Categories
ELECTIONS FEATURED

Congressional Primaries in FL and WI.

Notable results and highlights from yesterday’s Congressional Primaries.

Florida:

—   As expected, Rep. Connie Mack won the GOP Senate Primary handily, but former 7-term Space Coast Congressman Dave Weldon made an impressive showing considering that he entered the race only two months ago.

—     In the Orlando area, 10-term Member John Mica defeated popular Freshman Sandy Adams in one of the country’s most watched incumbent-vs.-incumbent races resulting from the re-apportionment of districts. Using his substantial campaign war chest (raised in large part as a result of his being the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee), Congressman Mica was masterful in re-positioning his image from the “entrenched insider” and “big spender” to that of a fiscal conservative, thereby neutralizing Rep. Adams strong suit. Surprisingly, none of the SuperPACs that had made their mark in this type of race against long-serving incumbents entered the race, which essentially sealed Rep. Adams’ political fate.

See http://atr.rollcall.com/florida-john-mica-beats-sandy-adams/

—     In an absolute shocker to all those who know him, the well-liked and conservative-credentialed 12-term Congressman Cliff Stearns – Ocala area –  was narrowly defeated (with a 1.2% margin) by political novice and Tea Party-backed veterinarian Ted Yoho. Stearns was well-funded and endorsed by fellow House members including VP nominee Paul Ryan, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, and Rep. Allen West. Among several lessons learned in this race, having a huge campaign war chest does not assure victory.

See story at http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-08-14/story/shocker-us-house-3-ted-yoho-upsets-12-term-incumbent-cliff-stearns

—  In the SW Miami-Florida Keys area (new District 26), “J-Street Joe” Garcia won a four-way Democratic primary and will once again face off against our good friend, Rep. David Rivera. The latter defeated Garcia by 9 points in 2010, while Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (now representing a different district) beat Garcia by six points in the challenging 2008 elections. We coined Garcia’s nickname because he was the ONLY Florida Congressional candidate who was endorsed by the nefarious, anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian JStreet Organization and PAC in 2010. Sources report that the Democratic Party is not overly enthused about this race, and will not plow any resources into unseating Congressman Rivera.

See http://atr.rollcall.com/florida-david-rivera-to-face-joe-garcia-again/

—    Also as expected, Karen Harrington decisively won a heated Primary, and will return to take on DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in District 23. In 2010, Ms. Harrington – a local business owner – garnered an impressive 39% of the vote against the powerful and well-funded Wasserman Schultz.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin’s highly-publicized and closely-watched GOP Senate Primary, former Governor Tommy Thompson narrowly defeated two tea-party-backed opponents with 34% of the vote. Conservative businessman Eric Hovde and former Congressman Mark Neumann. Hovde received 31 and 23 percent, respectively. A fourth opponent, state Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, came in fourth with 12 percent. Hovde contributed $4.85 million of his own money to his campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. Neumann had the support of the conservative Club for Growth and tea party kingmaker Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). The establishment favorite in the race, Thompson is widely considered the GOP’s best chance to beat uber-Progressive JStreet-backed Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin in November’s general election for the seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl (D). Thompson served as governor of the Badger State from 1987 to 2001 and then as secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. (See http://atr.rollcall.com/wisconsin-tommy-thompson-wins-gop-senate-primary/)

Please note that some of the results may not yet be official.

Categories
ELECTIONS

Congressional Primaries in FLORIDA, WISCONSIN

Notable results and highlights from yesterday’s Congressional Primaries.

Florida:

—   As expected, Rep. Connie Mack won the GOP Senate Primary handily, but former 7-term Space Coast Congressman Dave Weldon made an impressive showing considering that he entered the race only two months ago.

—     In the Orlando area, 10-term Member John Mica defeated popular Freshman Sandy Adams in one of the country’s most watched incumbent-vs.-incumbent races resulting from the re-apportionment of districts. Using his substantial campaign war chest (raised in large part as a result of his being the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee), Congressman Mica was masterful in re-positioning his image from the “entrenched insider” and “big spender” to that of a fiscal conservative, thereby neutralizing Rep. Adams strong suit. Surprisingly, none of the SuperPACs that had made their mark in this type of race against long-serving incumbents entered the race, which essentially sealed Rep. Adams’ political fate.

