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Former President Donald Trump showed again that his endorsements are game-changers in GOP primaries, scoring big wins in Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Also in Tuesday’s primaries, Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the ultra-liberal “squad” in the U.S. House, nearly lost her seat to a pro-police Democrat in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.
In Connecticut, Cuban-born Leora Levy, who was endorsed by Mr. Trump a week ago, beat polling and predictions by defeating her moderate Republican opponent, Themis Klarides, in the GOP Senate primary.
With 99% of the vote counted Wednesday, Ms. Levy received 51%. Ms. Klarides, a former state House minority leader who had the backing of the state party, received 40%, and immigration lawyer Peter Lumaj had 9%.
Mr. Trump held a tele-rally for tens of thousands of Connecticut voters on the eve of the election, and delivered a robocall for Ms. Levy on Election Day.
“We’re making history here,” Ms. Levy said in her victory speech. “Thank you, President Trump, for your strong, clear, unequivocal endorsement. I will not let you down.”
Ms. Levy is a Republican National Committee member whom Mr. Trump nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Chile, though she was never confirmed.
In November she will face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who has a campaign war chest of $8 million and has never lost an election in his 37-year career.
