US primaries: Key candidacies set for November elections after Tuesday's contests

Primary elections across several U.S. states on Tuesday, August 11, have set the stage for the November general elections, defining key matchups and advancing candidates.

In South Carolina, the special Republican primary to fill the late Senator Lindsey Graham's seat saw a competitive field. Ten candidates vied for the nomination, with Darline Graham, the late senator's sister and a Trump-backed contender, participating. Preliminary results indicated that Graham and Ralph Norman advanced to a runoff election, signaling a closely contested race.

Alabama's special Republican primary for the House of Representatives in District 1 concluded with Jerry Carl securing a decisive victory. The state's electoral organization also hosted other Republican contests for House seats.

Vermont's primaries focused on state and federal positions, with Democrats aiming to unseat the Republican governor. In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Amanda Janoo emerged as the frontrunner, while incumbent Governor Phil Scott faced no opposition on the Republican side, securing his party's nomination.

Connecticut's Democratic primaries featured challenges to established figures. Ned Lamont led the Democratic gubernatorial primary with a significant margin. The state also held several contests for the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Minnesota hosted a notable Democratic primary for the Senate nomination.