reiterated his support on June 5 via Truth Social, stating 'all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham.' Trump also criticized Graham's opponent Mark Lynch as a 'lunatic.'
Annie Andrews wins South Carolina Democratic Senate primary
Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, won the South Carolina Democratic primary for U.S. Senate after leading the Democratic field in fundraising. She defeated Democratic primary opponents Brandon P. Brown and Kyle Freeman. Andrews will face Sen. Lindsey Graham in the general election.
Sen. Lindsey Graham wins South Carolina Republican primary for U.S. Senate
Sen. Lindsey Graham won the South Carolina Republican primary for U.S. Senate on June 9, 2026, receiving 59.3% of the vote (106,164 votes) with 35% of votes counted. Graham defeated Republican challenger Mark Lynch, who received 26.9% of the vote (48,171 votes). Graham's campaign spent over $13 million on advertising for the primary race.
Platner faces multiple personal controversies in Senate campaign
Graham Platner has faced numerous controversies during his Senate campaign. These include offensive Reddit posts and social media comments made years ago that he apologized for; a tattoo resembling Nazi iconography that he covered up; reports of sexually explicit text messages sent to other women while married in 2023; and allegations from former girlfriends describing volatile behavior and physical abuse. Platner has denied the physical abuse allegations and attributed some past behavior to untreated post-traumatic stress disorder from military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Democratic leaders support Platner despite allegations
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders announced support for Graham Platner as their nominee against Senator Collins, despite multiple allegations against him. Schumer stated the focus should be on beating Collins and winning back the Senate. Some prominent Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, encouraged voters to focus on policy issues rather than personal controversies.
Susan Collins wins Maine Republican Senate primary unopposed
Republican Senator Susan Collins, seeking her sixth six-year term, ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 10, 2026. Collins has served in the Senate since 1996 and chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.
Maine Senate race positioned as critical for 2026 Senate control
The Maine Senate race between Graham Platner and Susan Collins is considered crucial for determining Senate control in 2026. Republicans currently hold 53 seats; Democrats need to flip four seats net to gain the majority. Maine is a blue state that voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, and Collins is the only Republican senator seeking reelection in a state Trump lost. The Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up.
Graham Platner wins Maine Democratic Senate primary
Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and former planning board chair from Sullivan, Maine, won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on June 10, 2026. He will face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November general election. Platner secured approximately 75% of the vote, defeating Governor Janet Mills (who withdrew in April) and professor David Costello.
Nevada gubernatorial primary held with multiple candidates competing
Nevada held a gubernatorial primary election on June 9, 2026. Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo ran for reelection. On the Democratic side, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford competed against Alexis Hill, chair of Washoe County Commission, and others for the nomination.
Nevada primary elections held for House seats, attorney general, and lieutenant governor
Nevada held primary elections on June 9, 2026 for multiple state offices including House seats, the state's attorney general position, and lieutenant governor.
Maine gubernatorial primary held under ranked choice voting system
Maine held a gubernatorial primary election with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills unable to run for re-election due to term limits. Crowded fields of both Democrats and Republicans competed for the office. Maine's ranked choice voting system was in effect, where if no candidate received majority support, low-performing candidates would be eliminated and their votes reallocated to voters' next choices until someone achieved more than 50%.
Primary elections held in Maine, North Dakota, Nevada, and South Carolina
Primary elections were held on June 9, 2026 in Maine, North Dakota, Nevada, and South Carolina. The Associated Press tabulated and reported vote counts and declared winners when trailing candidates no longer had a path to victory.
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Four states hold primary elections across multiple offices
Four states conducted primary elections with varying offices and voting methods.