NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Some Republicans fear that pro trump candidates in blue states, where the party has generally had success with more moderate candidates, could hurt the chances of big GOP gains in Congress and state houses in November.
“This can’t go on,” former Connecticut U.S. Representative Christopher Shays, a moderate Republican and Trump critic, told The Associated Press, referring to the GOP choosing pro-Trump candidates. “One of the things that will happen is that a lot of the Trump candidates who won the primary will lose the general election. And there are a lot of disgruntled Republicans who currently hold office who believe the Senate is now danger of remaining a democrat.”
Republican voters nominated pro-Trump candidates in several blue states, including Maryland and Connecticut, where more “moderate” GOP candidates have generally found success.
Trump’s influence was on full display earlier this month when his last-minute endorsement helped propel Leora Levy, a member of the Republican National Committeeto a victory over former House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, who said she did not vote for the former president in 2020.
MITT ROMNEY SAYS LIZ CHENEY ‘WOULDN’T WIN’ GOP NOMINATION ‘IF SHE HAS TO RUN’ IN 2024
Former President Trump stressed the importance of restoring law and order to America in his first speech in Washington DC since leaving office.
(Getty Pictures)
“Sad day for CT…,” tweeted Brenda Kupchick, Fairfield’s first Republican draft pick and former state representative, after the Aug. 9 race was called for Levy. Days earlier, after Trump endorsed Levy on loudspeaker at a GOP picnic, Kupchick tweeted, “How is this helpful for the CT general election?”
Kupchick’s tweets sparked infighting within the GOP, with Trump supporters accusing Klarides of not being a “true conservative” and Trump critics predicting that Levy’s nomination means an easy victory for the incumbent US Democrats. Senator Richard Blumenthal despite a Quinnipiac poll in May recording his lowest job approval since taking office in 2011.
WH CHIEF OF STAFF RON KLAIN SAYS BIDEN’S ‘HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS’ HELP DEMOCRATS IN NOVEMBER MIDTERM
Ben Proto, chairman of the Connecticut Republicans, dismissed any suggestion that Levy’s primary victory signaled a political shift within the state’s GOP. On the contrary, he said, the party this year has “candidates at all levels who have different opinions on particular issues.”
Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland with GOP Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, August 10, 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska
(A United America)
In Maryland, Trump endorsed the eventual winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary, Dan Cox, rather than a candidate backed by the incumbent Republican governor and Trump critic. larry hogan. In Massachusetts, Republican voters casting their ballots in the state’s Sept. 6 gubernatorial primary will choose between Geoff Diehl, a former Trump-backed state representative, and businessman Chris Doughty.
“I will vote against anyone who seeks Donald Trump’s support because it tells me a lot about their character and what they intend to do if elected. That’s the bottom line for me. “Shays, who lives in Maryland, told The Associated Press.
Trump’s endorsement catapulted several Republican candidates to primary victories across the country during the midterm cycle and he remains wildly popular with GOP voters, but some Democrats and the media claimed that putting it on the ballot in the general election gives Democrats a better chance of retaining control of Congress.
Blumenthal has already started drawing attention to Trump in his run against Levy.
A day after the primary, Blumenthal’s campaign sent out a fundraising message warning, “The primary results are in, and I’m officially up against Trump’s hand-picked candidate in the general election – a hardline Republican who will be nothing more than a rubber stamp on Mitch McConnell’s disastrous agenda.”
Levy drew attention to President Biden, who is less popular than Trump according to a Fox News Poll last month, in a press release following his primary victory.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 10, 2022
(Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“Dick Blumenthal wants this election to be a referendum on a president,” Levy said. “Donald Trump is not on the ballot in November, but Joe Biden is.”
Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell raised doubts this week that Republicans will take control of the Senate and pointed to the “quality” of some of the candidates as the reason.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I think there is probably a better chance of the House rocking than the Senate,” anticipated the Minority Leader. “Senate races are just different, they’re statewide. The quality of the candidates has a lot to do with the outcome.”