A political newcomer backed by Donald Trump won a crowded Republican primary contest in an Ohio House special election Tuesday night, showing the former president's influence on his party.
Coal lobbyist Mike Carey, who never held political office before, beat out 11 other Republicans for the nomination in Ohio's 15th Congressional district, to replace former Rep. Steve Stivers. Many of his competitors also had the backing of big-name Republicans.
The Associated Press called the race for Carey, who will compete against Democrat Allison Russo in the November general election. Carey is favored to win the GOP-leaning district.
Carey was a little known contender until he earned Trump's endorsement - a sign of the former president's influence on the Republican voters who decide the party's nominee. Carey is a close friend of Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager.
The two special House elections in Ohio on Tuesday tested both political parties: Trump's sway on the Republican Party and the moderate and liberal divisions among Democrats.
Donald Trump backed candidate, coal lobbyist Mike Carey (above), won Ohio's crowded Republican primary in the 15th Congressional district
Mike Carey had never held elected office and was a little known contender until Trump endorsed his campaign
The former president has touted his blessing as the political equivalent of a golden ticket. But he's struggled to redeem his record after suffering an embarrassing lose in Texas when his candidate, Susan Wright, the widow of the congressman from the Texas seat who died of COVID in February, lost to another Republican in the runoff.
There was an assortment of other candidates running the Republican primary for the 15th district - all with their own big name backers:
state Rep. Jeff LaRe, who was endorsed by Stivers to replace him in his seat Bob Peterson, a state senator who has the backing of Ohio's leading anti-abortion group, Ohio Right to Life Ruth Edmonds, who has a strong following among Christian conservatives and the backing of Debbie Meadows, an activist and the wife of Mark Meadows, Trump's last White House chief of staff former state Rep. Ron Hood, who has the backing of Kentucky Senator Rand PaulA pro-Trump super PAC has put $350,000 into ads
