GOP Digest — August 12, 2026 | Graham and Norman Head to SC Runoff as Demuth Tops Lindell in Minnesota

Republicans woke up Wednesday with a two-week sprint in South Carolina, three new statewide nominees in the upper Midwest, a Trump-backed pickup opportunity in Alabama — and another Democratic incumbent shown the door by his own primary voters.

Today's Digest

• [PRIMARIES] — Darline Graham leads a 10-candidate field into an Aug. 25 runoff with Ralph Norman: With more than 95 percent of votes counted in Tuesday's special Republican primary for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's seat, Darline Graham took 33 percent to Norman's 24 percent, Russell Fry's 20 percent and former Gov. Mark Sanford's 15 percent, according to the Associated Press. Because no one cleared 50 percent, the top two advance to a runoff on Aug. 25. The winner faces Democrat Annie Andrews in November in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in 28 years.
• [ENDORSEMENTS] — Trump says he will campaign for Darline Graham in the runoff: The president, who encouraged Graham to seek the full six-year term and endorsed her, told reporters Tuesday evening he plans to campaign for her, calling her "a very good woman" and "a real professional." Graham also carries the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Inside Elections rates the seat Likely Republican.
• [MINNESOTA] — Lisa Demuth wins the GOP nomination for governor over Mike Lindell: The Associated Press called the race just before midnight Tuesday with Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth leading with more than 43 percent of the vote to Lindell's less than 33 percent of ballots counted. Demuth won without either the president's endorsement, which went to Lindell, or the state party's, which went to Kendall Qualls — the first time since 1994 that a Minnesota Republican who lost the convention endorsement went on to win the primary. Qualls conceded Tuesday night and congratulated her. She faces Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Nov. 3.
• [SENATE] — Michele Tafoya takes the Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota: The former NFL sideline reporter topped a crowded field that included party-endorsed veteran Adam Schwarze and 2024 nominee Royce White, the AP projects, securing the nomination despite losing the state party endorsement this spring. She will face Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who beat centrist Rep. Angie Craig on the Democratic side, in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Cook Political Report rates the seat Likely Democratic.
• [WISCONSIN] — Tom Tiffany wins the Republican primary for governor: The AP called the race at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday for the 7th District congressman, who defeated Andy Manske and carries endorsements from the Republican Party of Wisconsin, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. "This is an election about the very soul of the state of Wisconsin," Tiffany told supporters in Hartland. He faces Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the AP-projected Democratic winner who narrowly defeated progressive Francesca Hong, on Nov. 3.
• [HOUSE] — Trump-backed Rhett Marques wins Alabama's redrawn 2nd District primary: Marques won a crowded Republican field Tuesday, the AP projects, with endorsements from President Trump, House GOP leaders and Sen. Katie Britt. He takes on Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures in a district redrawn after the Supreme Court cleared Alabama to use a map more favorable to Republicans. The University of Virginia's Center for Politics rates the race Likely Republican.
• [DEM WATCH] — 14-term Rep. John Larson is ousted by his own primary voters in Connecticut: Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin beat Larson 53.5 percent to 34.7 percent with an estimated 51 percent of votes counted when the AP called the race around 10 p.m. Tuesday, ending the 78-year-old's 28-year run and denying him a 15th term. Outside groups poured more than $2.5 million into the safe-blue seat, and Larson was outspent. Before Tuesday, half a dozen Democratic incumbents in Congress had already lost primaries.

On the Record

"Tonight, voters made it clear they want a PROVEN CONSERVATIVE with a record of getting the job done on the ballot for the U.S. Senate, and as we advance to the runoff, that's exactly what I'll give them." — Rep. Ralph Norman, on advancing to South Carolina's Aug. 25 Senate runoff