GOP Summer of Chaos: Infighting Continues to Escalate in GOP Senate Primaries

This week, Senate Republicans’ “intraparty rifts that defined the 2022 cycle and contributed to the GOP’s loss[es]” were once again on full display in races across the map. 

• In Arizona, following reports that failed 2022 Senate Republican nominee Blake Masters plans to launch another Senate bid, Arizona Republicans are bracing for an “ugly primary fight,” “collision course,” and “extraordinarily volatile match-up” between Masters and Kari Lake and Mark Lamb, a primary that “could prove a headache for the party.” The potential matchup “could lead to the eventual winner heading into the general election considerably weakened.” 

• In Montana, new reporting from The Messenger highlights the tension of wealthy out-of-staters who “began buying up real estate in some of the most picturesque areas of the state” and why Tim Sheehy — who moved to Montana less than a decade ago and bought up a private peninsula on Flathead Lake and a luxury chalet in Big Sky — is the “poster boy” for that change. 
  

• In Michigan, new reporting from The Messenger highlights how the GOP primary “is shaping up to be one of the most contentious in the country,” as Craig attempts to align himself with Trump while Rogers and Meijer “have been outspoken about their opposition to Trump.” Additionally, a new story from HuffPost detailed the challenges Rogers will face in a primary – with former Michigan GOP Party Executive Director Timmer stating “it’s not going to take a marquee candidate to beat Mike Rogers.” 

• In Ohio, Donald Trump continues to loom large: Matt Dolan was caught claiming “whoever Trump endorses in the race will eventually lose.” But Dolan isn’t alone: Frank LaRose also downplayed Donald Trump’s endorsement, saying “it doesn’t carry the same weight it used to” and was caught making “kind remarks” about Trump-nemesis Mike Pence. LaRose refused to endorse the former President in 2016, 2020, and the first week of his Senate campaign. Dolan is also in hot water after a new report detailed he broke his pledge to financially support other GOP candidates through his leadership PAC and is instead funding his own campaign consultants. 

• In West Virginia, Alex Mooney leapt on new reports detailing Jim Justice again delayed his US Senate financial disclosure. Mooney called Justice an “Irresponsible RINO” who “will do anything to hide his scandals from the public” and “drag along all of his financial problems with him” to the Senate. 

###