The Latest: Platner clinches Democratic nomination for US Senate in Maine

Voters across Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota cast ballots Tuesday in another day of primary elections in America, but much of the political world was focused on Maine’s high-stakes U.S. Senate contest.

The results weren't in question. Neither Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins nor Democratic challenger Graham Platner faced serious opposition for their party’s nomination. And yet Tuesday's primary victory marked an especially significant moment for Platner, the embattled veteran and oyster farmer, who's fighting to rebuild his credibility in a campaign rocked by controversy.

Elsewhere, President Donald Trump’s clout within his party was being tested anew in states like South Carolina and Nevada, where he’s endorsed his favored candidates. Democrats hope to build momentum in Nevada in their broader push to reclaim key governor’s seats.

And in California, Republican Steve Hilton advanced to the general election for California governor, The Associated Press determined on Tuesday, one week after the state’s primary. Hilton argues that the state needs new leadership after years of Democratic dominance, and he will face Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general and Biden administration health secretary, in November.

Here's the latest:

Trump congratulates Sen. Lindsey Graham on primary victory

That was on Truth Social, where Trump celebrated Graham’s “BIG WIN tonight” in a field “of very capable candidates.”

Trump had endorsed Graham early in the race, and the South Carolina senator paid the compliments back in his victory speech.

Directly addressing Trump to the cameras, Graham said “I’m going to be your strongest ally in the United States Senate” and then added that Trump is on track to be one of the “most consequential presidents in American history.”

Democrats start to rally behind Platner, while Republicans tout Collins

Senate Democratic leaders said they’re confident in Platner’s ability to defeat Collins in November.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement that Collins “has never been more vulnerable” and “Maine voters will elect Graham Platner.”

On the Republican side, Senate Leadership Fund executive director Alex Latcham released a statement calling Platner “a dangerous deviant” and saying Collins “has demonstrated strong character, steady leadership, and unmatched effectiveness.”

Polls are closing in Nevada

In-person Election Day voting is scheduled to conclude at 7 p.m. PT, which is 10 p.m. ET, but state law requires polls to stay open until all voters in line by poll closing time have cast their ballots.

Comparable primaries from past elections can offer clues about when to expect the first vote results and how long the vote count might take.

In the 2024 state primaries, the AP first reported results at 11:04 p.m. ET. This was more than an hour after the scheduled poll closing time, but the state doesn’t release any votes until it confirms that voting has concluded in every county. The last vote update of the night was at 11:55 p.m. ET in the Republican primary, with about 94% of total votes counted, and at 2:28 a.m. ET in the Democratic primary, with about 85% of total votes counted.

Platner makes big promises in victory speech

He said he would work to pass Medicare for all and codify Roe v. Wade into law.

Platner has run a progressive campaign focusing heavily on affordability issues. Tuesday he also outlined other priorities that included stopping prescription drug price gouging and stopping foreign wars.

“Together, we will win back this Senate seat,” he said. “And together, we’re going to take back our power.”

Maine’s 2nd District Democratic primary will be decided by ranked choice voting

No candidate won the majority of votes Tuesday, so the race will go to a ranked runoff.

Democrats were choosing between former Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, former U.S. Senate candidate Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud. The Republicans’ presumptive nominee is former Gov. Paul LePage.

Maine uses ranked choice voting in some races. The ranked votes come into play when no candidate breaks 50% of the total vote, and the counting frequently takes several days.

Incumbent 2nd District Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection.

The Democratic primary for Maine governor will be decided by ranked choice voting

No candidate won the majority of votes Tuesday, so the race will go to a ranked runoff.

Democrats were choosing between Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson; former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Hannah Pingree; energy executive Angus King III; and former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nirav Shah.

Maine uses ranked choice voting in some races. The ranked votes come into play when no candidate breaks 50% of the total vote, and the counting frequently takes several days.