New York Times/Siena University polls of South Carolina, Florida, and Minnesota reveal unexpected shifts in the Senate midterms. In South Carolina, Democrat Darline Graham leads Republican Lindsey Graham’s sister by less than one point—a tight race in a state once considered safely red. The poll highlights voter skepticism toward Ms. Graham’s experience and qualifications, with attacks from within her own party, including criticism from former primary rival Ralph Norman.
Meanwhile, Florida shows Republicans holding a six-point lead, with strong GOP turnout expected. Most surprisingly, Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan leads Republican Michele Tafoya by 14 points—an outlier that could signal polling challenges or genuine Democratic momentum. The state’s lack of party registration makes it a testing ground for polling accuracy.
With national Democrats up 10.5 points on the generic ballot, Minnesota may reflect broader trends or polling blind spots.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing