W.Va. Republicans relieved by winner
WASHINGTON — Republicans narrowly averted political disaster in the West Virginia Senate primary on Tuesday with the defeat of former coal executive Don Blankenship, while mainstream Democrats fended off a liberal insurgent in the Ohio governor’s race, bringing relief to the establishment of both parties on a day of elections in four states.
But establishment Republicans were handed a stinging defeat in North Carolina, where Rep. Robert Pittenger was defeated by Mark Harris, a pastor who made his name denouncing same-sex marriage.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey won the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Joe Manchin III, one of the most vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election this year. Morrisey’s victory marked a demonstration of Trump’s clout with the party base and ensures that the race against Manchin will remain competitive.
In a hard-fought battle in Ohio between two liberal Democrats, Richard Cordray won the party’s nomination in the governor’s race over the former congressman and presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich.
Cordray will compete against Mike DeWine, the state attorney general, who claimed the Republican nomination after an aggressive challenge from Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.
Indiana Republicans settled a bloody Senate primary between three largely indistinguishable candidates, selecting Mike Braun, a wealthy former state legislator and business executive, to challenge Sen. Joe Donnelly, a first-term Democrat. Donnelly is among the most vulnerable Democrats in the Senate, and President Donald Trump is scheduled to campaign against him on Thursday.
And in a low-profile election distinguished only by a famous last name, Greg Pence, the vice president’s brother, claimed the Republican nomination in Indiana’s 6th Congressional District. Pence, who vacuumed up campaign funds from national donors close to his brother, is the strong favorite to win what was his brother’s old seat.
North Carolina did not have any major statewide elections, but voters there delivered the biggest upset of the night: Pittenger, a third-term Republican, was defeated by Harris, a pastor who nearly unseated the congressman in the 2016 primary there.
The unexpected setback is likely to jolt congressional Republicans and underscore that their fragile House majority is the party’s most vulnerable front in 2018.