South Carolina Democratic Party

Democrat Annie Andrews won South Carolina's U.S. Senate race, flipping Greenville County -- the state's most populous and traditionally reliable Republican stronghold -- along with sizable swings in neighboring Upstate counties like Spartanburg and Oconee. The result stunned both parties and exposed deep divisions within the Greenville County GOP, where rival factions traded blame over low turnout, weak enthusiasm, and a failure to unify after a bruising primary.

Democrats see the win as evidence of long-term demographic shifts in the fast-growing Upstate, while Republicans call it a unique setback tied to candidate weakness rather than a lasting trend. Both sides agree the result scrambles assumptions ahead of 2028.

President Trump is set to hold a midterm rally in Pendleton, South Carolina, at Clemson University's T. Ed Garrison Arena on Oct. 21, as early voting continues ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain responded by criticizing Republicans over the cost of living, road conditions, and health care costs in the state. Spain highlighted that Democrats are fielding candidates in all 124 State House districts for the first time in more than 50 years, as well as competing for every statewide and federal office on the ballot, framing the race as a referendum on Republican control of the state.

Following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham on July 11, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline, to fill the remainder of his term, with a special election expected to determine who holds the seat long-term. Darline Graham has kept a low public profile since being sworn in, while Democratic physician Annie Andrews has been actively campaigning across the traditionally Republican state.

South Carolina is deeply red, and GOP figures including Katon Dawson and Nancy Mace loom over the race's dynamics, with national Republicans expected to coalesce around a chosen successor. Democrats, who have struggled statewide despite past efforts from figures like Jaime Harrison, see an opening given the unusual circumstances of the vacancy and Andrews's visible campaign presence. The race is being watched as a test of whether shifting demographics and health care-focused messaging could make an otherwise safe Republican seat competitive, with implications for the Senate's partisan balance.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), term-limited and widely viewed as a likely 2028 presidential contender, began a three-day swing through South Carolina and North Carolina, his fourth visit to the early primary state. State Democrats say the trip serves a dual purpose: giving Newsom exposure to primary voters while boosting volunteer energy and attention for state legislative races ahead of a critical election roughly 60 days away. Newsom is campaigning in more than 10 counties, including six that President Trump carried in 2024, focusing on competitive state House districts in the Lowcountry region.

Democrats say they are fielding candidates in all 124 state House districts for the first time in about 50 years, and are using visits from potential 2028 contenders like Newsom, Andy Beshear, and Wes Moore as surrogate appearances to energize grassroots organizing. South Carolina Republicans dismissed the visit, arguing Newsom's record makes him an unappealing messenger for the state's voters.

Arizona Republican lawmakers say they remain unsatisfied with Attorney General Kris Mayes' conclusion that no criminal charges will be filed over allegations that Gov. Katie Hobbs' administration engaged in a pay-to-play scheme. The claims center on whether Hobbs' office granted Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home operator, a special rate increase after the company donated more than half a million dollars to Hobbs' inauguration and the state Democratic Party.

At a Capitol news conference, GOP leaders including Senate President T.J. Shope and Sen. David Farnsworth argued the AG's finding of no crime doesn't resolve whether taxpayer money was misused or the process was fair, citing a former Department of Child Safety deputy director who questioned the rate hike's justification. Hobbs' office and Sunshine Residential dismissed the news conference as election-year political theater, noting the two-year investigation found no wrongdoing. Separate reviews by the state Auditor General and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office remain ongoing, keeping the controversy alive ahead of the 2026 election.

Florida's primaries produced a mixed picture for both parties ahead of November's general election. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with Trump's endorsement and a large financial edge, beating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and newcomer James Fishback despite Gov. Ron DeSantis's public misgivings; Donalds would become Florida's first Black governor if elected. Former Republican congressman David Jolly, running with Gwen Graham as his lieutenant governor pick, won the Democratic nomination over state Rep. Dotie Joseph and others, pitching himself as a centrist who wants to end the culture wars. The two will meet in November to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, in a state where Democrats haven't won the governorship in over 30 years.

Progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated establishment-backed Alex Vindman for the Senate Democratic nomination despite being outspent; she faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who won her primary with Trump's backing, in the special election for Marco Rubio's former seat. Incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz turned back challengers, including Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in redrawn districts under Florida's new Republican-favored congressional map. Trump-endorsed Cory Mills lost his House primary amid domestic violence allegations, while far-right figures Dan Bilzerian and Madison Cawthorn were also defeated, alongside Rep. Randy Fine's contentious win.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced her office will not charge Gov. Katie Hobbs over allegations she traded a rate increase for a group home operator in exchange for political contributions. Sunshine Residential Homes gave $200,000 to the state Democratic Party before Hobbs' 2022 election, then $100,000 to her inaugural fund and another $100,000 to the party in 2023, before securing a 30% rate hike from the Department of Child Safety, raising its per-bed rate from $149 to $195. Mayes, a Democrat, said investigators found no evidence of the quid pro quo needed to support a bribery charge, concluding the increase stemmed from Sunshine's leverage as the state's largest foster-care bed provider—it threatened to shift beds to a more lucrative federal program—rather than political pressure. Hobbs denies involvement, and state officials say then-DCS Director David Lujan approved the increase independently.

Mayes still called for legislative reform on contractor donation transparency. A separate investigation by Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and the state auditor general continues, with no completion timeline. The controversy remains a campaign issue as Hobbs seeks reelection against Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.