US primaries offer fresh test of Democrats' leftward surge

Democratic voters across several US states cast their ballots Tuesday in another test of whether the party's anti-establishment left can extend a run of primary victories into races that could help decide control of Congress in November.

The most consequential contest is in Minnesota, where leftist Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan faces moderate congresswoman Angie Craig for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith.

Flanagan has the backing of Smith and prominent left-wing senators including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, while Craig is supported by Democrats who argue her record winning competitive elections makes her the safer choice for the general election.

"Special interests think they can buy this Senate seat. They've spent $20 million to do it," Flanagan posted on X ahead of polls opening.

"But I have seen what Minnesotans can do when we organize together. So when it comes down to the many or the money, I'm betting on us."

Their clash mirrors a wider argument inside the party over how aggressively to move left as Democrats try to exploit President Donald Trump's weak approval ratings and regain Congress.

Immigration enforcement has become particularly charged in Minnesota after the state emerged as a focal point of Trump's crackdown.

Flanagan has attacked Craig over her support for the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-backed immigration measure, while Craig has emphasized electability and later expressed regret over her vote.

Polls closed in Minnesota and another key state, Wisconsin, at 9:00 pm eastern Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday).

The elections follow Abdul El-Sayed's narrow victory last week over establishment-backed Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, which energized progressives but also exposed how unreliable polling can be in low-turnout contests.

Wisconsin provides another major test of the left, though in a gubernatorial rather than congressional race.

Democratic socialist Francesca Hong is widely seen as the frontrunner for the party's nomination for governor, despite unease among establishment Democrats and even some leftists over whether she can win a closely divided state in November.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has become the principal moderate alternative, while Sanders and leftist star congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- usually eager to boost insurgents -- have notably stayed out of the race.

Hong's candidacy has nevertheless become a symbol of the same leftward pressure that has already toppled established Democrats in New York, Colorado and Michigan.

Republicans have eagerly seized on those victories, with Trump increasingly portraying November's elections as a choice between Republican "common sense" and what he calls socialist or communist extremism.

Wisconsin's competitive 3rd Congressional District is also drawing attention, with progressive Emily Berge challenging Rebecca Cooke for the Democratic nomination to take on vulnerable Republican Derrick Van Orden.

The race has exposed tensions even within the left: Sanders is backing Cooke despite criticism from some progressive activists who favor Berge.

Republicans, meanwhile, have their own test of party loyalty in South Carolina.

Senator Darline Graham, recently appointed after the death of her brother Lindsey Graham, is seeking the Republican nomination for a full term with Trump's endorsement.

She faced a crowded field including congressmen Ralph Norman and Russell Fry and former governor Mark Sanford, with a runoff later this month if no candidate reaches 50 percent.

With roughly 85 percent of ballots counted on Tuesday night, Graham advanced to a runoff with 33 percent of the vote, against Norman who was projected to finish second at 24 percent.

Trump held a telephone rally for Graham on Monday, calling her the "perfect person" to carry on her brother's legacy, but rivals have attacked her lack of political experience and argued that she inherited her position rather than earned it.

The South Carolina seat is safely Republican, limiting its importance for control of Congress.