Democrats rally round Platner in Maine as Trump reaffirms grip on GOP after primaries

Outcome of polls in four states offers mixed signals about direction of two major parties before November's midterms

Progressives rallied round the controversial Graham Platner after his primary victory in Maine on Tuesday, while Donald Trump again exerted his grip on the Republican party, helping to defeat a politician who had pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Primary elections were held in four states - Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina - ahead of November's midterms to decide control of both houses of Congress. The results offered mixed signals about the direction of the two major parties.