Mastriano wins GOP nomination for Pa. governor

Doug Mastriano won the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor on Tuesday, beating eight other candidates and a party establishment that had tried to head off his nomination over fears that he is too extreme to win the general election in the presidential battleground.

Mastriano, a retired U.S. Army colonel and state senator since 2019 who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, will face Democrat Josh Shapiro in the November election.

Mastriano, once viewed as a fringe candidate, spent almost nothing on TV ads and largely shunned interviews with independent news organizations.

Instead, he connected with far-right GOP voters through appearances on conservative broadcasters, a tireless ground campaign that dotted with his yard signs and endorsing conspiracy theories.

Pennsylvania's Lt. Gov. John Fetterman easily won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate from a hospital bed, as the Republican field remained unsettled in a tight three-way contest.

Fetterman defeated two other candidates with 59% of the vote, with a little less than half the votes counted.

Fetterman was unable to attend his election night events as he recovers from a stroke he suffered last week. Earlier Tuesday, he said he received a pacemaker implant. And he made a brief video appearance from his hospital room at the election night party, where his wife, Gisele, addressed the crowd.

The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate is less settled as it became a threeway heat between Mehmet Oz, a celebrity physician backed by former President Donald Trump; David McCormick, a former Wall Street executive; and Kathy Barnette, a conservative firebrand. With about 40% of votes counted so far, McCormick led Oz, 31.6% to 28.3%. Barnette trailed at 22.6%, according to election data compiled by The Associated Press.

North Carolina

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn struggled Tuesday to hold on to his western North Carolina seat, facing a stiff challenge from a state legislator in the Republican primary. With most votes counted, election results in the 11th District Republican primary showed the first-term congressman and pro-Donald Trump firebrand slightly trailing state Sen. Chuck Edwards.

Six other GOP candidates were in the race, which became a test of whether voters would grant Cawthorn another term despite his personal and political stumbles. Several GOP leaders have turned away from the 26-year-old congressman, with some citing a series of unforced errors, such as calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug” after Russia invaded his country.

Trump picked up an easy victory with U.S. Rep. Ted Budd winning the Republican Senate primary. Trump elevated the littleknown congressman using a surprise endorsement nearly a year ago. Budd will face Democrat Cheri Beasley, who cruised in her primary, in the November general election.

Kentucky

Charles Booker won the Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate in his bid to stop a decadeslong winning streak by Kentucky Republicans. Booker defeated three opponents in the Democratic primary. He will challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in the November election.