Republicans breathed a collective sigh of relief Tuesday night as primary contests for the U.S. Senate produced a trio of candidates they consider effective challengers to Democratic incumbents in states President Trump won in 2016.
The races in West Virginia, Indiana and Ohio were the first in what will be a months-long string of crowded primaries for Republicans in key battleground states, lasting until Wisconsin and Arizona vote in August. While the GOP was pleased with Tuesday’s results, Democrats believe that the divisive primaries left the respective victors wounded, giving their party’s incumbents an edge heading into the general elections.
The biggest victory for Republicans came in West Virginia, where Don Blankenship, a former coal baron who recently served a prison sentence related to a mining disaster that killed 29 people, finished a distant third. The national party spent more than $1.3 million in recent weeks hoping to sink his campaign, and Trump intervened in the final hours to urge voters against supporting Blankenship. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey ultimately won, and will take on Sen. Joe Manchin in the fall.
In Indiana, businessman and former state legislator Mike Braun defeated Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer to face Sen. Joe Donnelly, whom many Republicans view as their best target on the 2018 map. And in Ohio, Rep. Jim Renacci won his race to take on Sen. Sherrod Brown.
All three nominees have endeared themselves to Trump, aiming to capitalize on his presidential achievements in order coalesce the base and overcome Democrats with strong individual brands that have contributed to their past successes.
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05.21.2024