Photo Credit: Darline Graham for Senate
By BallotWire
08/28/2026
Top Election Developments
A weekly recap of major election news: key race developments, candidate moves, and shifts that could shape upcoming contests.
Graham Wins South Carolina Republican U.S. Senate Runoff
Appointed U.S. Senator Darline Graham won South Carolina’s special Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff on August 25, defeating U.S. Representative Ralph Norman roughly 52.5% to 47.5%. The victory gives Graham the Republican nomination for the seat previously held by her late brother, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
The runoff became a major test of President Trump’s influence in the Republican primary. After Graham’s brother died on July 11, Trump personally encouraged her to run, endorsed her before she entered the race, and campaigned with her at a rally in Myrtle Beach four days before the runoff. Graham also received the backing of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who appointed her to the seat, and U.S. Senator Tim Scott.
Graham will face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician, in November for a full six-year term. Republicans enter the general election with a long winning streak in South Carolina, where a Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate race since Fritz Hollings in 1998. However, a new Impact Research poll shows a close race, with Graham and Andrews tied at 41% among likely voters.
Blair Upsets Scott’s Daughter in Georgia’s 13th District Special Runoff
Former Gwinnett County School Board Chairman Everton Blair won the August 25 special election runoff for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, defeating Marcye Scott, the daughter of the late U.S. Representative David Scott, roughly 53.9% to 46.1%.
Blair ran on a progressive platform that included Medicare for All, universal childcare, the Green New Deal and an increase in the federal minimum wage. Scott centered her campaign in part on continuing the legacy of her father, who represented the district for more than two decades before his death in April at age 80.
With the victory, Blair becomes the first openly gay man elected to Congress from Georgia. His time in office will be brief, however, as he will serve only the remainder of David Scott’s term, which ends in January. Blair will not be on the November ballot after losing the regular Democratic primary in May to Georgia State Representative Jasmine Clark, who is favored to win a full term in the heavily Democratic suburban Atlanta district.
Mazzei Narrowly Wins Oklahoma Republican Governor Runoff
Former Oklahoma State Senator Mike Mazzei narrowly defeated Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the Republican gubernatorial primary runoff on August 25, winning 50.3% to 49.7%.
The victory capped a major comeback for Mazzei, who was polling at roughly 13% in January, compared to 36% for Drummond. By the June primary, Mazzei had closed the gap, finishing second with 26.0% of the vote, just behind Drummond at 26.3%, before overtaking him in the runoff.
Mazzei will face Democratic nominee and outgoing Oklahoma House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, along with three independent candidates, in the November 3 general election. Republicans have held the Oklahoma governorship since 2011.
Judge Blocks Maryland Congressional Redistricting Measure
An Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge ruled August 26 that Maryland’s proposed congressional redistricting amendment cannot appear on the November ballot, finding that lawmakers failed to meet a required July 1 deadline for certifying ballot language. The ruling blocks the measure for now but can be appealed to the Maryland Supreme Court.
Democratic lawmakers approved the constitutional amendment during a special session in August, with the measure passing largely along party lines before Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed it. The amendment would clarify that redistricting requirements in the Maryland Constitution that apply to state legislative districts do not also apply to congressional districts.
The change could have cleared a legal obstacle for Democrats to redraw Maryland’s congressional map ahead of the 2028 elections and potentially target the state’s only Republican-held district. Democrats currently hold seven of Maryland’s eight U.S. House seats, while U.S. Representative Andy Harris represents the heavily Republican 1st Congressional District.
Maryland Democrats pursued the amendment in response to Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional maps in states such as Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas to add GOP-held seats ahead of the 2026 elections.
Data & Polling Roundup
New polling and data insights on the current electoral landscape and emerging trends.
Nearly 4 in 5 Pennsylvania Voters Struggling to Afford Basic Necessities
A new Franklin & Marshall College poll finds widespread economic strain among Pennsylvania voters ahead of November’s midterm elections. The survey of 501 registered voters, conducted August 17-23 with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points, found nearly four in five are having difficulty paying for at least one basic expense. That includes 57% who report difficulty paying utility bills and 55% who say the same about groceries.
The financial strain crosses party lines, with 79% of Democrats, 74% of Republicans, and 71% of independents reporting difficulty covering at least one expense. The economy is the top issue for 31% of voters, while 44% say they are worse off financially than a year ago. Voters favor Democrats over Republicans on handling the economy 47% to 23%, up from 42% to 24% in June.
President Trump’s ratings have also declined, with 27% describing his performance as excellent or good and 73% as fair or poor. His positive rating stood at 41% in October.
Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s job rating is evenly split, with 47% of voters rating his performance as excellent or good and 47% as fair or poor. The poll also finds Shapiro leading Republican challenger and Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity 50% to 25% in the governor’s race. On the generic congressional ballot, Democrats lead Republicans 48% to 36%.
Foulkes Leads McKee by 15 Points in Rhode Island Democratic Governor Primary
The final Emerson College Polling and WPRI-TV 12 News survey before Rhode Island’s Democratic gubernatorial primary finds Helena Foulkes leading incumbent Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee 45% to 30%, with 25% undecided. When undecided voters are asked to choose, Foulkes leads 61% to 39%. The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters August 21-22, including 528 likely Democratic primary voters.
Since Emerson’s May poll, Foulkes has gained five points and McKee ten, leaving Foulkes’ overall lead largely unchanged. McKee receives his strongest support from voters without a college degree and union members, while Foulkes performs best among voters over 50.
In general election matchups, Foulkes receives 45% against independent candidate Ken Block at 21% and a generic Republican candidate at 18%. With McKee as the Democratic nominee, he receives 36% to Block’s 26%. The poll also finds 61% of Rhode Island voters believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, while President Trump’s job approval stands at 30%.
New Poll Shows Tight Iowa U.S. Senate and Governor Races
A new Suffolk University poll finds both of Iowa’s major statewide races within the margin of error, two years after Trump carried the state by 13 points. The survey of 500 likely voters was conducted August 20-23 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
In the U.S. Senate race, Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson leads Democratic Iowa State Representative Josh Turek 45% to 41%. In the governor’s race, Democratic Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand leads Republican businessman Zach Lahn 48% to 44%.
Turnout could be particularly important in the U.S. Senate race. Hinson and Turek are tied at 45% among voters who say they are very likely to vote, while 38% of voters who did not participate in the 2024 presidential election remain undecided.
Hobbs Leads Biggs by 15 Points in Arizona Governor’s Race
A new HighGround Public Affairs poll finds Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs leading Republican U.S. Representative Andy Biggs 49.5% to 34.3% among likely Arizona general election voters. The survey of 400 voters was conducted August 15-18 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
Hobbs’ lead is driven by strong support among women, 56.7% to 28.8%, and independent and unaffiliated voters, 54.5% to 19.3%. She also leads across every age group and receives support from 93% of Democrats.
Biggs is winning 70% of Republicans, while 14% remain undecided and nearly 12% support Hobbs. The poll was weighted to reflect an 8-point Republican advantage based on previous midterm turnout patterns.