Major races across the United States were decided on June 9, 2026, as the elections for that year progress. In South Carolina, the Republican gubernatorial primary will proceed to a runoff on June 23, as no candidate achieved a majority. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, received nearly 29% of the votes, while Attorney General Alan Wilson garnered 26.1%. Representatives Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace did not advance, receiving 17% and 12% respectively.
On the Democratic side, Jermaine Johnson, a former professional basketball player, won the nomination to challenge the Republican nominee for governor in November. Johnson previously served three terms in the state legislature and defeated his opponents by a significant margin. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in South Carolina in nearly 30 years.
In the 1st Congressional District, which is open due to Mace's decision to run for governor, two Democratic candidates advanced to a runoff: retired Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore with 36.5% of the votes and Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford with 28.9%. Lacore's campaign centers on her dismissal from her Navy position by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
In Nevada, both Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo secured their party nominations in a closely watched gubernatorial race. Ford received significant backing and focused his campaign on affordability issues, while Lombardo highlighted economic improvements since taking office. In the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District, retired Air Force Lt. Col. David Flippo led with 45.7% of the votes, supported by Trump, against former Senate Minority Leader James Settelmeyer.
California also held primary elections, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra projected as the top candidates in the gubernatorial race. Becerra received nearly 28% of the vote, while Hilton received 25%. In the 22nd Congressional District, progressive candidate Randy Villegas won the Democratic primary, defeating the establishment's preferred candidate, Jasmeet Bains.
