Minnesota politician and house speaker
South Carolina has held a special Republican primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and has produced a runoff. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman have advanced; Rep. Russell Fry finished a close third. The Aug. 25 runoff will almost certainly decide the GOP nominee who will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
Francesca Hong leads a four-candidate field in Wisconsin’s governor race, while David Crowley is backing a bid as the field tightens. In Minnesota, race dynamics center on electability ahead of the U.S. Senate contest as progressives threaten to reshape the party’s trajectory.
Muslim public officials face rising anti-Muslim rhetoric from some Republican figures after Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win. CAIR warns that such rhetoric targets Muslim officials nationwide, while other Republicans condemn the tone amid a charged political climate.
Karoline Leavitt has announced she will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump has said she will remain a top outside adviser; the White House has not named a successor and senior officials are expected to brief reporters temporarily.
A downtown Minneapolis shooting has left at least one dead and several others injured. Police say two officers are among the wounded as emergency services respond and residents are urged to avoid the area.