(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) As a barometer for the sway and influence that former President Donald Trump has in the Republican Party, hotly contested primaries in Nevada and South Carolina returned mixed, but largely pro-MAGA results.
In South Carolina, Never-Trumper RINO Rep. Tom Rice, one of nine House Republicans who voted for impeachment after the Jan. 6 uprising, got destroyed by Trump-endorsed state Rep. Russell Fry, who had 51% of the vote to Rice’s 25% when the race was called with about 98% of the vote counted.
On the flip side of the Trump power dynamic, Rep. Nancy Mace, who fell into MAGA disfavor after calling Trump responsible for the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, edged out Trump-backed Katie Arrington.
Trump’s endorsement of Arrington was more a scathing indictment of Mace.
“Nancy fights Republicans all the time and is not at all nice about it,” Trump wrote.
“Frankly, she is despised by almost everyone, and who needs that in Congress, or in the Republican Party?”
Apparently, some folks in South Carolina.
Trump tossed Mace a post-election congratulations, of a sorts, with a message on Truth Social, reported Breibart.
“Katie Arrington was a long shot but ran a great race and way over performed,” Trump wrote.
“Congrats to Nancy Mace, who should easily be able to defeat her Democrat opponent!”
Donald Trump, on Truth Social, congratulates Nancy Mace on her victory in #SC01 over his pick Katie Arrington >>> #scpol #scnews #chsnews pic.twitter.com/Ud6VMs8Oln
— Caitlin Byrd (@MaryCaitlinByrd) June 15, 2022
Trump had more reason for genuine enthusiasm in Nevada, where his endorsed candidates logged impressive victories in closely-watched races.
The Nevada co-chair of Trump’s 2020 campaign, Adam Laxalt, lapped a field of several Republican challengers, most notably retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, to win the state’s GOP Senate primary.
Laxalt, the state’s former attorney general, pulled 56% of the vote when the race was called, besting a distant Brown with 33%, reported NBC News.
Laxalt has been an avid Trump supporter and has consistently fought to expose vote fraud in the 2020 election, along with pushing a pro-liberty, pro-life message.
He moves on to face incumbent Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto in what many pundits consider one of the most critical midterm tilts with potential to flip the Democrat’s slim majority. Recent polling gives Laxalt a narrow edge over Masto, although within the margin of error, in a state that President Joe Biden allegedly won by less than 34,000 votes.
“Together we have taken an important step tonight,” Laxalt said after notching the win.
“An important step in taking our country back, an important step in taking our great state of Nevada.”
Trump-backed Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo also scored a MAGA win, coasting to victory in the Nevada governor’s race Republican primary Tuesday night, Brietbart reported. The race was called early, with Lombardo piling up a nearly 50% of the vote with the nearest challenger lagging at 19%.
Lombardo will face incumbent Democrat Gov. Steve Sisolak, setting up what could be one of the fiercest governor’s races in a midterm that’s brewing a potential red wave.
“As Governor, Joe will fiercely Protect our under-siege Second Amendment, Oppose Sanctuary Cities, Support our Law Enforcement, Veto any Liberal Tax Increase, Protect Life, and Secure our Elections,” Trump said in his endorsement of Lombardo.
