Old-guard Republicans won key primaries in Kentucky and Georgia, proving that voters would rather take the safe candidate than try to elect a Tea Party candidate into office. One of the big winners on the night was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
McConnell easily defeated his challenger, Matt Bevin on Tuesday. Although Bevin seemed to be a competent challenger to McConnell, he made several mistakes during the campaign and one poll had him behind McConnell by as much as 30 points before election day, notes CBS News.
In addition, McConnell had $21.7 million to use, of which he only needed $11.4 million for the primary campaign. That leaves him with more than enough to go against his Democratic challenger, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, in November.
NBC News notes that Tea Party candidates also failed to win in Georgia, where Republicans are vying to take retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ seat. Former Dollar General CEO David Perdue won the Republican primary, but failed to get 50 percent of the vote. He’ll have to go against Rep. Jack Kingston in a runoff on July 22.
Democrat Michelle Nunn won the Democratic primary in that election.
Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter will face current Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal for the Peach State’s governor’s office.
Democratic businessman Tom Wolf will face Pennsylvania’s unpopular Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in November.
Out west in Oregon, political newcomer Dr. Monica Wehby beat Tea Party candidate, state Rep. Jason Congers, for the GOP Senate nomination. She will face Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, notes Fox News.