Despite heavy national interest in the race, there was little suspense surrounding Tuesday night’s victory for U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) over primary challenger Paul Nehlen. Two federal judges have ruled people who can’t get IDs can vote by affidavit or with a special receipt from the state Department of Transportation, but those decisions won’t take effect until November. “The outcome is exactly what we were hoping for”.
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With the support of some well-known conservatives like Palin, Phyllis Schlafly and Ann Coulter, Nehlen did raise more than $1 million for the race, a significant amount for a political newcomer.
Ryan, who ran unsuccessfully for vice president in 2012, had roughly 84 percent of the vote compared with challenger Paul Nehlen’s 16 percent, with 66 percent of voting areas reporting results, the Journal Sentinel reported at 10 p.m. eastern time (0200 GMT).
Solen beat Tom Breu in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to advance to a formidable matchup with Ryan for his southeast Wisconsin seat.
Businessman Paul Nehlen had been courting Trump supporters and won praise from the Republican presidential nominee last week. Trump relented a few days later – but Nehlen believes Trump’s early refusal sent a clear signal that Ryan is not his preferred candidate. I’m not gonna roll over to the Democrats’ side, but I will tell you this, I fully suspect when I win, Paul Ryan’s machine will try to get the Democratic (presidential candidate) elected.
“Speaker Ryan’s commitment to faithfully representing the people of Wisconsin and making the case for conservatism have never changed, and his years of principled public service make him a trusted leader in our party”, Priebus said. Since Ryan endorsed Trump, he has denounced Trump for a number of comments the GOP nominee has made.
Trump tweeted his thanks to Nehlen for supporting him during his dust up with the Muslim American parents of a USA soldier killed in Iraq. Ryan is seeking to avoid the most shocking of upsets against a political unknown hoping for a Trump bump.
Ryan had other advantages, including widespread popularity in the district.
Mr Ryan has criticised Mr Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. Amid the melodrama, Ryan’s home-state standing remained intact.
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Ryan had downplayed the primary challenge and rarely, if at all, engaged with Nehlen.
