A close Virginia gubernatorial primary that saw a fervent supporter of President Trump nearly upset a well-funded and organized Republican establishment candidate is being seen as a sign that Trump's support could put some incumbent Republicans in jeopardy.
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie barely beat Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart Tuesday by a little over 1 percentage point, a victory margin of just 4,323 votes out of 366,114 cast. Polls and GOP politicos had predicted that the establishment-backed Gillespie would win in a rout.
Now there are worries that Gillespie will struggle to motivate hardcore Trump supporters to turn out for him in southern parts of the state this November and at the same time will face hostile liberal voters in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.
That would be bad enough for Republican prospects in Virginia this year and in similar races across the country in 2018. But Stewart's unexpectedly strong showing also revives the possibility of Republican incumbents facing pro-Trump primary challengers, with or without the president's blessing, with the GOP majority in the House on the line.
"I think Corey's strong showing should be yet another wake-up call to the Republican establishment," said Chris Barron, a Virginia-based conservative operative who is supportive of the president. "The establishment might not like Trump, but the grassroots loves him. This is not their Republican Party anymore; it is his."
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04.27.2024