With the exception of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's landslide victory over a Trump-affiliated candidate, Tuesday was a resounding success for the former president and the MAGA coalition.
The Ohio Star reports:
Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy, received the former president's endorsement in late April and was the projected winner by The Associated Press over a large field that included businessman Mike Gibbons, State Sen. Matt Dolan, former State Treasurer Josh Mandel and former head of the state GOP Jane Timken.
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The expensive and contentious race was highlighted when Gibbons and Mandel nearly came to blows on stage in a debate.
“This campaign, I really think, is a referendum on what kind of Republican Party we want and what kind of country we want,” Vance said.
Vance will face Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan, who the AP declared the Democratic primary winner 30 minutes after polls closed, in November to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Rob Portman.
The Daily Caller has more on the congressional primaries:
Max Miller won the Republican primary in Ohio's Seventh District, and Madison Gesiotto Gilbert will be the GOP nominee in the state's Thirteenth District. Miller will likely have an easy path to Congress, as his district leans right by 14 points, according to FiveThirtyEight. Gesiotto Gilbert's district is a toss-up, leaning Republican by only two points.
A former White House aide, Miller initially declared in the 16th District to oppose Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, a Trump critic who voted to impeach the former president. Redistricting moved Miller into the Thirteenth, the same district as Republican Rep. Bob Gibbs. Gibbs announced his retirement in April, citing a redistricting process that was “detrimental to the people of Ohio.”
Miller served in the White House as a special advisor to Trump, and in the Office of Presidential Personnel. He also sits on the United State Holocaust Memorial Council Board of Trustees. He took home over 70% support in a four-candidate race.
Gesiotto Gilbert, a former columnist for The Washington Times, co-chaired the Women for Trump advisory board during the 2020 presidential election. She also served as a pledged elector for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Also endorsed by Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Gesiotto Gilbert received just under 30% support in a field of seven candidates.
In the Ohio gubernatorial primary, incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine defeated ex-Rep. Jim Renacci, who Trump endorsed in his failed 2018 Senate campaign, and Joe Blystone by more than 20 points. Trump avoided making a formal endorsement in the race, although he previously said someone needed to primary DeWine over his pandemic restrictions.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Indiana, Greg Pence, the older brother of Mike Pence, won his primary in Indiana's 6th Congressional District with Trump's “complete and total endorsement.”
