(AFP) – Primaries held across several US states delivered a mixed verdict Wednesday in the battle roiling the Democratic Party, with the anti-establishment left notching another victory in Minnesota but suffering an unexpected defeat to a centrist in Wisconsin. With the November midterms looming, this internal clash — playing out across the United States — is set to define the direction of a party searching for the best way to take on US President Donald Trump and wrest control of Congress from Republicans.
In Minnesota, the left-wing Democratic candidate for a Senate seat, Peggy Flanagan, defeated her moderate rival, Angie Craig, to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith with 59 percent of the vote, according to US media reports. Flanagan had the backing of Smith and prominent left-wing senators including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, while Craig was supported by Democrats who argued her record of winning competitive elections made her the safer choice for the general election. “I am truly honored and humbled to be Minnesota’s Democratic nominee for US Senate. Thank you, Minnesota -– for everything,” Flanagan posted on X after her 59-39 percent victory.
Immigration enforcement has become particularly charged in Minnesota after the state emerged as a focal point of Trump’s crackdown. Flanagan had attacked Craig over her support for the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-backed immigration measure, while Craig had emphasized electability and later expressed regret over her vote. Following the results, the victorious left-wing candidate quickly received backing from Craig in a post on X, saying she offered her “wholehearted support” in the November election.
A new generation of left-wing candidates hopes to reshape the Democratic Party, which is divided over how aggressively to move left as Democrats try to exploit Trump’s weak approval ratings. 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.
In the race for the Democrats’ nomination for governor of Wisconsin, centrist David Crowley narrowly defeated his left-wing opponent Francesca Hong. Crowley won 39.8 percent to Hong’s 39.4 percent, according to projections by CNN, CBS, and NBC. The Milwaukee County executive became 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. The stunning upset has set up Crowley for a showdown against Republican Tom Tiffany. “From day one, this campaign has been about what comes next for Wisconsin: making life more affordable, strengthening our schools, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure opportunity reaches every corner of our state. Wisconsin, let’s get to work,” Crowley said in a post on X.
Republicans, meanwhile, have their own test of party loyalty in South Carolina. Despite Trump’s endorsement, Senator Darline Graham will advance to a GOP special primary runoff for the seat she was recently appointed to after the death of her brother Lindsey Graham, because no candidate reached 50 percent of the vote. She will face congressman Ralph Norman after both emerged from a crowded field including congressman Russell Fry and former governor Mark Sanford. Graham advanced to a runoff with roughly 33 percent of the vote, against Norman, who was projected to finish second on about 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.
© 2024 AFP
