Deviating from tradition, Republican leaders are strategically intervening in Senate primaries to mitigate potential election losses, causing dissent among their conservative base. This innovative tactic, which involves favoring preferred candidates, marks a significant departure from the party’s previous hands-off approach.
Led by Sen. Steve Daines, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has recently endorsed two crucial GOP candidates: Sam Brown and Tim Sheehy.
However, this intervention runs the risk of sidelining conservative candidates such as Rep. Alex Mooney and Jim Marchant, triggering controversy within the party’s right-wing. Nonetheless, many Republicans view this as a necessary gamble to optimize their chances of winning elections, as Republican advisor Josh Holmes explains: “You can either play to win or play it safe—not both.”
The primary objective for the GOP is to prevent Rep. Matt Rosendale from challenging Sheehy in Montana. There is a persistent concern that Rosendale, despite his potential to win the primary, may lose to Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in the general election.
Sen. Daines has also endorsed President Trump’s campaign, ostensibly to preclude any internal party conflict. In line with this effort, GOP leaders are striving to gather support for Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, despite his defeat in the 2022 primary.
