South Carolina Republican Who Voted To Impeach Trump Loses Primary In Mixed Night For Candidates Backed By Ex-President

Topline

A Trump-backed candidate defeated incumbent Rep. Tom Rice—one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach the former president last year—in the Republican party’s Congressional primaries in South Carolina while Rep. Nancy Mace, the state’s other Republican who broke with Trump, managed to stave off her primary challenger in a night of mixed results for candidates endorsed by the former president.

Key Facts

In a race called by the Associated Press, Russell Fry—who was endorsed by Trump—held a massive 25-point lead over Rice, who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6 riots and recently called him a “would-be tyrant.”

Mace, who has blamed the former president for the January 6 riots, defeated Trump-backed primary challenger Katie Arrington.

In an effort to mend fences with Trump and his supporters, Mace told reporters she will “work with anyone who’s willing to work with me.”

Reacting to the result, Trump also struck a conciliatory tone, acknowledging that Arrington was always a “long shot” candidate and said he expects Mace to easily defeat her Democratic opponent in the midterms, the Washington Post reported.

Republican Mayra Flores defeated Democrat Dan Sanchez in the special elections for Texas’ 34th Congressional District, flipping the seat red in a result that further shrinks the Democratic party’s already slim majority in the House.

Another Trump endorsee, Adam Laxalt, won the U.S. Senate Primary in Nevada, setting up a key race that could determine control of the chamber against Democratic incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

Key Background

Tuesday’s primaries continued the trend of mixed results for Trump-backed Republican candidates. Last month, Trump’s backing helped TV personality Mehmet Oz eke out a narrow victory against rival Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania’s Senate primary race. In the Arkansas gubernatorial primary, Trump’s former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders won by a landslide with the backing of her former boss. The former president, however, faced a stinging defeat in Georgia after his endorsee David Perdue failed to defeat incumbent governor Brian Kemp, who has been publicly feuding with Trump over Georgia’s election results.

Further Reading

Republicans collide in key primaries as Trump’s pull tested in S.C., Nev. (Washington Post)

Adam Laxalt wins Republican nomination for Nevada Senate (Associated Press)

Rice loses House seat after impeaching Trump; Mace holds on (Associated Press)

S.C. Republicans Who Blamed Trump For Capitol Riot Face-Off Against His Endorsed Challengers (Forbes)