See http://atr.rollcall.com/florida-john-mica-beats-sandy-adams/

—     In an absolute shocker to all those who know him, the well-liked and conservative-credentialed 12-term Congressman Cliff Stearns – Ocala area –  was narrowly defeated (with a 1.2% margin) by political novice and Tea Party-backed veterinarian Ted Yoho. Stearns was well-funded and endorsed by fellow House members including VP nominee Paul Ryan, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, and Rep. Allen West. Among several lessons learned in this race, having a huge campaign war chest does not assure victory.

See story at http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-08-14/story/shocker-us-house-3-ted-yoho-upsets-12-term-incumbent-cliff-stearns

—  In the SW Miami-Florida Keys area (new District 26), “J-Street Joe” Garcia won a four-way Democratic primary and will once again face off against our good friend, Rep. David Rivera. The latter defeated Garcia by 9 points in 2010, while Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (now representing a different district) beat Garcia by six points in the challenging 2008 elections. We coined Garcia’s nickname because he was the ONLY Florida Congressional candidate who was endorsed by the nefarious, anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian JStreet Organization and PAC in 2010. Sources report that the Democratic Party is not overly enthused about this race, and will not plow any resources into unseating Congressman Rivera.

See http://atr.rollcall.com/florida-david-rivera-to-face-joe-garcia-again/

—    Also as expected, Karen Harrington decisively won a heated Primary, and will return to take on DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in District 23. In 2010, Ms. Harrington – a local business owner – garnered an impressive 39% of the vote against the powerful and well-funded Wasserman Schultz.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin’s highly-publicized and closely-watched GOP Senate Primary, former Governor Tommy Thompson narrowly defeated two tea-party-backed opponents with 34% of the vote. Conservative businessman Eric Hovde and former Congressman Mark Neumann. Hovde received 31 and 23 percent, respectively. A fourth opponent, state Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, came in fourth with 12 percent. Hovde contributed $4.85 million of his own money to his campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. Neumann had the support of the conservative Club for Growth and tea party kingmaker Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). The establishment favorite in the race, Thompson is widely considered the GOP’s best chance to beat uber-Progressive JStreet-backed Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin in November’s general election for the seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl (D). Thompson served as governor of the Badger State from 1987 to 2001 and then as secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. (See http://atr.rollcall.com/wisconsin-tommy-thompson-wins-gop-senate-primary/)

Please note that some of the results may not yet be official.

Categories
ELECTIONS FEATURED

A stunner in Texas Senate Race.

A stunner in Texas Senate Race – Conservative “Darling” Ted Cruz wins!

We have done it with other, special primary candidates. Now we did it with Ted Cruz.

The “we” is American Principles PAC.

The “it” means supporting what appear to be long shot candidates long before they take the lead.

We first met Ted at a Miami Beach event in March 2011. We were with him again in Miami in Dec. 2011. Then in March 2012, he joined a group of 50+ at a Shabbat Dinner during CPAC. He stayed the entire time, with no $ involved.

Ted barely survived the primary two months ago. Had his opponent, wealthy self-funding Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, gotten a few more percentage points, Ted would have been DONE and OUT!!!

As was (now Sen.) Marco Rubio’s meteoric ascent in the polls during his 2010 campaign, so was this a remarkable victory.

Categories
ELECTIONS

Notable Congressional PRIMARY RESULTS

Doug Lamborn

Notable Congressional PRIMARY RESULTS (Sen. Hatch and Reps. Lamborn survive, as does Rep. Charlie Rangel; Jeffries defeats Barron; Rep. Sullivan is defeated)

Dear Members, Activists and Friends of AMERICAN PRINCIPLES,

Below are results for some of the more notable races in yesterday’s Congressional primaries.

Our good friend Doug Lamborn from Colorado Springs prevailed, as did the venerable Sen. Hatch, who campaigned pro-actively to avoid a fate similar to some of his other long-serving colleagues who have been knocked out in primaries.

