Rep. Sanford of S.C. predicts defeat
Rep. Mark Sanford, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, appeared to be on the verge of losing his South Carolina congressional seat Tuesday after the president injected himself into the bitter Republican primary by stoking memories of the incumbent’s public extramarital affair seven years ago.
Four other states voted Tuesday, including several races that will be key to determining which party controls the House.
As votes were still being counted in South Carolina, Sanford told supporters he was “going to lose this race” to state Rep. Katie Arrington, who had criticized the former governor for disloyalty to Trump.
But as Sanford spoke to the crowd, the race was still too close to call.
After steering clear of the race for months, Trump, late on Tuesday but hours before polls closed, attacked Sanford by tweet, calling him “very unhelpful.”
“He’s MIA and nothing but trouble,” Trump continued. “He is better off in Argentina.”
The swipe was a reference to Sanford’s unexplained disappearance from the state in 2009, which he later said was part of an affair he was carrying on with a woman in Argentina.
Sanford would be the second incumbent House Republican to lose a primary this year.
Sanford was not the only establishment Republican to face challenges Tuesday. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a close ally of Trump, was forced into a runoff after failing to muster the required 50 percent vote to win outright.
McMaster, an early supporter of the president’s 2016 campaign, had Trump’s full endorsement, marked by a weekend tweet.
House bellwether in Va.
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 Ab- igail Spanberger in the 7th District and Elaine Luria in Virginia’s 2nd District.
In Comstock’s district, Wexton was the best-known in the field, and was viewed as the Democratic Party’s establishment choice. She had the endorsement of Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam.
Comstock, a moderate Republican who easily beat back a challenge from conservative Shak Hill, is one of the Democrats’ top targets in November. The secondterm House member’s district leans Republican, though Democrat Hillary Clinton received more votes there than Trump did in 2016.
Democrats need to gain 23 seats to win the majority in the House.
In another big Virginia race, Republican Corey Stewart — once a state chairman to Trump’s presidential campaign who was fired for protesting the Republican National Committee — won the Republican primary to face Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine.
Turning the LePage
Maine voters are deciding how they’d prefer to veer in their search for the successor to termlimited, conservative Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
The field includes top Republicans in the state legislature, Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason and House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette; LePage’s former state health agency chief, Mary Mayhew; and businessman Shawn Moody, who’s trying to claim the outsider mantle.
Democrats, with just 16 of the nation’s governorships, view the seat as one of their top pick-up opportunities.
First, they must settle a sevenway primary field led by Attorney General Janet Mills and former state House Speaker Mark Eves.
Nevada and North Dakota
Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, the only Republican seeking re-election in a state that Clinton carried in 2016, and Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen sailed through their primaries, and already have begun focusing their criticism on each other in what is expected to be among the most competitive Senate races this year.
One of the most interesting GOP primaries in Nevada involves legal brothel owner Dennis Hof challenging GOP state Rep. James Oscarson for his seat in the statehouse.
Also, incumbent Rep. Mark Amodei defeated conservative activist Sharron Angle in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District.
The most competitive choice for Democrats appears to be the battle between Clark County commissioners vying to be Nevada’s first Democratic governor in two decades.
Steve Sisolak is running as a centrist, and fellow board member Chris Giunchigliani is running as a progressive. Four lesserknown candidates are also running. Republican Attorney Gen. Adam Laxalt easily cleared the GOP field.
In North Dakota, GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer will face moderate Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.