Trump-backed candidates take out GOP incumbents in Indiana, dominate Ohio primary in big night for president
President Trump proved to be a kingmaker in the Indiana and Ohio Republican primaries Tuesday night, where his seal of approval propelled several GOP candidates to landslide victories. In Indiana, Trump’s revenge campaign against incumbent state senators who torpedoed his push last year to redraw the Hoosier state’s congressional boundaries was largely successful – with the president’s preferred candidates winning five of six contests. A potential sixth victory for a Trump-endorsed candidate was still too close to call late Tuesday.“Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters,” Sen.
Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said in a statement. “Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters,” he added. Indiana Republican Gov.Mike Braun, who staunchly supported the failed redistricting effort, called it a “historic night for Indiana.” “[R]epublicans stood with me and President Trump to nominate some great America First conservatives,” Braun wrote on X.
“I look forward to winning big in November and serving Hoosiers with this team in the statehouse!” The victories by Trump-backed candidates were decisive. Trevor De Vries topped Indiana state Sen.Dan Dernulc by a 75%-24% margin; Tracey Powell beat state Sen.
Jim Buck in a 65%-35% race; and Brian Schmutzler and Michelle Davis defeated state Sens.Linda Rogers and Greg Walker, respectively, by 18-point margins.The first incumbent taken out by Trump was longtime Indiana state Sen.
Travis Holdman, who has been in office since 2008 and is a member of Indiana Senate leadership. Holdman was bested by Blake Fiechter by a 61%-39% margin. At press time, Indiana state Sen.Greg Goode was the only incumbent opposed to redistricting who was able to fend off a Trump-backed primary challenge. Goode defeated Brenda Wilson in the stat...