James Settelmeyer, a Republican candidate for Congress in Nevada's 2nd district, speaks to attendees of a Nevada Builders Alliance event in Washoe Valley, Nev., Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota have hosted primary elections, but much of the political world is focused on Maine’s high-stakes U.S. Senate contest. The Maine results were never in question. Neither Republican Sen. Susan Collins nor Democratic challenger Graham Platner faced serious opposition for their party’s nomination. Yet Tuesday marked an especially significant moment for Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer who's fighting to rebuild his credibility in a campaign rocked by controversy. Elsewhere, President Donald Trump’s clout within the Republican Party was tested anew in states like South Carolina and Nevada. Democrats hoped to build momentum in Nevada in their broader push to reclaim key governor’s seats.