According to the reports, Nikki Haley's bid to become the first female governor of South Carolina moved ahead Tuesday with a Republican runoff win over U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett.

The New York Times has reported that if Haley, a 38-year-old first-generation American of Indian descent, defeats Democrat Vincent Sheehan in November, she also would be the state's first minority governor.

Haley won despite being dogged during the primary campaign by allegations of marital infidelity, which she has denied.

It was also reported that Haley and Sheehan are vying to succeed Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican who couldn't seek another term because of state limits.

According to the Times, Veteran politician Elaine Marshall defeated former Army prosecutor Cal Cunningham for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. Marshall will face incumbent Republican Richard Burr, who is seeking a second term.

The Times also said that in South Carolina, six-term 4th District GOP Rep. Bob Inglis was defeated handily by prosecutor Trey Gowdy. Inglis became vulnerable because of his support of the banking industry bailout.

CQ Politics also reported that in the 1st District Tim Scott won the Republican nomination in his bid to become South Carolina's first black congressman in more than a century. He beat Paul Thurmond, son of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond. If Scott wins this fall, he would be the first black Republican to serve in Congress since Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma left in 2002.

Voters also voted in Utah and Mississippi on Tuesday.

It was further noted by the media reports that Utah conducted its party primaries while Mississippi held runoffs for statewide and local races where candidates had failed to get the 50-percent-plus-one threshold to claim primary wins outright. (With Inputs from Agencies)