All articles tagged with #gop primary
Rep. Andy Barr won Kentucky's Republican Senate primary, boosted by President Trump's endorsement, defeating Daniel Cameron and Nate Morris; Barr is widely favored to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell in deep-red Kentucky.
Thomas Massie, a libertarian-leaning incumbent in Kentucky’s 4th district, faces a Trump-endorsed challenge from Ed Gallrein in a close GOP primary that has become a referendum on Trump’s influence and Massie’s willingness to defy him; with voters split on loyalty, Massie’s anti-establishment stance on taxes, foreign policy, and the Epstein files, along with local concerns like rising gas prices, could determine whether he survives and what it signals for the party’s direction.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is backing Rep. Julia Letlow to unseat Sen. Bill Cassidy, a push that cements his kingmaker role while drawing frustration from fellow Republicans who view it as overreach ahead of a likely May runoff.
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen lost the GOP primary to Scott Petersen, who campaigned on election integrity concerns and promoted extensive hand-counting while calling for tighter limits on mail voting. Evnen defended Nebraska’s voting system as secure and highlighted a 10% hand-count audit, but Petersen’s messages—often spreading debunked conspiracy theories about voting equipment—proved compelling enough to unseat the two-term incumbent. Petersen’s upset victory in a conservative state makes him the favorite in November’s general election.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito won West Virginia's Republican Senate primary, defeating four challengers and securing the party's nomination with strong backing from President Trump, positioning her as the overwhelming favorite for the November midterms in a solidly red state.
Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in unofficial results, defeating Casey Putsch and advancing to a November contest against Democrat Amy Acton. Backed by Trump, Ramaswamy leverages name recognition and a national profile, while Acton runs on affordability and public-health experience from the Covid era. Ohio’s term-limited governor’s seat is up, and the general election is expected to be competitive amid lingering Covid-era politics.
Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for Ohio governor in the primary and will face Democrat Amy Acton in November, with Gov. DeWine term-limited. The field tightened after Dave Yost dropped out and Jim Tressel didn’t run; Ramaswamy defeated Casey Putsch. Acton had no challengers. In fundraising, Ramaswamy reported about $30 million cash on hand (roughly $5 million raised in Q1 2026 plus a $25 million self-loan) while Acton had about $3 million on hand after raising $5.1 million. Vice President JD Vance said he voted for Ramaswamy.
Vivek Ramaswamy won the Ohio Republican primary for governor, defeating Casey Putsch; Amy Acton earned the Democratic nomination, with Heather Hill removed from the ballot. Ramaswamy will run with Rob McColley and Acton with David Pepper. The general election is expected to be close in a state that hasn’t elected a Democratic governor in 20 years, aided by Ramaswamy’s large fundraising and early ad push.
A Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund ad backing Ed Gallrein attacks Rep. Thomas Massie for opposing the Iran war as Massie faces Gallrein in a May primary. The move, one of the first to use the Iran war in a primary contest, follows a House vote rejecting a War Powers resolution to halt the attack; Massie defends his stance as part of a broader push to end 'forever wars' and challenge Trump-aligned positions.
Former New York Yankee Mark Teixeira won the Texas-21 Republican primary with Trump-backed support, signaling a hard-line immigration stance, support for ICE, and gun-rights advocacy; he’ll face Democrat Kristin Hook in November, as Republicans pursue a high-profile, celebrity-driven bid that poses challenges for Democrats.
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page leads Senate Leader Phil Berger by two votes in North Carolina's GOP primary, with the margin triggering the possibility of a recount since it’s within 1%; outstanding provisional and overseas ballots could still change the result, and a recount must be requested by noon on the second business day after canvass (March 17). Berger has led the Senate since 2011, Page has long opposed casino expansion and gained national attention as an early Trump supporter, with Trump endorsing Berger while praising Page.
Embattled Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales was forced into a May runoff after backlash over reports of an affair with a former staffer who died by suicide; he will face 2A influencer Brandon Herrera in a contest that echoes his narrow 2024 victory and could hinge on Hispanic voters and GOP loyalty.
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Laurie Buckhout won North Carolina's Republican primary in the 1st Congressional District, setting up a rematch with incumbent Democrat Don Davis. Redistricting made the district more conservative, boosting Buckhout's prospects in a costly November race contested across multiple counties, with heavy spending from Buckhout and outside groups.
Steve Toth defeated Rep. Dan Crenshaw in Texas’s 2nd District Republican primary, unseating Crenshaw—the first incumbent to lose renomination in the 2026 cycle. Toth ran on a more Trump-aligned platform and secured a late endorsement from Sen. Ted Cruz, challenging Crenshaw’s foreign policy and immigration stances; Crenshaw, who had backed Ukraine aid, had tried to tie himself closely to Trump. The district remains solidly Republican, with Toth favored to win in November.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a MAGA favorite, is poised to win the GOP primary for the Senate against longtime incumbent John Cornyn, with polls showing Paxton ahead and a runoff likely; his impeachment acquittal and past investigations haven’t slowed his rise, aided by deep donor support and grassroots energy, while Trump has not endorsed and Democrats warn his baggage could threaten Republicans in November.