Trump-Backed Candidates Face Key Tests as Primaries Unfold

Voters in several states headed to the polls Tuesday for a round of primaries that could reshape key races ahead of the 2026 midterms, with President Donald Trump’s influence over Republican voters facing another test.

According to Fox News, in South Carolina, Trump backed Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, in a crowded Republican primary to fill her brother’s Senate seat.

She had been appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of the term following Graham’s death.

Her Republican rivals included Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry, along with former Gov. Mark Sanford.

The biggest Democratic battles were unfolding farther north, where Wisconsin and Minnesota featured contests that could reveal the direction of the party heading into the general election.

In Wisconsin, state Rep. Francesca Hong emerged as the leading Democratic contender for governor.

The 37-year-old former chef and single mother has drawn support from prominent progressives while facing criticism over past social media posts about policing and Thanksgiving.

Hong has since said she does not support defunding or abolishing police departments and has described her earlier comments as positions she has moved beyond.

Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany is heavily favored for the GOP nomination and has Trump's endorsement. Tiffany has framed the race as a fight against what he calls socialism, saying Wisconsin could serve as a "firewall" against the political left.

The Democratic primary has been unsettled by several candidates leaving the race, while Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley returned after previously suspending his campaign. Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Crowley during the closing stretch of the contest.

Republicans have also spent money supporting Hong's candidacy, viewing her as a potentially weaker opponent for the general election.