COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown defeated former state Sen.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democratic United States Representative Shontel Brown defeated former state senator nina turner for the second time since last summer, easily prevailing Tuesday in an Ohio primary billed nationally as a key showdown between the party’s more moderate establishment and its activist progressive wing.
Brown, who had campaigned with South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the ranking black member of Congress, and as a strong ally of President Joe Biden and his national agenda, edged out Turner in the summer special primary. past, and did it again.
primaries in Ohio and the neighboring state, the Rust Belt of Indiana helped start a middle season that will have Democrats trying to defend their slim majorities in Congress this November.
Brown, a former Democratic Party county chairman, has only been in Congress a few months, but he came to revenge with the power of office. Turner, one of the main surrogates in Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, was endorsed by the Vermont senator and major progressive groups, who were hoping for a second victory.
The Cleveland district where Brown and Turner squared off is overwhelmingly African-American and solidly Democratic, making Brown a heavy favorite to retain her seat in the November general election. Our Revolution, the activist group that grew out of Sanders’ first presidential bid, says it dedicated 150 volunteers to propel Turner into the race, while the pro-Israeli Democratic political organization DMFI PAC announced spending more than $1 million for Brown.
Elsewhere, Republican Rep. Warren Davidson rebuffed a primary challenge from Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich, son of the famed physician known for the anti-choking maneuver. Davidson had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, whose endorsement helped author JD Vance winning the highly-viewed Republican primary for the open seat in the Ohio Senate on Tuesday, while Heimlich had criticized the former president.
Trump’s support also proved valuable in other House primaries.
Former Trump adviser Max Miller secured the Republican nomination in a new district in northeast Ohio despite being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
Meanwhile, the Akron-area district, where another Trump pick, conservative commentator Madison Gilbert, won the Republican nomination, should be one of the competitive House seats in the November general election. His Republican nominee will face state Rep. Emilia Sykes, a former Democratic House leader from Ohio and the daughter of a powerful political family in the area.
Another tough congressional race could come to Cincinnati in November, when Republican Rep. Steve Chabot faces Democratic Cincinnati City Council member Greg Landsman.
Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the House, is unopposed Tuesday. Yet four Republicans — including two sitting state lawmakers — were vying to take on her in the fall in a newly drawn district that borders Lake Erie, encompasses Toledo and could be a draw. The Republican primary was still too early to call Tuesday night.
In Indiana, former state senator Erin Houchin edged out eight other Republicans, including former US Rep. Mike Sodrel, for the party’s nomination in the state’s only open House seat and will be heavily favored in November. Republican Representative Trey Hollingsworth is not seeking re-election in his southern Indiana district, as he hints that he will run for governor in 2024.
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Weissert reported from Washington.
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Follow AP for full coverage of midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
Will Weissert and Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press
Reference-ottawa.citynews.ca