Mica tops tea party foe in Fla. primary

WASHINGTON — Longtime Republican Rep. John Mica of Florida turned back a challenge from tea party freshman Rep. Sandy Adams in their GOP primary on Tuesday.

Mica’s win was one of the premier races as four states held primaries, including Connecticut, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The 10-term congressman, who wields considerable Capitol Hill clout as the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is expected to win in November in the Republican-leaning district. Adams fell short despite backing from 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Also in Florida, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson will face Republican Connie Mack IV in November after winning handily in their respective party primaries.

In Wisconsin, former governor Tommy Thompson, who served as Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush, was in a tough four-way race for a chance to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl.

His challengers have cast themselves as closer to today’s more conservative GOP than the 70-yearold Thompson.

The winner will take on Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is uncontested.

Republicans see the Senate race in Wisconsin as a pickup opportunity as they try to gain majority control from the Democrats. The GOP needs to net four seats to wrest control of the Senate in November

In Connecticut, wealthy former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, the GOP’s endorsed candidate, defeated former representative Christopher Shays in the Senate primary. Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, is retiring.

In Connecticut’s Democratic Senate primary, Rep. Chris Murphy, who was the party’s endorsed candidate, beat former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. Looking past Shays, McMahon has already aired an attack ad against Murphy.