Sanford ousted in S.C. after critical Trump tweet
Congressman loses to state lawmaker backed by president
Over more than two decades, South Carolina voters forgave U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford for his quirkiness, his infidelity and his lies. But they could not forgive him for his criticism of President Donald Trump.
Sanford lost his first election ever Tuesday, beaten for the Republican nomination for another term in the coastal 1st District around Charleston by state Rep. Katie Arrington.
Less than three hours before the polls closed, Trump endorsed Arrington on his Twitter account with an especially personal shot at Sanford.
“Mark Sanford has been very unhelpful to me in my campaign to MAGA. He is MIA and nothing but trouble. He is better off in Argentina,” the president wrote, referring to Sanford's trip to South America in 2009 to have an affair while his unknowing staff in the governor's office told reporters he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Sanford survived that public confession about the affair to win two more terms to the U.S. House. But Arrington made an issue of his criticism of the president, calling him a “Never Trumper.”
One of her ads got personal too, saying “it's time for Mark Sanford to take a hike — for real this time.”
After declaring victory Tuesday, Arrington asked Republicans to come together. And she reminded them who she thinks leads them: “We are the party of President Donald J. Trump.”
Virginia, Maine, Nevada and North Dakota also held primaries Tuesday.
Virginia
Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Wexton was the clear winner in a six-way primary in Virginia’s 10th District and will challenge Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock.
Wexton was the best-known and best-financed in the field, and she was viewed as the Democratic Party’s establishment choice.
Comstock, a moderate Republican who easily beat back a challenge from conservative Shak Hill, is one of the Democrats’ top targets in November.
Democrats need to gain 23 seats to win the House majority.
In the U.S. Senate race, Trump backer Corey Stewart won Virginia's Republican primary, and he has promised to run a “vicious” campaign against incumbent Tim Kaine.
Maine
Maine voters were deciding how they’d prefer to veer in their search for the successor to termlimited, conservative Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
For Republicans, businessman Shawn Moody had a wide early lead over Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette and LePage’s former state health agency chief, Mary Mayhew.
On the Democratic side, Attorney General Janet Mills held a 5.5-point lead over the nearest of six opponents.
Nevada
Nevada Republicans made primary night easy, sending U.S. Sen. Dean Heller into a tough battle to save his seat and putting Attorney General Adam Laxalt on the November ballot for governor.
The toughest choice for Democrats was a close battle between Clark County Commission colleagues Steve Sisolak and Christina Giunchigliani — each hoping to be Nevada's first Democratic governor in two decades.
North Dakota
North Dakota U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer is looking ahead to a November battle with Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp that could be key to control the chamber.
Cramer brushed aside a challenge from Air Force veteran Thomas O'Neill and cruised to an easy victory in Tuesday's Republican Senate primary in North Dakota.