In a test of the Former President’s influence, Trump passes with flying colors after a recent primary election in Ohio this week.
"I love the state of Ohio and I just want to tell everybody the person I am endorsing for Ohio 15 is Mike Carey. He's going to do a fantastic job." – President Donald J. Trump
Vote for @MikeCareyOH15 on Tuesday!pic.twitter.com/d7qodJCRn7
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) August 2, 2021
Mike Carey, a Trump-backed candidate, beat out a smattering of Republican candidates on Tuesday, while the establishment figure Shontel Brown pulled out a victory for the Democrats — a major loss for the Far-Left wing of the party.
Carey’s race reinforced Trump’s status as GOP kingmaker. Brown’s win over progressive Nina Turner handed another blow to a liberal wing that has been challenging the Democratic old guard with a more confrontational style.
The Trump-backed Carey is the political newcomer of the group, defeating a crowd of establishment Republicans with more corporate backing and more experience in state politics. Still, his adherence to Trump’s American First agenda influenced voters to push Carey over the finish line.
He’ll take on Democratic state Rep. Allison Russo, a health policy consultant who won the Democratic nomination, in the GOP-leaning Columbus-area district.
Carey’s victory was also a win for Trump, who has prided himself on swaying elections. He quickly celebrated Carey’s win Tuesday in a statement.
NEW!
"Great Republican win for Mike Carey. Big numbers! Thank you to Ohio and all of our wonderful American patriots. Congratulations to Mike and his family. He will never let you down!" – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/KMnPwDkrHd
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) August 4, 2021
Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown tweeted Democrats will “get to work to elect a champion for Ohio working families this November.”
The GOP result was a blow to former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, who retired from the seat in May and endorsed state Rep. Jeff LaRe, a security executive with law enforcement experience, in the race.
Tuesday’s results come as recent polling shows Democrats are generally upbeat about their party’s future and the sitting Democratic president, Joe Biden, while the AP-NORC poll reflected widespread unease among Republicans over everything from the direction of the country to the state of American democracy and the job Biden’s doing.
While every Republican hopeful in the group deemed themselves a conservative, it was Carey who received an endorsement from the Former President.
Voters in Ohio are sending a clear message to potential candidates: no amount of legislative or establishment experience is enough to clear a victory. An enthusiasm for the America First policies of Trump and his allies is what’s needed to secure a victory in electoral politics moving forward.
Author: Elizabeth Tierney
