Telling 5 GOP clones in Senate race apart
Arizona’s Trump Republicans are going to have a hard time choosing a rightwinger to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly next year.
Justin Olson, the guy who helps regulate utilities and who once handled finances for Turning Point USA, a Trump youth group, is the latest to throw in his hat for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
Just like the other four GOPers in the race, Olson attacked the Biden administration in explaining why Arizonans should send him to Washington.
Geez.
Trump supporters must really be scratching their heads over all these men saying the same things: Biden is bad, foreigners are invading the U.S.Mexico border, COVID-19 vaccine mandates are wicked.
Olson, the 42-year-old father of nine, serves on the Arizona Corporation Commission. He is a former state lawmaker who made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2016.
I guess at some point he will make it clear why he’d be best over the other four men tripping over each other to show who’s the Trumpiest.
Perhaps most distinguishable so far is their backgrounds and how much cash each can draw. So, let’s take a look.
Blake Masters has the backing of his billionaire boss, Peter Thiel, who has pledged $10 million to boost his chances. With that kind of cash, Masters’ super PAC is already attacking Attorney General Mark Brnovich as not being Trumpian enough.
Brnovich, who has only proven to be a bad fundraiser, can’t seem to catch a break from Trump, who’s not happy with his handling of the bogus election audit of Maricopa County ballots.
Solar power executive Jim Lamon reportedly is ready and willing to spend his own cash, which might help him get his face out there. He has loaned his campaign $2 million and raised $223,000 as of June 30, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Lastly, Michael McGuire can’t seem to get anyone to talk about him. For the record, he was adjutant general of the Arizona National Guard and apparently is just behind Brmovich in fundraising efforts. Go figure.
McGuire has reportedly raised about $426,000 compared to Brnovich’s $600,000.
The target is Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly, who is kind of royalty in Arizona being married to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and having flown to space a few times.
Kelly, you’ll remember, is an actual former astronaut — not the kind who can just pay millions of dollars for a few seconds-rocket-ride into space.
But back to earth to the U.S. Senate race. Kelly has raised more than $10 million to face any of these Trumpers vying for the chance to unseat him. Though wouldn’t it be a lot more fun to wage this fight up in space?