Sen. Lindsey Graham wins South Carolina GOP primary, avoiding runoff
Sen. Lindsey Graham won the South Carolina Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, defeating self-funded businessman Mark Lynch by a wide margin, while the GOP gubernatorial race between Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson will proceed to a June 23 runoff. Graham, a close Trump ally who received the president's early endorsement, spent over $13 million on ads against Lynch, who had loaned his own campaign $5 million and attacked Graham over his hawkish stance on the Iran war. The results extend Republicans' decades-long statewide winning streak and set up a November general election between Graham and Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews, who won her party's primary.
Sen. Lindsey Graham secured the Republican nomination for a fifth Senate term in South Carolina on Tuesday, defeating Greenville businessman Mark Lynch by roughly 58% to 28% with 60% of the vote counted when the race was called. Graham, endorsed early by President Donald Trump and backed by leading state Republicans including Gov. Henry McMaster and Sen. Tim Scott, outspent Lynch significantly, with his campaign investing more than $13 million in advertising. Lynch, who loaned his campaign $5 million and was endorsed by several former Trump administration officials including Joe Kent and Michael Flynn, ran an 'America First' campaign criticizing Graham's support for the Iran war and his long tenure in office; Trump publicly called Lynch a 'lunatic' and a 'disaster for the Republican Party.' In the governor's race, Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette advanced to a June 23 runoff against Attorney General Alan Wilson, with Rep. Nancy Mace quickly endorsing Wilson after finishing out of contention. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson won the gubernatorial nomination, while Dr. Annie Andrews won the Senate nomination and will face Graham in November, having already attacked him as a 'warmonger' and 'swamp creature.' Democrats have not won a statewide race in South Carolina in roughly two decades, and Republicans have historically won by double-digit margins, making the general election an uphill battle for both Democratic nominees.
What's missing
The articles do not provide final vote totals or turnout figures for the primary.
How coverage differed
Fox News framed Graham's win as him narrowly 'squeaking out' a victory against the GOP's anti-establishment wing, emphasizing internal Republican tension, while most other outlets characterized his margin as comfortable and decisive. Breitbart and the Washington Examiner highlighted Lynch's 'America First' credentials and the Iran war controversy more prominently, whereas center-left outlets like NBC News and PBS focused more on Graham's spending advantage and Trump's endorsement as the decisive factors.
What different sources said
- NBC NewsLeft
Sen. Lindsey Graham wins GOP primary, defeating wealthy challenger in South Carolina
- The HillCenter
Graham wins South Carolina GOP Senate primary
- BreitbartFar Right
*** Election Night Livewire *** Maine's Graham Platner, South Carolina's Lindsey Graham Aim to Secure Nominations
- Fox NewsRight
Trump ally Lindsey Graham survives challenge from GOP's anti-establishment wing
- Washington ExaminerRight
Lindsey Graham wins GOP primary for another Senate term in South Carolina
- ABC NewsCenter
S. Carolina Republicans try to extend winning streak as Sen. Graham seeks fifth term
- The IndependentLeft
Trump favorites face do-or-die moment at the ballot box in South Carolina
- PBS NewsHourLeft
Republicans try to extend winning streak in South Carolina as Graham seeks fifth term
- Washington TimesRight
Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson advance to Republican runoff for South Carolina governor
- BloombergCenter
Lindsey Graham Wins GOP Senate Primary in South Carolina, DDHQ Projects
Related
Workers Begin Removing Trump's Name from Kennedy Center Facade After Court-Ordered Deadline
Workers started stripping President Trump's name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center in Washington overnight Friday into Saturday, hours past a court-ordered deadline of 11:59 p.m. Friday. The delay was attributed to nearby thunderstorms, and the Kennedy Center's board sought a 12-hour extension, which U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had already denied after rejecting the board's last-minute attempt to halt the order. The removal marks a significant legal rebuke of the Trump administration's effort to rename the historic performing arts venue, with a court ruling that only Congress has the authority to change the Kennedy Center's name.
Hasan Piker Campaigns for DSA-Backed NYC Candidates, Sparking Debate Over Democratic Party Direction
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rallied in Brooklyn for two Democratic Socialist of America-endorsed congressional candidates ahead of New York's June 23 primary, declaring the country is 'closer than ever' to socialism. The appearances come amid a broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether to embrace or distance itself from Piker, whose pro-Palestinian views and provocative statements have made him a polarizing figure. The controversy highlights a growing tension between the party's centrist establishment and its increasingly left-leaning base, particularly on foreign policy.
Fire Rescue Victoria Has Missed Emergency Response Targets Every Year Since 2020, With Outer Suburbs Worst Affected
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) has failed to meet its target of responding to 90 per cent of structural fires within seven minutes and 42 seconds in every year since its formation in 2020, with outer suburban areas recording the worst performance. The shortfall has come into sharp focus following the death of three-year-old Jordan Dashwood in a Werribee house fire this month, where the nearest FRV truck was committed to another incident and the first responders arrived well outside the benchmark time. The findings raise serious questions about whether the 2020 fire services restructure has been adequately resourced to protect Melbourne's rapidly growing outer suburbs.