Free Republic

Nothing would better encapsulate the GOP’s political turn over this past decade than watching the most hardcore small-government Republican in Congress get obliterated in a primary because he’s worried that the president committed a crime.I wonder if he’ll stick around and accept this beating as a matter of principle or announce his retirement before the election. If he retires, he’ll spare himself the embarrassment of defeat but be seen as running from a fight. If he runs again, he’ll show that he’s defiant to the end but very likely end up humiliated on Primary Day, to Trump’s great satisfaction.Alternate...

In this environment, there is serious talk amongst Virginia Republicans in NOVA about whether to embrace an agenda based on conservative principles versus embracing ideas that might appeal to liberal-leaning voters. It is a vigorous debate on whether Virginia can be restored to a red state, and if so, what sort of leaders will get it there. Virginia Senate District 13 is a microcosm of this fight. Sen. Dick Black is retiring, and a classic conservative versus establishment-moderate primary matchup will determine his successor. Senate District 13 includes parts of Loudoun County and Prince William County, which are among the...

Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate seat in the Great State of Alabama. This time it will be for Six Years, not just Two. I have NOTHING against Roy Moore, and unlike many other Republican leaders, wanted him to win. But he didn’t, and probably won’t..... Donald J. Trump ‏ Verified account @realDonaldTrump 7h 7 hours ago More ...If Alabama does not elect a Republican to the Senate in 2020, many of the incredible gains that we have made during my Presidency may be lost, including our Pro-Life victories. Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will...

National Amash says challengers ‘not serious;' they disagree

Less than 48 hours after GOP Rep. Justin Amash declared that President Trump "engaged in impeachable conduct," a fellow Republican has vowed to challenge him in the upcoming primary election. Michigan state Rep. Jim Lower made his intentions known Monday morning, announcing that instead of seeking a third term in the state legislature, he will run against Amash for their party's nomination for the 2020 election. Amash has served as the representative for Michigan's Third District since 2011.

GREENVILLE, Mich. — Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, the first Republican in Congress to accuse President Donald Trump of impeachable conduct, is facing a primary challenge. State Rep. Jim Lower (LOW'-ur) announced Monday he's running for the western Michigan seat. The announcement came two days after Amash sent a series of tweets faulting Trump and Attorney General William Barr over special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The 30-year-old Lower, of Greenville, says he made the announcement earlier than planned after Amash attacked Trump.

Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan says he enlists social media to do something unusual: explain why he bucks his party in terms his constituents can understand. The 39-year-old Republican, who was the youngest member of the freshman class in 2011, states his approach succinctly: “I defend liberty and explain every vote here.” The simple formula has turned the libertarian, who rode into the House on the tea party wave, into something of a sensation. In 2012, the Independent Voter Network called Amash the “coolest member of Congress.” Amash’s latest decision — to state publicly that President Trump engaged in activity...

Fear that Kris Kobach will capture the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate is driving the effort to recruit Secretary of State Mike Pompeo into the race, according to GOP strategists with ties to Kansas.

It was only a few weeks ago when outgoing Ohio Governor John Kasich said he was seriously considering a 2020 primary challenge to President Trump, if only to “send a message.” (Who that message was intended for remains unclear.) But hey… the guy is going to be unemployed come January so he needs something to keep himself busy.But now, with Christmas fast approaching, something seems to have changed. During an interview with the Associated Press, Kasich was striking a decidedly different tone. Clearly, if you’re going to mount a primary challenge, you need to believe that you at least have...

Dumped Attorney General Jeff Sessions is weighing a bid to win back his old Senate seat in Alabama, a report said. Sessions, fired by President Trump a day after Republicans lost control of the House in the midterm elections, left the seat in 2017 when he was nominated to head up the Justice Department. But Sessions could run against Democrat Doug Jones, who won a special election in December 2017 to fill the seat and is up for re-election in 2020, Politico reported late Wednesday.

Hey @LisaMurkowski - I can see 2022 from my house...

Two key players in the battle over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh — moderate Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — face primary concerns in the next election cycle that could hinge on the outcome of this month’s confirmation fight. Collins is likely to face a primary challenge in 2020 if she votes against Kavanaugh and runs for reelection, predicted one veteran Maine Republican on Tuesday, though it’s not yet certain whether she intends to seek another six-year term.

Conservative commentator and outspoken "Never Trump" critic Bill Kristol says he is building a "war machine" within the Republican party to challenge President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign, according to CNBC. Kristol told the network that he's preparing "for a primary run against Trump," adding that Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) is on his shortlist of possible candidates. Kasich was unsuccessful in his 2016 bid for the Republican presidential nomination, only managing to beat Trump in his home state. Kristol also said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) are also being considered. “We are thinking of and...

A candidate endorsed by the Trump administration has won the Republican nomination for a U.S. House seat in New Hampshire, and he’d be the state’s first black congressman if elected in November. Eddie Edwards, of Dover, won a six-way race in Tuesday’s GOP primary for the 1st Congressional District. Edwards is a Navy veteran who also served as a police chief and as chief enforcement officer for the state liquor commission.

POTUS Trump endorsed candidates win in Arizona this evening. Republican, Martha McSally (Senate) & Republican, Doug Ducey (Governor) have easily won their primary races tonight. McSally will go on to be elected Senator from Arizona and, Ducey will be easily re-elected and maintain his Governor position. No Democrat "Blue Wave" in Arizona!!! Ducey will soon declare who he is appointing to serve the remainder of the Senate term of passed on, Senator John McCain. Hopefully he will appoint Ms. Kelli Ward to that assignment, rather then a McCain family member.

Big night for @MarthaMcSally in Arizona! Martha served our nation with distinction in the @usairforce & she will be a great addition to the US Senate helping enact the @realDonaldTrump agenda. Get out and support Martha in November! — Mike Pence (@mike_pence) August 29, 2018

NY Times calls it for DeSantis

Trump owns Florida Primary as Rick Scott, Ron DeSantis, Brian Mast are all winning big time.....Trump team wins big again. Republicans having a stellar evening tonight in Florida.

Two Republicans cast themselves as potential successors to embattled Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) after he announced he would suspend his reelection campaign Saturday while he faces insider trading charges. New York businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw both tweeted out their candidacies that same day. Paladino tweeted, “I’m all in! #NY27,” referring to the state's deeply red 27th Congressional District. Mychajliw tweeted that he too is “all in.”

Here's an amazing stat: In the last 14 contested Republican primaries where President Donald Trump has endorsed a candidate, his pick has won -- or is leading -- all 14 times. That's remarkable. (Hat tip to WaPo's James Hohmann for doing the math!) And it speaks to the fact that despite Trump's weak numbers among the general populace, he remains a massively powerful force within the GOP -- someone who can make and break candidacies with a single tweet. Take Tuesday night. Trump endorsed John James in Michigan's Republican Senate primary, Bill Schuette in the Michigan governor's race and Kris...