Free Republic

How much was former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, plus 27 years as a television news anchor, worth to Kari Lake in her successful bid for the Republican nomination for governor of Arizona? Millions.Lake bested wealthy businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson 47.9% to 43.2% in the Arizona GOP gubernatorial primary despite being outspent 18 to 1 on radio and broadcast and cable television. Lake spent just shy of $827,000 on the air, according to the most recently available figures, while Taylor Robson blanketed the airwaves with $15.3 million in campaign advertising. Lake also got clobbered by Taylor Robson on total spending, $18.4...

At just 44 years old, T.W. Shannon is mounting his second bid for the Senate. For the second time, the Oklahoma Republican is running in a special election to fill the remainder of a six-year term being vacated prematurely by a GOP incumbent. This time, it's Sen. James Inhofe, 87, who was first elected in 1994 and is resigning from Congress at year’s end. So, what dragged Shannon, now chief executive officer of a community bank in Oklahoma City, out of political retirement since his first (and unsuccessful) campaign for Senate eight years ago? ... “My story is unique, and...

Earning a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump was not enough to clear a path to the Republican nomination for Max Miller, who is running for an open House seat in Ohio. Attorney Shay Hawkins, a former aide to Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, launched his campaign Wednesday, declaring himself the best candidate to ensure Republicans defend the suburban Cleveland district in the 2022 midterm elections.

The race for the Republican nomination for Senate in Pennsylvania is Sean Parnell’s to lose after snagging an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Trump chose the Army combat veteran of the war in Afghanistan over loyalist Carla Sands, a former ambassador in his administration and generous campaign contributor. The former president also chose Parnell over one of his leading grassroots supporters, Kathy Barnette...

President Trump has told Republican leaders that he's prepared to play hardball with congressional conservatives to pass the GOP healthcare bill, including by supporting the 2018 primary challengers of any Republican who votes against the bill. Sources told the Washington Examiner that Trump made that threat in a White House meeting on Tuesday with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and other members of the House GOP whip team that helps line up votes. Trump's threat is one that could resonate. Most of the Republicans who oppose the GOP's American Health Care Act represent ruby red districts that strongly support...