On the Democrat side, the nefarious Charles Barron from Brooklyn was defeated handily by Hakeem Jeffries. While we do not support Democrats in general, some of our members did respond to the desperate plea from NY to keep Barron – who is apparently a cross between Rev. Wright and Louis Farrakhan – from winning the primary and cruising into the U.S. House.

Incredibly, Charlie Rangel also survived his primary, because apparently, 42 years in the House of Representatives is not long enough. Then again, who knows what kind of other representative we would get from his district.

NOTABLE CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY RESULTS
June 26, 2012
COLORADO
Republican Primary – 2nd District

Votes

Pct.

Kevin Lundberg

21,465

53.3%

Eric Weissmann

18,779

46.7%

Republican Primary – 6th District

Votes

Pct.

Doug Lamborn Incumbent

41,416

61.7%

Robert Blaha

25,707

38.3%

Story at:

http://atr.rollcall.com/colorado-doug-lamborn-survives-primary/
NEW YORK
Republican Primary – Senate

Votes

Pct.

Wendy E. Long

69,168

50.9%

Bob Turner

48,429

35.6%

George Maragos

18,307

13.5%

Democratic Primary – 8th District

Votes

Pct.

Hakeem S. Jeffries

25,712

71.9%

Charles Barron

10,063

28.1%

Story at:

http://fort-greene.thelocal.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/hakeem-jeffries-defeats-charles-barron-in-bitter-democratic-primary/
Democratic Primary – 13th District

Votes

Pct.

Charles B. Rangel – Incumbent

15,605

45.2%

Adriano Espaillat

13,718

39.8%

Others

5,185

15.0%

Story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/nyregion/rangel-wins-a-difficult-primary.html?_r=1&ref=politi
Democratic Primary – 16th District

Votes

Pct.

Eliot L. Engel

12,524

90.9%

Aniello Grimaldi

1,261

9.1%

OKLAHOMA
Republican Primary – 1st District

Votes

Pct.

James Frederick Bridenstine

28,038

53.8%

John Sullivan – Incumbent

24,045

46.2%

Story at:

http://atr.rollcall.com/oklahoma-john-sullivan-loses-primary-in-surprise-upset/
UTAH
Republican Primary – Senate

Votes

Pct.

Orrin G. Hatch – Incumbent

146,394

66.5%

Dan Liljenquist

73,668

33.5%

 

Categories
ELECTIONS

Congratulations to the new GOP Nominee for Senate from Indiana

Congrats Richard Mourdock

Congratulations to the new GOP Nominee for Senate from Indiana – American Principles-endorsed Treasurer Richard Mourdock

Sometimes, we must follow our political instinct and take a chance. This is one such situation.

While I had heard about Indiana Treasurer and U.S. Senate Candidate Richard Mourdock’s huge challenge of taking on 6-term incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar in the Republican Primary, it was not until early February that I finally had the pleasure of meeting Mourdock in DC.

After reviewing his credentials, conservative endorsements (Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, NRA), and personal references – particularly from members of the pro-Israel community, Israel Bonds, etc. – and further since many of us were not pleased with Sen. Lugar’s uncommonly GOP record of voting against certain Israel-related legislation, most notably on the 2007 Kyl-Lieberman Amendment, I concluded that Richard Mourdock was someone that AMERICANprinciples should endorse and support.

In April, several of us gathered with Mourdock when AMERICANprinciples co-hosted two fund-raisers for the Treasurer, including a lunch with Steve Forbes (who had himself also endorsed the Treasurer).

As campaigning for the primary advanced, Sen. Lugar repeatedly stumbled. After all, the guy had not had a competitive race in 30 years!!! The process yielded results when, on Friday, after months of independent polls showing Mourdock trailing, a new independent poll came out with a 10 point lead for Mourdock.

Mourdock defeated Lugar by an impressive 61-39% margin!!!

MORE HERE

For Richard Mourdock, it’s onward to the November General Election, and we congratulate him.

Thank you all for your support of AMERICAN PRINCIPLES and our candidates.

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