Senate Republicans’ Flawed Candidates on Full Display as GOP Infighting Continues to Escalate

This week, as Senate Republicans’ flawed candidates continued to brawl in “increasingly crowded” and “contested” primaries, their “intraparty rifts” and candidates’ vulnerabilities were once again on full display in races across the map.

• In Arizona, Kari Lake doubled down on her support for Arizona’s abortion ban without exceptions for rape and incest in a new interview, maintaining that her dangerous views on abortion “haven’t changed, actually.” This comes after Lake headlined an event hosted by “far-right organization whose president says that ‘abortion is murder, plain and simple’” earlier this week.
  

• In Michigan, new reporting from The Washington Examiner highlighted that Republicans’ “messy primary in Michigan…could lead to a repeat of the 2022 midterm elections,” when “centrist Republicans were beaten by hard-line conservatives” in primary elections, “who then went on to lose to Democrats” in the general election. 

• In Montana, new reporting revealed that Tim Sheehy would be one of the wealthiest members of Congress if elected – and some of his investments “are sure to irk some conservatives.” Sheehy’s personal financial disclosure reveals that his net worth is between $74 million and $260 million, including “politically problematic” investments in “a Chinese company, the pharmaceutical industry, and other things likely to draw the ire of the Republican base.” Additionally, new reporting detailed how the potential candidacy of Matt Rosendale — who “isn’t afraid of thumbing his nose at his own party” — threatens “another messy primary [that] could damage the GOP’s chances” in Montana.  

• In Ohio, new reporting from NBC News details how Bernie Moreno is going to new lengths to “mischaracterize Issue 1” while doubling down on his support for a dangerous abortion ban without exceptions, even in cases of rape. Additionally, Moreno and LaRose continued to spar: LaRose’s campaign called Moreno a “slick talking politician” who “will flip-flop and say anything to get elected” and Moreno made it clear he “doesn’t want [LaRose] anywhere near his campaign filings.”

• In West Virginia, new reporting highlights that “there are more legal troubles for West Virginia Governor Jim Justice as he seeks the Republican Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate.” A new report from WOWK details how a Justice-owned business is being sued over “still ow[ing] $1.75 million in workers’ compensation payments.” Additionally, Alex Mooney continues to argue he is “ the only true conservative in this race” and attack Justice as a “RINO.”
  

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