GOP’s Sanford loses to woman Trump endorsed
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 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 to 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.”
Four other states voted Tuesday, including several races that will be key to determining which party controls the House.
In other races:
⏩ 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.
Besides that district, considered key to the House battleground map this fall, Democrats in two other Virginia districts they hope to retake nominated women, including Abigail Spanberger in the 7th District and Elaine Luria in Virginia’s 2nd District.
Corey Stewart, a conservative provocateur and Trump supporter , won Virginia’s Republican primary Tuesday in the U.S. Senate race, and he has promised to run a “vicious” campaign against incumbent Tim Kaine.
⏩ Nevada set the stage for what could be some of the most expensive, hard-fought House races in the country by choosing candidates for two open seats Democrats hope to defend.
⏩ In North Dakota, U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer cruised to victory in the Republican primary to set up a battle with Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.
⏩ Maine residents rejected a legislative delay of rankedchoice voting, meaning the system will be used in federal elections in November in the state.