Donald Trump reasserted his dominance within the GOP this week, helping lift J.D. Vance to victory in a crowded Ohio Republican US Senate field.
But that’s not preventing other Republicans with national ambitions from attempting to assume the role of kingmaker in primaries over the next month — even if it means being at odds with the most influential person in the party. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on the opposite side of his onetime boss in two upcoming races. Pompeo has gone a step further than just endorsing Dave McCormick in the Pennsylvania Republican US Senate primary, holding a news briefing to question Mehmet Oz’s Turkish citizenship Friday — the same day Trump is scheduled to hold a rally for Oz. Pompeo is also supporting West Virginia Rep. David McKinley in his primary battle next week against Rep.
