{"id":1684,"date":"2026-06-10T10:43:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T10:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1684"},"modified":"2026-06-10T10:43:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T10:43:09","slug":"4-key-takeaways-from-south-carolina-and-maine-primary-contests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1684","title":{"rendered":"4 key takeaways from South Carolina and Maine primary contests"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Embattled Senate hopeful Graham Platner survived his Democratic primary in Maine Tuesday night, setting the stage for a November matchup against longtime incumbent Sen. Susan Collins that could decide which party controls the upper chamber next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more Austin Metcalf\u2019s dad goes scorched earth on Karmelo Anthony, demands son\u2019s killer to look him in the eye<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Senate and gubernatorial primaries in South Carolina demonstrated once again how crucial President Trump\u2019s endorsement is for Republican candidates.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are four key takeaways from primary night in the pine tree and palmetto states:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Maine Democrats overlook Platner\u2019s scandals<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The controversial oyster farmer and Marine veteran received about 72% of the vote in the Democratic Senate primary despite a string of scandals, including having a Nazi tattoo on his chest up until last fall; making wildly offensive Reddit posts; sexting at least a half-dozen women while married; and allegedly physically abusing an ex-girlfriend.<\/p>\n

Platner acknowledged he\u2019s \u201cfar from perfect\u201d in his victory speech.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve made mistakes in my life. Mistakes that I regret, that I live with and that I continue to learn from,\u201d he said, before urging voters to accept that \u201cpeople can change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early voting in Maine kicked off on May 11, before two former girlfriends of Platner\u2019s accused him last week of physical abuse and other troubling behavior.<\/p>\n

Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who stopped campaigning in April, received about 20% of the vote in the high-profile primary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Collins allies warn it\u2019s the \u2018beginning of the end\u2019 for Platner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Republicanswasted no time in going after Platner following his primary win, expressing confidence that Mainers will reject him come the general election.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cToday marks the beginning of the end for Graham Platner,\u201d Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is also the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), wrote on X.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will be exposed, his agenda destroyed, and Mainers will reject him,\u201d Scott added. \u201cNo amount of DC Democrat support or left-wing billionaire backing will save him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe choice in Maine is clear and nothing will be taken for granted.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the NRSC released a blistering ad noting Collins doesn\u2019t have a Nazi tattoo nor an account on a \u201cnotorious predator\u2019s paradise app.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s central message is that Platner \u201cdelivers scandals,\u201d while Collins \u201cdelivers results.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Shawn Roderick, a spokesperson for Collins\u2019 campaign, argued, \u201cMainers aren\u2019t looking for bitter campaigns, grand promises, or angry speeches riddled with lies. They\u2019re looking for results.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want affordable health care, safe communities, good-paying jobs, strong schools, and someone who will show up and do the work,\u201d he said in a statement. \u201cThat\u2019s why Senator Susan Collins continues to earn the support of Republicans, Democrats, and independents across Maine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile others talk about revolution and division, Susan Collins is delivering for Maine communities by funding rural hospitals, supporting our shipbuilders and fishermen, improving infrastructure, expanding broadband, and strengthening public safety.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mace trounced in South Carolina gubernatorial primary after Trump endorsement snub<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) tried to position herself as the most Trump-aligned candidate in the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary \u2013 but finished in fifth place after failing to receive the president\u2019s stamp of approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The congresswoman, who opted to launch a bid for the governor\u2019s mansion rather than seek a fourth term in the House, garnered only 12% of the vote Tuesday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who was endorsed by Trump late last month, was the top vote-getter (28.9%) and advanced to a June 23 runoff against state Attorney General Alan Wilson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In her concession speech, Mace announced that she would back Wilson in the runoff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Graham avoids runoff against insurgent Republican challenger<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who also received a Trump endorsement, fended off a primary challenge from an anti-interventionist Republican.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Graham, an outspoken supporter of Trump\u2019s war in Iran, defeated businessman Mark Lynch by a 56.8%-28.9% margin.<\/p>\n

Lynch was recently endorsed by former Trump administration intelligence official and Iran war critic Joe Kent and has been previously described by the president as a \u201clunatic\u201d who would be a \u201cDISASTER for the Republican Party.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Graham will face Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews \u2013 the winner of the Democratic primary \u2013 in November. The GOP senator is seeking a fifth term in the upper chamber.<\/p>\n

Read more NYC\u2019s failing small landlords deserve a Rent Guidelines Board split decision<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Embattled Senate hopeful Graham Platner survived his Democratic primary in Maine Tuesday night, setting the stage for a November matchup against longtime incumbent Sen. Susan Collins that could decide which party controls the upper chamber next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"\n4 key takeaways from South Carolina and Maine primary contests - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1684\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"4 key takeaways from South Carolina and Maine primary contests - Metro Transit Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Embattled Senate hopeful Graham Platner survived his Democratic primary in Maine Tuesday night, setting the stage for a November matchup against longtime incumbent Sen. 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