House Speaker Paul Ryanis projected to easily defeat a challenger in tonight’s Wisconsin primaries, the Associated Press projects. Ryan planned to speak after a victor is declared in his congressional race against longshot Republican challenger Paul Nehlen.
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This was a fairly obvious fact to everyone, but Donald Trump’s brief flirtation with Paul Nehlen last week stirred up a media frenzy and got Ryan’s challenger some media attention (especially for his, um, interesting views on Muslims).
But Ryan responded quickly to Trump’s dabbling in his race, determined to avoid the fate that befell House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in his surprise primary loss in 2014. They included Joanne Simenson, who called Ryan “a big spender, just like the rest of them”.
The speaker has had no problem winning Wisconsin’s first district.
“I am humbled and honored that Wisconsinites in the 1st Congressional District support my efforts to keep fighting on their behalf”, said a statement Ryan released late Tuesday.
Capitol Bureau Chief Greg Neumann is in Janesville and will have more on 27 News at 10. Ryan’s huge financial advantage has allowed him to blanket the airwaves with ads, and he made the rounds on influential conservative talk radio stations as Trump threatened to steal the spotlight. “We got the votes we were hoping and expecting to get all along”.
The intraparty drama echoed GOP splits that marked the presidential primary season and gave further evidence that party unity remains elusive just three months ahead of the general election.
House Speaker Paul Ryan is trying to fend off a challenge from a previously unknown Republican challenger who won praise from Donald Trump.
The primary is open, which means people don’t have to be registered members of a party to vote in that party’s primary.
Nehlen says he agrees with Trump on many immigration and trade issues while Ryan has criticized some of the presidential nominee’s remarks.
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They expected turnout to be about 16 percent. The polls close at 8 p.m. Polling place locations can be found online.
