<\/p>\n
Former President Donald Trump again proved his endorsements are game-changers in the Republican primaries, scoring big wins in Connecticut and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n
Also in Tuesday’s primary, Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of “The Squad,” nearly lost her seat to a pro-police Democrat in Minnesota’s 5th District.<\/p>\n
In Connecticut, Leora Levy, who was supported by Mr. Trump beat polls and predictions a week ago by defeating his moderate Republican opponent, Themis Klarides, in the Republican Senate primary.<\/p>\n
With 99% of the votes counted on Wednesday, Ms. Levy received 51%. Ms. Klarides, a former state House minority leader who had the support of the state party, received 40 percent, and immigration lawyer Peter Lumaj had 9 percent.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump held a tele-rally for tens of thousands of Connecticut voters on the eve of the election and made a robocall for Ms. Levy on election day.<\/p>\n
“We are making history here,” said Ms. Levy in his victory speech. “Thank you, President Trump, for your strong, clear and unequivocal support. I will not let you down.”<\/p>\n
Ms. Levy is a member of the Republican National Committee that Mr. Trump nominated her as US ambassador to Chile, although she was never confirmed.<\/p>\n
In November, he will face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who has an $8 million campaign coffer and has never lost an election in his 37-year career. Mr. Blumenthal is a vitriolic enemy of Mr. trump<\/p>\n
“Here in Connecticut, Dick Blumenthal is Joe Biden,” said Ms. Levy to supporters. “Dick Blumenthal Supported Defunding Police”.<\/p>\n
Mr Trump has said Ms Levy will “defeat the corrupt Richard Blumenthal in November, and what a victory that will be”.<\/p>\n
Lumaj called the primary results “a big win for President Trump in our state.”<\/p>\n
“The target remains Blumenthal and failed liberal policies,” he said. “Obviously, the endorsement by the party [Mr. Trump] changed the political landscape of our state.”<\/p>\n
Larraine Rubacha, a prominent supporter of Klarides, told the Hartford Courant that he was surprised by Ms. Levy’s victory.<\/p>\n
“I’m heartbroken,” she said. “I never saw that coming, it’s shocking… The Trump factor must have played a big part, but who saw that coming in Connecticut? Not me, not anyone I know.”<\/p>\n
In Wisconsin, Trump-endorsed construction company owner Tim Michels beat establishment GOP candidate Rebecca Kleefisch in the GOP gubernatorial primary.<\/p>\n
With 98% of the votes counted on Wednesday, Mr. Michels had 47.1%. Ms. Kleefisch, a former lieutenant governor who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence, had 42 percent.<\/p>\n
The construction company of Mr. Michels was awarded a contract for the Keystone XL pipeline during the Trump administration, but work stalled when President Biden canceled the project in early 2021.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump failed in his bid to unseat Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who narrowly defeated Trump-endorsed challenger Adam Steen. Mr. Trump had repeatedly criticized Mr. Vos, the state’s longest-serving speaker, for failing to overturn Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n
In Minnesota, Mr. Trump scored another victory with his endorsement of Republican Secretary of State nominee Kim Crockett, who has said the 2020 election was rigged.<\/p>\n
And Ms. Omar, who was first elected in 2018 and has become nationally recognized as one of several progressive lawmakers, narrowly won her primary against moderate Democrat Don Samuels 50.4% to 48 .2%<\/p>\n
Supporters of Mr. The Samuels said they were unhappy with Ms. Omar’s vote against President Biden’s infrastructure bill and his failed proposal to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new “Department of Public Safety.”<\/p>\n